Establishes the Indiana student enrichment grant program (program). Provides that an enrichment student is eligible to establish an Indiana enrichment scholarship account. Provides that an enrichment student may receive $1,000 to be used for certain qualified expenses. Provides that the department of education shall administer the program.
Amends the circumstances under which the department of child services (DCS), or a prosecuting attorney on behalf of DCS, may file a paternity action as next friend of a child. Provides that a child who is the subject of: (1) a petition alleging that the child is a child in need of services (CHINS); or (2) a proceeding to terminate parental rights; may initiate a paternity action on the child's own behalf through the child's next friend. Specifies the basis for survival of orders of a court in a CHINS or delinquency action when a separate court has reciprocal jurisdiction over the child in a concurrent paternity action.
Requires a grant proposal for the safety PIN (protecting Indiana's newborns) program to include the targeted area or targeted population. (Current law requires the targeted area be included.) Specifies that the targeted area or targeted population may include minority communities. Allows the state department of health, in awarding a safety PIN grant, to give preference to proposals that seek to reduce infant mortality in minority communities.
Allows a county fiscal body in a county in which there is at least one land bank (except in a county containing a consolidated city) to adopt an ordinance requiring every person who wishes to participate in a tax sale as a bidder to pay a neighborhood investment fee of not more than $150. Provides that, if a county fiscal body adopts an ordinance authorizing the imposition of a neighborhood investment fee, the county treasurer shall establish the neighborhood investment fee fund (fund) and specifies the manner in which neighborhood investment fees collected are to be distributed from the fund to land banks. Allows a county fiscal body in a county in which there is at least one land bank (except in a county containing a consolidated city) to adopt an ordinance to impose, in addition to the 5% penalty for delinquent real property taxes, an additional penalty of not more than 3% for a total penalty that may not exceed 8% of the amount of delinquent real property taxes (additional penalty ordinance). Provides that delinquent tax payments attributable to real property used as a principal place of residence and receiving the homestead standard deduction for the most recent assessment date are exempt from an additional penalty ordinance. Specifies the manner in which the amounts collected attributable to an additional penalty imposed on delinquent real property taxes are to be distributed to land banks.
Requires the bureau of developmental disabilities services (bureau) to: (1) semi-annually provide to each authorized service provider a report containing information concerning direct service professionals against whom substantiated incident reports have been made; and (2) establish an appeal process for a direct support professional to appeal the bureau's determination under these provisions.
Provides that an employment agency (agency) commits price gouging if an agency's charge is in excess of three times the fair market value of the health care services of a health care employee or temporary worker. Raises the surety bond for an agency from $1,000 to $10,000. Raises the annual licensing fee for an agency from $150 to $200. Includes violation of laws by the agency as a reason to deny the issuance of an agency's license. Specifies that the filing of a list of fees, charges, and commissions does not cause the fees, charges, or commissions to be reasonable or conscionable. Prohibits an agency that contracts for services with a health care provider employer from charging fees, charges, or commissions in excess of three times the fair market value of the health care services rendered by the agency or by an applicant referred by the agency. Requires the agency to keep certain records for five years rather than two. Specifies that fees that are paid are not refundable. Amends the definition of "employment agency" to include the temporary performance of services. Prohibits an agency from giving false information or making a false representation to an employer regarding an applicant or the applicant's qualifications to provide service to the employer. Establishes the following requirements on an agency: (1) Timely billing to a health care provider employer. (2) Providing certain information on an employee's qualifications to a health care provider employer. (3) Requiring compliance with requirements relating to the qualifications of personnel employed. (4) Prohibiting the agency from restricting employment opportunities of its personnel. (5) Prohibiting the agency from recruiting employees of a health care provider to which the agency supplies personnel. (6) Requires the agency to reimburse a health care provider employer for fines for violations by the agency or an employee or personnel of the agency in the provision of health care services. (7) Prohibits an agency's contract with an employee or health care provider employer from requiring payment of liquidated damages, employment fees, or other compensation if the employee is hired as a permanent employee of the health care provider employer. Allows an applicant or employer to report an agency's violation and allows the applicant and employer a private right of action. Raises the fee for a conviction from $10 to $1,000. Allows the office of the attorney general to investigate and prosecute complaints. Provides that the division of consumer protection is responsible for the investigation of complaints. Specifies the procedures for investigating complaints against an agency. Requires an agency to: (1) screen prospective employees; (2) conduct background checks on employees before they work for a health care provider; (3) complete an employee performance review; (4) provide health care providers with certain information on the employees; and (5) annually submit a report. Makes conforming and stylistic changes, and removes obsolete language.
