Sen. J.D. Ford

Removes the requirement that rules adopted by the state department of health, in consultation with the department of veterans' affairs, include patient health improvement as a condition for approval of payment for treatment under the hyperbaric oxygen treatment pilot program (pilot program). Removes the requirement that the state department of health receive pretreatment and posttreatment evaluation documentation as a condition for approval of payment for hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Requires that rules adopted by the state department of health concerning the pilot program not include criteria requiring patient health improvement as a condition for approval of payment for treatment.

Provides a property tax deduction to the owner of real property, a mobile home not assessed as real property, or a manufactured home not assessed as real property if: (1) the property is occupied by relative of the owner who is blind or is an individual with a disability; (2) the occupant principally uses the property as the occupant's residence; and (3) the occupant's gross income for the year preceding the year for which the deduction is claimed does not exceed $17,000.

Prohibits a person who has been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act while armed with a firearm that would be a serious violent felony if committed by an adult (serious delinquent) from possessing a firearm unless the person is at least: (1) 26 years of age, in the case of less serious acts; or (2) 28 years of age, in the case of more serious acts. Makes possession of a firearm by a serious delinquent a Level 6 felony, and increases the penalty to a Level 5 felony for a second or subsequent offense. Requires a juvenile court to transmit certain findings to the office of judicial administration for transmission to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) upon a finding of delinquency for an act that would be a serious violent felony if committed by an adult.

Provides that an emergency medical dispatcher who has successfully completed certain training shall be considered an emergency responder.

Makes the following changes to provisions concerning resident tuition rate eligibility for active duty armed forces personnel and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel: (1) Defines "dependent". (2) Amends the definition of "qualified course". (3) Provides that spouses of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible for the resident tuition rate. (4) Provides that spouses and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible, from the date that the state educational institution accepts the spouse or dependent for enrollment, for the resident tuition rate if the spouse or dependent enrolls in the state educational institution within a certain amount of time. (5) Provides that a dependent or spouse of a person who serves on active duty in the armed forces is eligible for the resident tuition rate for the duration of the spouse's or dependent's continuous enrollment at a state educational institution regardless of whether the person serving on active duty continues, after the spouse or dependent is accepted for enrollment in the state educational institution, to satisfy certain resident rate tuition eligibility criteria.

Prohibits a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, or a health maintenance organization from modifying an enrollee's coverage of a drug during the current plan year. Specifies prohibited modifications. Provides for certain exceptions. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services.)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Beverly Brown upon her retirement from the Indiana Senate.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Indiana University in recognition of its Bicentennial Anniversary on January 20, 2020.

A SENATE RESOLUTION to honor Chief Robert Knox on his retirement from the Zionsville Police Department.

A SENATE RESOLUTION congratulating Dr. Carrie Foote on being awarded the 2019 Arts for AIDS Hero of the Year.