Sen. Rodney Pol

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 Repeals superseded provisions regarding prior authorization.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.

Maddy summarySB 141 establishes a new standardized procedure for law enforcement agencies to follow when conducting eyewitness identification processes. This includes both traditional lineups and in-person witness identifications. The bill aims to create a consistent approach for these procedures, directly affecting police departments and individuals who serve as witnesses in criminal investigations.

Allows an eligible county and city to establish by ordinance, a Midwest continental divide commission and district for the purpose of acquiring, developing, funding, constructing, equipping, and owning economic improvement projects in or serving the district. Amends an appropriation made in P.L.201-2023 to the northern Indiana regional economic development authority to allow funds to be used to support and fund the commission and the commission's projects.

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.

Allows a craft manufacturer to participate in a farmers' market, subject to certain conditions. Allows a liquor retailer and a liquor dealer to serve samples of mixed beverages. Increases, from 45 to 75 days, the number of days in a calendar year the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) may approve for a craft manufacturer to participate in a trade show or exposition. Repeals a provision prohibiting a beer dealer from selling and delivering beer for carry-out, or for delivery to a customer's residence or office, in a quantity that exceeds 864 ounces in a single transaction. Repeals a limitation on the maximum quantity of liquor that a liquor dealer may deliver to a customer's residence or office at any one time. Repeals a provision that allows the holder of a farm winery permit to sell the winery's wine to consumers by the bottle at a farmers' market that is operated on a nonprofit basis. Repeals a limitation on the maximum quantity of wine that a wine dealer may sell in a single transaction. Provides that the commission may issue a three way permit: (1) to a theater within the historic district of a city with a certain population; and (2) that is not subject to the quota. Requires a permittee to obtain written permission from the appropriate local or state agency to locate a restaurant or hotel patio or terrace in the public right-of-way. Allows the commission to issue a food hall master permit to a food hall that meets certain requirements.

Specifies that a request for a warrant made orally by telephone, radio, or similar electronic means must be recorded and typed or transcribed. (Under current law, the judge is required to record the request, and the court reporter to type or transcribe it.) Permits certain warrant requests to be: (1) made electronically (where current law only allows this by radio or telephone); and (2) recorded electronically (where current law only permits the use of audio tape). Requires the prosecuting attorney and a law enforcement agency to maintain all requests for warrants, and to provide them to a defendant in discovery.

Establishes the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission. Authorizes the commission to study various plans and recommendations that are proposed with respect to attracting a professional sports franchise to northwest Indiana. Authorizes the commission to prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and developing one or more professional sports franchises in northwest Indiana. Creates the professional sports development fund.

Amends the duties of the statewide juvenile justice oversight body established by the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana (oversight body). Requires the Indiana criminal justice institute (institute) to consider the recommendations of the oversight body (rather than consider only a single, specified plan developed by the oversight body as provided under current law) in adopting a funding formula for the juvenile diversion grant program, juvenile community alternatives grant program, and juvenile behavioral health competitive grant program. Requires a recipient of a grant under the juvenile diversion grant program, juvenile community alternatives grant program, or juvenile behavioral health competitive grant program to engage in collaborative service planning with specified entities, and sets out the characteristics of collaborative service planning. Makes the following changes with regard to the juvenile behavioral health competitive grant program (program): (1) Provides that the institute may use available funds to strengthen the institute's capacity to manage grants under the program. (2) Requires the institute to submit an annual report to specified recipients regarding the program. (3) Removes references to pilot program from the juvenile behavioral health competitive grant pilot program. Amends comparable provisions regarding: (1) the juvenile diversion grant program and juvenile community alternatives grant program; and (2) the program; to bring the provisions into closer conformity with one another. Amends certain deadlines concerning funds.

Prohibits an employer from taking an adverse employment action against an employee as a result of the employee's absence from work to attend an attendance conference or a case conference committee meeting with respect to the employee's child, except under certain circumstances. Provides that an employer is not required to pay an employee for travel or attendance time with respect to a conference or meeting. Requires certain persons to provide documentation related to a conference or meeting under certain circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 removes the sunset provision associated with pro bono legal services fees. This action makes the collection of these fees permanent, rather than allowing them to expire on a predetermined date. The bill ensures that the established funding mechanism for pro bono legal services will continue indefinitely, impacting legal aid organizations and the availability of free legal assistance.