Sen. Jeff Raatz

Establishes the office of entrepreneurship and innovation (office). Specifies the duties of the office. Transfers oversight responsibilities of certified technology parks from the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to the office. Provides for the submission of an annual report of the activities of an innovation development district as to financial information pertaining to tax increment financing districts in an innovation development district to the: (1) fiscal body of the county, city, or town; and (2) department of local government finance. Provides that before the IEDC may purchase land in a county that in total exceeds 100 acres whether acquired in one transaction or a series of transactions, the IEDC must first give notice, in writing, to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the land is located (and to the mayor of a city if the land is located within a city) not later than 30 days before the closing date for the purchase or purchases. Requires the IEDC to provide to the budget committee a copy of the notice being provided to the local unit in which certain land is being purchased. Provides that if the IEDC extends an offer to one or more voting or nonvoting members of the budget committee to tour a potential economic development site that may receive state assistance in undertaking the project, the IEDC shall simultaneously extend the same offer to all voting and nonvoting members of the budget committee. Requires the governor to appoint the president of the IEDC, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and report to the secretary of commerce. (Under current law, the secretary of commerce is the president of the IEDC.) Repeals the statute that expires the central Indiana regional development authority.

Establishes the small modular nuclear reactor partnership pilot program (program). Provides that certain electric utilities (eligible utilities) may partner with one or more other specified types of partners (eligible partners) to develop one or more small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at an eligible project site, subject to the approval of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC). For purposes of these provisions, provides that an eligible project site is: (1) a location in Indiana; or (2) the site of a nuclear energy facility that supplies electricity to Indiana retail customers on July 1, 2011. Provides that an eligible utility that seeks to develop a project with one or more eligible partners may petition the IURC for approval to participate in the program. Sets forth the information that an eligible utility's petition must include. Sets forth the factors that the IURC must consider in reviewing a petition. Requires the IURC to issue a final order approving or denying a petition not later than 180 days after receiving the petition and the eligible utility's complete case in chief, subject to the IURC's right to extend the time for review if the eligible utility does not object to the extension. Provides that the IURC shall approve a petition if the IURC makes specified findings. Provides that an eligible utility may petition the IURC for approval to incur, before obtaining a certificate of convenience and necessity (CPCN) to construct an SMR under the program, eligible project development costs. Defines "eligible project development costs" as project development costs that: (1) have been, or are reasonably estimated to be, incurred by an eligible utility in the development of one or more SMRs under the program; and (2) have not been and will not be recovered by the eligible utility through contributions of any money, services, or property provided at no cost to the eligible utility by any eligible partner, governmental agency, or other third party, regardless of whether the third party has entered into an eligible partnership with the eligible utility. Sets forth certain factors that the IURC must consider in reviewing an eligible utility's petition to incur eligible project development costs. Provides that if the IURC denies an eligible utility's petition to participate in the program, and the eligible utility seeks to pursue the development of an SMR outside the program, the eligible utility may: (1) proceed to develop an SMR under the procedures set forth under the existing Indiana Code section governing CPCNs for SMRs; and (2) request that the eligible utility's petition to incur eligible project development costs under bill's provisions be considered a petition to incur project development costs under the Indiana Code section governing CPCNs for SMRs .Provides that if an eligible utility receives approval to incur eligible project development costs, the eligible utility may petition the IURC for the approval of a rate schedule that periodically adjusts the eligible utility's rates and charges to provide for the timely recovery of eligible project development costs. Provides that an eligible utility that receives approval to recover eligible project development costs shall: (1) recover 80% of the approved eligible project development costs under the approved rate schedule; and (2) defer the remaining 20% of approved eligible project development costs for recovery as part of the eligible utility's next general rate case before the IURC. Provides that eligible project development costs that: (1) are incurred by an eligible utility; and (2) exceed the best estimate of eligible project development costs included in the IURC's order authorizing the eligible utility to incur eligible project development costs; may not be included in the eligible utility's rates and charges unless found by the IURC to be reasonable, necessary, and prudent in supporting the development of the project for which they were incurred. Provides that: (1) eligible project development costs incurred for a project that is canceled or not completed may be recovered by the eligible utility if found by the IURC to be reasonable, necessary, and prudently incurred; but (2) such costs shall be recovered without a return unless the IURC makes certain additional findings.

Maddy summaryHB 1064 removes existing language that prohibited certain students from enrolling in a school primarily for athletic reasons. This change allows students to transfer to a new school corporation even if their main motivation is to participate in sports. The bill modifies the current law to permit these types of athletic-focused school transfers.

