Rep. Robin Shackleford

Provides that a household is eligible to begin receiving assistance under the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program if the household, at the time of the initial determination of the household's income eligibility by the office of the secretary of family and social services (FSSA): (1) has a household income that does not exceed 85% of Indiana's state median income for the household's family size; (2) includes an individual who is employed by a licensed child care center, a licensed child care home, or a licensed or registered child care ministry; and (3) otherwise meets federal eligibility requirements for the CCDF program. Provides that a child who: (1) is a member of a household with an annual income that does not exceed 85% of Indiana's state median income for the child's family size; (2) resides with a parent or guardian who is employed by a licensed child care center, a licensed child care home, or a licensed or registered child care ministry; and (3) meets other eligibility requirements for the prekindergarten program under current law; is eligible for assistance under the prekindergarten program.

Establishes the access to counsel in eviction task force (task force) to review matters related to the eviction process and potential funding sources to increase a tenant's access to counsel in an eviction proceeding. Sets forth membership, and requires the task force to issue a report to the legislative council not later than November 15, 2024. Provides that the task force expires December 31, 2024.

Requires the medical licensing board of Indiana to adopt rules requiring a physician and a physician assistant who apply for a license or renewal to complete continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias. Requires the Indiana state board of nursing to adopt rules requiring a nurse who applies for a license or renewal to complete continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias. Establishes certain requirements for an implicit bias continuing education course. Provides that the Indiana professional licensing agency must maintain on the agency's website a schedule of or link to implicit bias continuing education courses that are available.

Requests the legislative council to assign a study of directing the legislative services agency to prepare a racial equity impact note for a legislative bill introduced in a session of the general assembly, if requested by an author or sponsor of the bill, the chair of a standing committee to which the bill is assigned, or the ranking minority member of a standing committee to which the bill is assigned.

Establishes the chronic weight management task force to study and make recommendations concerning chronic weight related diseases and Type 2 diabetes.

Provides that at least 65% of the funds distributed to a county containing a consolidated city from the motor vehicle highway account (MVHA) shall be used for the construction, reconstruction, and preservation of highways by the county and the consolidated city respectively. (Current law provides that at least 50% of the funds distributed to a county or a municipality from the MVHA is to be used for the construction, reconstruction, and preservation of the county or municipality's highways.) Provides that, for purposes of determining the right of the consolidated city to receive a distribution of money from the MVHA based on population, the population of all the territory of the consolidated city is considered its population. Provides that, beginning in calendar year 2024, the consolidated city must use: (1) the entire amount distributed to the consolidated city from the MVHA that is attributable to the consolidated city's population in Wayne, Pike, and Decatur townships not included in the population of the fire special service district; and (2) an appropriation that is the greater of $8,000,000 or the amount of the distribution from the MVHA that is attributable to the consolidated city's population in Wayne, Pike, and Decatur townships not included in the population of the fire special service district in the previous year; for the construction, reconstruction, and preservation of the consolidated city's local streets and alleys. Requires the Indiana department of transportation (department) to: (1) conduct a study, with advisement from the consolidated city, to determine the asset condition of the consolidated city's former state highways; (2) appear before the interim study committee on roads and transportation during the 2023 legislative interim to provide testimony on the department's findings and observations from the study; and (3) not later than November 1, 2023, report the department's findings and observations to the interim study committee on roads and transportation.

Provides that, subject to certain procedures and requirements, the office of the secretary of family and social services may apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services: (1) for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or (2) to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish and maintain a help line: (1) to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and (2) that is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number. Establishes the Indiana behavioral health commission (commission) and sets forth the commission's membership. Changes the name of the "9-8-8 crisis hotline center" to "9-8-8 crisis response center". Makes conforming changes.

Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws. Adds members to the executive board of the Indiana department of health (state department). Removes a provision allowing the state department to establish branch offices. Provides that the state department may provide services to local health departments. Requires each local board of health to establish a local public health services fund to receive state funding. Provides a method of allocation of state funding to local boards of health, subject to state appropriations. Specifies the percentage of how additional funding may be expended on core public health services. Allows the local health department to enter into contracts or approve grants for core public health services. Allows the state department to issue guidance to local health departments. Requires the state department to make annual local health department reports available to the public. Changes the qualification requirements for a local health officer and requires certain training. Requires the state department to identify state level metrics and county level metrics and requires certain local health departments to report to the state department activities and metrics on the delivery of core public health services. Requires the state department to annually report on the metrics to the budget committee and publish information concerning the metrics on the Internet. Requires that a local health department post a position or contract for the provision or administration of core public health services for at least 30 days. Requires a local health department to provide certain education before administering a vaccine. Requires a multiple county health department to maintain at least one physical office in each represented county. Provides that a new city health department cannot be created after December 31, 2022, but allows current city health departments to continue to operate. Creates the Indiana trauma care commission. Allows a school corporation that cannot obtain an ophthalmologist or optometrist to perform the modified clinical technique vision test to conduct certain specified vision screenings. Requires the school to send to the parent of a student any recommendation for further testing by the vision screener. Allows for standing orders to be used for emergency stock medication in schools. Allows the state health commissioner or designee to issue a statewide standing order, prescription, or protocol for emergency stock medication for schools. Removes the distance requirement for an access practice dentist to provide communication with a dental hygienist. Repeals provisions concerning the Indiana local health department trust account.

Provides (beginning January 1, 2024) that the office of Medicaid policy and planning may not require: (1) a provider that is licensed, certified, registered, or authorized with the appropriate state agency or board and exclusively offers telehealth services to maintain a physical address or site in Indiana to be eligible for enrollment as a Medicaid provider; or (2) a telehealth provider group with providers that are licensed, certified, registered, or authorized with the appropriate state agency or board to have an in-state service address to be eligible to enroll as a Medicaid vendor or Medicaid provider group.

Allows a long acting reversible contraceptive that is prescribed to and obtained for a Medicaid recipient to be transferred to another Medicaid recipient if certain requirements are met.