A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing the victims of the Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting.
Prohibits the Medicaid program from specifying originating sites and distant sites for purposes of Medicaid reimbursement. Prohibits the use of telehealth to provide any abortion, including the writing or filling of a prescription for any purpose that is intended to result in an abortion. Changes the use of the term "telemedicine" to "telehealth". Specifies certain activities that are considered to be health care services for purposes of the telehealth laws. Expands the application of the telehealth statute to additional licensed practitioners instead of applying only to prescribers. Amends the definition of "prescriber" and "telehealth". Provides that a practitioner who directs an employee to perform a specified health service is held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those standards for health care services provided at an in-person setting. Requires that the telehealth medical records be created and maintained under the same standards of appropriate practice for medical records for patients in an in-person setting. Specifies that a patient waives confidentiality of medical information concerning individuals in the vicinity when the patient is using telehealth. Prohibits an employer from requiring a practitioner to provide a health care service through telehealth if the practitioner believes: (1) that health quality may be negatively impacted; or (2) the practitioner would be unable to provide the same standards of appropriate practice as those provided in an in-person setting. Provides that an applicable contract, employment agreement, or policy to provide telehealth services must explicitly provide that a practitioner may refuse at any time to provide health care services if in the practitioner's sole discretion the practitioner believes: (1) that health quality may be negatively impacted; or (2) the practitioner would be unable to provide the same standards of appropriate practice as those provided in an in-person setting. Amends requirements for a prescriber issuing a prescription to a patient via telehealth services. Requires that if a veterinarian is required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship to perform a health care service, the veterinarian shall ensure that a veterinarian-client-patient relationship is established. Repeals the law concerning telepsychology. Prohibits certain insurance policies and individual and group contracts from mandating the use of certain technology applications in the provision of telehealth services.
Allows an employee to request an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy. Requires an employer to respond to an employee's request for an accommodation within a reasonable time frame. Provides that a request for accommodation does not require an employer to provide an accommodation for an employee's pregnancy, or impose a duty or obligation upon the employer to provide an accommodation or an exception to the employer's policies unless existing federal or state laws require that an accommodation must be made. Prohibits an employer from disciplining, terminating, or retaliating against an employee because the employee has requested or used an accommodation for the employee's pregnancy.
Requires the state department of agriculture and the department of natural resources, in consultation with Purdue University, the utility regulatory commission (IURC), agricultural producers, woodland owners, foresters, certain technical experts, the agricultural industry, the forest industry, and environmental and conservation groups, to: (1) study and make findings and recommendations concerning the potential role of the state in a voluntary carbon credit market; and (2) issue a written report to the general assembly. Requires the director of the department of natural resources to designate the operator of the carbon sequestration pilot project (pilot project) before July 31, 2021. Provides that material compliance by the pilot project with a permit for a Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection well is an affirmative defense for the pilot project against certain civil actions or claims. Provides that: (1) a claimant may overcome the affirmative defense by proving actual interference with the use of the property or direct physical injury to tangible property; and (2) recovery by a public utility for any effect of the pilot project on the sources of the utility's public water supply is not prohibited or limited. Defines a "federal phaseout mandate" as any federal statutory or regulatory requirement that: (1) is established after April 20, 2021, by Congress, a federal agency, or a federal executive order; and (2) requires the phaseout or discontinuance of a particular type of electric generating facility, technology, or fuel source. Requires the IURC to consider in the context of: (1) applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity for new generating facilities; and (2) integrated resource planning; the impact of federal phaseout mandates on the estimated useful life of certain generating facilities of an electric utility, including on depreciation expense associated with such facilities.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing Irv Cross.
Requires the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) to implement a statewide electronic lien and title system (system) to process: (1) vehicle titles; (2) certificate of title data in which a lien is notated; and (3) the notification, maintenance, and release of security interests in vehicles; through electronic means instead of paper documents. Provides that the bureau may: (1) contract with one or more qualified vendors to develop and implement a system; or (2) develop an interface to provide qualified electronic lien service providers secure access to data to facilitate the creation of a system. Sets forth certain requirements that apply if the bureau elects to implement the system through a qualified vendor versus through qualified electronic lien service providers. Specifies that a contract entered into between the bureau and: (1) a qualified vendor; or (2) a qualified electronic lien service provider; may not provide for any costs or charges payable by the bureau to the qualified vendor or the qualified electronic lien service provider. Sets forth dates by which the bureau must implement and allow or require the use of: (1) a statewide electronic lien system; and (2) a statewide electronic title system. Sets forth certain conditions that apply to the use of a statewide electronic lien system implemented by the bureau under these provisions. Provides that under certain circumstances, the bureau may not charge state agencies or their agents with certain fees associated with the statewide electronic lien and title system. Authorizes the bureau to adopt rules, including emergency rules, to implement these provisions.
