Amends the law allowing the adjustment of a water or wastewater utility's rates and charges to enable the utility to recover the cost of eligible infrastructure improvements, by providing that the general maximum limit on the revenues used in determining the adjustment does not apply to infrastructure improvement costs associated with the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a highway, street, or road. Amends the law that allows a public water utility to treat the costs of replacing customer-owned lead service lines as eligible infrastructure improvements for which a utility's rates and charges may be adjusted, by providing that the law applies to municipally owned utilities as well as public utilities. Establishes a procedure under which a public utility, municipally owned utility, or not-for-profit utility that provides water or wastewater service to the public and is under the jurisdiction of the commission for the approval of rates and charges may seek to recover, through a periodic rate adjustment, the cost of certain utility plant or equipment expenditures that are related to compliance with environmental requirements or made for health, safety, or environmental protection purposes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) as follows: (1) Changes: (A) from July 1 of each even-numbered year to January 1 of each odd-numbered year the effective date for the adjustment, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, of various dollar amounts set forth in the UCCC; and (B) the corresponding date that precedes the adjustment date and by which the department of financial institutions (department) must issue an emergency rule announcing the adjustment. (2) For an agreement for a consumer credit sale entered into after June 30, 2020: (A) authorizes a seller to contract for and receive a nonrefundable prepaid finance charge based on the amount financed, in addition to the credit service charge and any other authorized charges and fees; and (B) prohibits precomputed consumer credit sales. (3) Repeals a provision concerning the credit service charge for revolving charge accounts and relocates the language to the provision concerning the authorized credit service charge for consumer sales. (4) For an agreement for a consumer loan entered into after June 30, 2020: (A) changes the amount of the authorized nonrefundable prepaid finance charge from $50 to an amount that is not more than: (i) $75; (ii) $150; or (iii) $200; based on the amount financed, in the case of a consumer loan not secured by an interest in land; and (B) prohibits precomputed consumer loans. Makes conforming changes with respect to supervised loans. Changes from $1.50 to $3 the amount of the fee that a lessor in a rental purchase agreement may impose for accepting rental payments by telephone. Makes conforming technical amendments throughout the UCCC to reflect the bill's changes.
Establishes the Indiana behavioral health commission (commission). Specifies the membership of the commission. Requires the commission to prepare: (1) an interim report not later than October 1, 2020; and (2) a final report not later than October 1, 2022. Specifies the issues and topics to be discussed in the commission reports. Requires commission reports to be issued to the following parties: (1) The governor. (2) The legislative council. (3) Any other party specified by the commission chairperson. Requires commission reports to be issued in an electronic format. Abolishes the commission on December 31, 2022. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments.
Transfers responsibility for the 211 human services information dialing code from the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) to the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary). Eliminates provisions: (1) regarding recognized 211 service providers; (2) prohibiting state agencies or departments from establishing telephone lines or hotlines to provide human services information or referrals without first consulting a recognized 211 provider and notifying the authority; (3) prohibiting dissemination of information to the public about the availability of 211 services except in conformity with rules adopted by the authority; (4) limiting disbursements from the 211 services account to $50,000 annually; (5) requiring consultation with the board of directors of Indiana 211 Partnership, Inc., for purposes of preparation of the annual plan for expenditure of funds from the 211 services account; and (6) requiring an annual report to the general assembly regarding 211 services and deposits to and disbursements from the 211 services account. Creates the 211 services fund in place of the 211 services account. Creates the 211 advisory committee for purposes of advising the office of the secretary regarding use of and goals for 211 services. Requires the office of the secretary to: (1) compile specified data regarding 211 services beginning July 1, 2021; (2) enter into data sharing agreements to make the data available to entities approved by the office of the secretary; and (3) obtain and maintain accreditation for 211 operations in accordance with the standards of a national accreditation organization for information and referral services. Requires the office of the secretary to submit to the general assembly an annual report regarding 211 services. Makes conforming amendments.