Establishes additional duties for the governor's workforce cabinet and requires the cabinet to perform certain duties jointly with other state agencies. Requires the Indiana management performance hub, in collaboration with the department of education (department) and commission for higher education (commission), to: (1) collect and compile certain student income data; and (2) compile into a data product on the department's and commission's websites certain data. Requires the secretary of education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the general assembly. Provides that the commission shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or programs. Provides that before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. Requires the commission to: (1) review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; (3) publish certain information; and (4) take official action regarding the approval or disapproval of certain requests within 90 days. Requires a state educational institution to approve for admission Indiana residents who meet certain requirements. Requires the board of trustees of a state educational institution to do the following: (1) When reviewing tenured faculty members, assess and review the staffing needs of the institution based on the branches, campuses, extension centers, colleges, schools, and degree and programs of the institution. (2) Submit to the commission any review of, renewal of, or amendment to the process or criteria regarding the tenured faculty member review. Requires the commission to promptly review the process and criteria and provide feedback to a board of trustees. Requires the commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the legislative council regarding certain student enrollment data. Adds duties for the department of workforce development.

Sets forth requirements for a utilization review entity that requires prior authorization of a health care service. Prohibits a utilization review entity from requiring prior authorization for the first 12 physical therapy or chiropractic visits of each new episode of care. Provides that a claim for reimbursement for a covered service or item provided to an insured or enrollee may not be denied on the sole basis that the referring provider is an out of network provider. Repeals superseded provisions regarding prior authorization. Makes corresponding changes.

Allows the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to study and prepare a report containing recommendations for realigning and consolidating the local area agency on aging (area agency) planning and service areas. Amends the definition of "community and home care services" for purposes of community and home options to institutional care for the elderly and disabled program (CHOICE). Prohibits the division of aging from requiring a CHOICE provider to be certified under the Medicaid program or a Medicaid waiver program. Creates an exception for a provider of certain services. Requires an area agency to prioritize CHOICE funding to identify specified individuals and provide community and home care services to these individuals. Requires the office of the secretary, in negotiating reimbursement rates for CHOICE services, to consider the location and availability of service providers. Authorizes the office of the secretary to establish a Medicaid diversion pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of home modification and telehealth enhanced chronic care services provided by specified area agencies in reducing Medicaid expenditures. Allows the office of the secretary, a managed care organization that has contracted with the office of Medicaid policy and planning, and a person who has contracted with a certain managed care organization or the office of the secretary to contract with an area agency to provide and receive reimbursement for a level of care assessment for the: (1) health and wellness Medicaid waiver; (2) traumatic brain injury Medicaid waiver; and (3) risk based managed care program for the covered population.

Increases, from $8,800 to $20,000, the amount that shall be paid by the state if a member of the Indiana National Guard dies in the active service of the state. Provides that a spouse or dependent of a member of the Indiana National Guard is eligible for a state employee death benefit if the member dies while serving on state active duty. Provides that the adjutant general may procure a medical insurance plan for members of the Indiana National Guard who are ordered to state active duty. Adds awards and decorations that may be awarded by the Indiana National Guard. Provides that members of the Indiana National Guard, while serving on state active duty, shall be considered state employees for purposes of receiving worker's compensation. Provides that a scholarship applicant of the National Guard tuition supplement program may use the scholarship for a credential-certifying program, licensing program, trade certification program, or apprenticeship program for an in-demand occupation as identified by the adjutant general and the department of workforce development, in consultation with the commission for higher education. Provides that if a scholarship applicant of the National Guard tuition supplement program receives a twenty-first century scholars program scholarship, the scholarship applicant may use a National Guard tuition supplement program scholarship awarded to pay for qualified program and educational expenses approved by the commission for higher education and room and board for two years. Makes technical corrections.

Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to report specified Medicaid data to the Medicaid oversight committee. Requires the office to annually prepare and present a report to the budget committee concerning the enforcement of the Medicaid five year look back period. Prohibits specified persons from advertising or otherwise marketing the Medicaid program. Provides that the office may adopt rules concerning permissible advertising or marketing indicating participation in the Medicaid program by a person that has contracted with the office. Allows the office to reimburse medical providers at the appropriate Medicaid fee schedule rate for certified medical claims prior to the beginning of benefits, provided the claims satisfy certain conditions. Repeals language allowing for marketing of the Medicaid program. Requires the office to receive and review data from specified federal and state agencies concerning Medicaid recipients to determine whether circumstances have changed that affect Medicaid eligibility for recipients and to perform a redetermination. Requires the office to establish: (1) performance standards for hospitals that make presumptive eligibility determinations and sets out action for when hospitals do not comply with the standards; and (2) an appeals procedure for hospitals that dispute the violation determination. Sets out a hospital's responsibilities when making a presumptive eligibility determination. Imposes corrective action and restrictions for failing to meet presumptive eligibility standards. Specifies requirements, allowances, and limitations for the healthy Indiana plan.

Maddy summaryHB 1376 amends the legal definition of "emergency medication." The specific changes to this definition, who is directly affected by them, and the mechanisms involved are not detailed in the provided abstract.

Provides that a governmental entity may not substantially burden certain parental rights unless the burden, as applied to the parent and the child, is required to advance a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the governmental interest. Prohibits a governmental entity from: (1) advising, directing, or coercing a child to withhold certain information from the child's parent; or (2) denying a child's parent access to certain information. Allows a parent to bring an action against a governmental entity for certain violations and provides for certain relief. Specifies that the parent of a child does not have a right to access certain medical care on behalf of the child if the child does not have an affirmative right of access to the medical care.