Provides that an electric utility that has certain qualified costs that: (1) are associated with an electric generation facility that will be retired from service within 24 months; and (2) are equal to at least 5% of the electric utility's total electric base rate; may file a petition with the utility regulatory commission (IURC) for a financing order authorizing the securitization of the qualified costs. Provides that an "electric utility", for purposes of the bill, is a public utility that: (1) owns or operates any electric generation facility for the provision of electric utility service to Indiana customers; (2) is under the jurisdiction of the IURC; and (3) has a total of not more than 200,000 retail electric customers. Provides that not later than 240 days after a petition for a financing order is filed, the IURC shall conduct a hearing and issue an order on the petition. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that: (1) the electric utility has proposed a reasonable mechanism to reflect a reduction in the electric utility's base rates and charges upon the assessment of securitization charges on customer bills, so as to remove any qualified costs from the electric utility's base rates; and (2) the mechanism will provide timely rate savings for customers. Provides that in issuing a financing order for cost securitization, the IURC must find that the electric utility will make capital investments in Indiana in an amount equal to or exceeding the amount of the electric utility's qualified costs, over a period of not more than seven years immediately following the issuance date of the securitization bonds. Provides that if the IURC makes the required findings with respect to the petition, the IURC shall issue a financing order that authorizes: (1) the issuance of securitization bonds with a term of not more than 20 years; (2) the collection of securitization charges from the electric utility's customers; and (3) the encumbrance of the resulting securitization property with a lien and security interest. Provides that qualified costs authorized in a financing order shall be allocated to the electric utility's customer classes using the same cost allocation methodology approved by the IURC in the electric utility's most recent base rate case, subject to certain exceptions. Provides that if an electric utility does not cause securitization bonds to be issued not later than 90 days after the date of a final, non-appealable financing order, the electric utility shall file a statement of abandonment with the IURC stating the reasons for the abandonment. Provides that a financing order issued by the IURC under these provisions must include a mechanism: (1) requiring that securitization charges be reviewed and adjusted by the IURC at least annually; and (2) allowing an electric utility, on its own initiative, to apply to the IURC at any time during a calendar year for an adjustment of its securitization charges, as the electric utility determines to be necessary; to correct any over collections or under collections of securitization charges, and to ensure the recovery of amounts sufficient to timely make all payments of debt service in connection with the securitization bonds. Sets forth provisions concerning the encumbrance of securitization property with a lien and security interest, including provisions concerning: (1) the attachment and perfection; and (2) the priority; of a security interest in securitization property. Specifies that securitization bonds are not: (1) a debt or obligation of the state; or (2) a charge on the state's full faith and credit or on the state's taxing power. Pledges that the state will not: (1) take or permit any action that would impair the value of securitization property; or (2) reduce, alter, or impair related securitization charges; until certain obligations in connection with the related securitization bonds have been paid or performed in full. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the task of studying during the 2022 legislative interim: (1) the implementation; and (2) use by electric utilities; of the bill's provisions concerning the securitization of costs for retired electric utility assets. Provides that if the committee is assigned to study this topic, the committee: (1) shall consider available data and other information concerning participating electric utilities to which the IURC has issued a financing order under the bill's provisions; (2) may request this data and information from certain parties; and (3) shall, not later than November 1, 2022, submit to the legislative council a report setting forth the committee's findings and recommendations, including the committee's recommendations as to whether to allow, under the bill's provisions, additional electricity suppliers to securitize costs associated with retired electric utility assets.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the impact and achievements of Das Dutchman Essenhaus.
Designates popcorn grown in Indiana as the official state snack of Indiana.
A SENATE RESOLUTION declaring that the policy of the state is to protect the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