Prohibits a person who is less than 21 years of age from buying or possessing: (1) tobacco; (2) e-liquids; or (3) electronic cigarettes. Makes conforming changes regarding enforcement provisions, sales certificates, prohibition of delivery sales, and notices posted at retail establishments and at vending machines. Provides that a retail establishment that sells an e-liquid to a person less than 21 years of age is subject to a civil judgment for an infraction. Doubles the civil judgment for an infraction for: (1) a retail establishment that sells or distributes tobacco, an e-liquid, or an electronic cigarette to a person less than 21 years of age; and (2) certain retail establishments that allow an underage person to enter their establishment. Modifies the time frame for when retail establishments may receive enhanced penalties for repeat e-liquid and tobacco products violations. Requires a merchant who mails or ships cigarettes as part of a delivery sale to use a shipping service that requires a customer to present identification if they appear to be less than 30 years of age. Provides that a tobacco sales certificate (certificate) may only be issued to a person who has not had an interest in a certificate revoked by the commission for a business location within one year. Makes it a Class C misdemeanor if a tobacco and vaping business operates within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school. Provides that a retail establishment in which tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and e-liquids account for at least 85% of the retail establishment's gross sales: (1) may not allow a person who is less than 21 years of age to enter the retail establishment; and (2) is not subject to a statute prohibiting sales of tobacco or electronic cigarettes through a self-service display. Makes it a Class B infraction for a person to knowingly sell tobacco, an e-liquid, or an electronic cigarette that contains vitamin E acetate. Makes technical corrections.
Requires hospitals, ambulatory outpatient surgical centers, and urgent care facilities to post certain information on their Internet web sites about health care services they provide, including the weighted average negotiated charges for the services. Provides that an insurer that issues a group health insurance policy or a health maintenance organization that enters into a group health maintenance organization contract shall disclose to the policyholder or subscriber: (1) the amount of the commission, service fee, or brokerage fee to be paid to an insurance producer for selling, soliciting, or negotiating the policy or contract; and (2) whether the commission or fee is based on a percentage of total plan premiums or a flat per member fee. Requires that this information be disclosed at the outset and upon renewal of the policy or contract. Prohibits the inclusion in a health provider contract of a provision under which a provider (an individual or entity licensed or authorized to provide health care services) would be prohibited from disclosing health care service claims data to an employer providing the coverage. States that the inclusion of such a provision in a health care provider contract is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance. Requires the department of insurance to submit a request for information and a request for proposals concerning the establishment and operation of an all payer claims data base, which will receive and contain information on claims paid by insurers, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and other payers. Provides that a fully credentialed provider shall be reimbursed by an insurer or health maintenance organization for eligible services provided at an in-network hospital if certain conditions are met.
Provides rights to sexual assault victims, including the right to: (1) speak with a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, and a victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available, before a forensic medical exam or during the course of an investigation; (2) the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence; and (3) notice. Requires a provider, before commencing a forensic medical examination, or as soon as possible, to notify a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, or victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available.
Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to obtain a license issued by the department of insurance and sets forth requirements of the pharmacy benefit manager. Provides for the commissioner of the department of insurance to adopt rules to specify licensure, financial and other standards, and reporting requirements that apply to a pharmacy benefit manager. Sets forth requirements and prohibitions of a pharmacy benefit manager. Allows a party that has contracted with a pharmacy benefit manager to request an audit of compliance at least one time per year. Makes violations of the chapter concerning pharmacy benefit managers an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance. Allows a pharmacy benefit manager to obtain the license not later than December 31, 2020, in order to do business in Indiana and provide services for any health provider contract beginning January 1, 2021. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services.)
Provides that a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan (EG&C plan) who dies after January 31, 2018, is not required to have a minimum number of years of creditable service in the EG&C plan at the time of the participant's death in order for the participant's nominated survivor to be entitled to receive survivors' benefits. Provides that if a participant in the EG&C plan dies in the line of duty after January 31, 2018, the participant's nominated survivor is entitled to an annual survivors' allowance for life equal to 100% of the amount to which the participant would have been entitled had the participant retired with 25 years of service at 50 years of age. Provides that in the EG&C plan if: (1) an active participant regardless of the participant's years of creditable service and (2) an inactive participant with at least 15 years of creditable service dies other than in the line of duty after January 31, 2018, the participant's nominated survivor is entitled to an annual survivors' allowance for life equal to 50% of the amount to which the participant would have been entitled had the participant retired with 25 years of service at 50 years of age. Makes technical corrections. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension management oversight.)
A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Beth Van Vorst (Greene) Gray.