Makes various changes to the statutes governing land banks that concern certain land bank powers, objectives, and duties. Provides (except in a county containing a consolidated city) that only a majority of directors appointed to the board of a land bank must be residents of the county, second class city, or third class city. Provides, in the case of a land bank created by an interlocal agreement, that only a majority of the members of the board of the land bank must be residents of the applicable eligible units that establish the land bank. Provides that a land bank may establish advisory committees composed of specified community members to consult with and advise the land bank on: (1) properties within the territory of the land bank that are imposing the greatest harm on residents and neighborhoods; (2) resident and neighborhood priorities for new uses of land bank properties; and (3) options for potential transferees of land bank properties. Provides, subject to certain limitations, that a land bank may use an interlocal agreement to establish processes to improve the quality of title and marketability of property the land bank owns to extinguish any liens that exist on the property. Provides that, if a land bank enters into an interlocal agreement, any employees of an eligible unit who may be contracted to provide staffing services to the land bank pursuant to the interlocal agreement retain their status as public employees of the eligible unit. Requires a county executive to provide a land bank in the county with a list of tracts located in the territory of the land bank that: (1) are delinquent on property taxes; and (2) have been offered for public sale at least two times and remain unsold; on an annual basis. Requires the county executive to transfer its interest in a tract on the list to a land bank if requested by the land bank not later than 90 days after it receives the list.
Creates a direct liquor seller's permit with an annual permit fee of $500 for a liquor manufacturer that wants to sell and ship liquor directly to Indiana consumers. Provides that a person that sells and ships liquor directly to a consumer without a direct liquor seller's permit commits: (1) a Class A infraction for the first violation; (2) a Class A misdemeanor for a second violation that is done knowingly and within 10 years of the first infraction or conviction; and (3) a Level 6 felony for a third or subsequent violation that is done knowingly and within 10 years of the first two infractions or convictions.
Allows a provider that has entered into a contract with a managed care organization, after exhausting any internal procedures of the managed care organization for provider grievances and appeals, to request an administrative appeal within the office of Medicaid policy and planning of the managed care organization's action in denying or reducing reimbursement for claims for covered services provided to an applicant, pending applicant, conditionally eligible individual, or member. Establishes a procedure for an administrative appeal, including a hearing before an administrative law judge that could be followed by agency review and then by judicial review. Prohibits a provision in a contract between a provider and a managed care organization that would negate or restrict the right of a provider to an administrative appeal and provides that such a contract provision is void and unenforceable. Repeals a provision under which Medicaid law is controlling when Medicaid law conflicts with insurance law. Provides that if the office of the secretary of family and social services or a contractor of the office fails to pay or denies a clean claim for any eligible Medicaid service within certain time limits due to the office or contractor incorrectly processing the clean claim because of errors attributable to the internal system of an insurer or managed care organization, the office or contractor may not assert that the provider failed to meet the timely filing requirements for the claim. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (FSSA) to prepare a report that describes every type of report that must be prepared by a Medicaid contractor or managed care entity and submitted to FSSA or the office of Medicaid policy and planning. Specifies the information that must be contained in the report. Requires FSSA to submit the report to the Medicaid advisory committee (advisory committee) and the general assembly. Requires the advisory committee to hold public hearings on the report.
Provides that art therapy services provided by a licensed art therapist to an individual who receives mental health services or to an individual who receives services from a community mental health center are reimbursable under Medicaid. Provides for the licensure of music therapists, art therapists, and art therapist associates. Adds music therapists and art therapists to the behavioral health and human services licensing board (board). Creates the music therapist and art therapist sections of the board. Requires music therapists to be licensed. Establishes requirements and procedures for an individual to be licensed as a music therapist, art therapist, and art therapist associate. Prohibits a person who is not licensed as a music therapist, art therapist, or an art therapist associate from using certain titles or certain words in a title. Makes technical and conforming changes.
