Committee Reports Approach Deadlines

The schedule for House committees is lengthy for Monday, due to Tuesday's deadline for the full House to adopt committee reports. The deadline for the Senate follows two days later, on Thursday. With these two critical dates looming, next week is expected to be very active. 

Sen. Mike Crider's (R-Greenfield) SB 248 is expected to pass from the House Health Committee on Monday. This bill, requiring FSSA to study issues concerning psychiatric crisis intervention services, was held for later vote after it was heard nearly two weeks ago. SB 80, the leadership authored and sponsored bill aimed at reducing the number of Interim Study Committees and streamlining the study and it's potential effect on SB 248 was cited as a reason for the bill being held for final vote. It is expected to pass from Committee on Monday without amendment. SB 80 is set also for hearing Monday in the House Rules Committee. It meets at 9:30 a.m. in Room 156 A. 

The elimination/reduction/local option of Business Personal Property taxes remain under discussion, mostly out of public view. Local units of government continue to push back against further loss of local revenue. Governor Pence has suggested the state replace those lost dollars but legislators are not showing much enthusiasm for that approach. Some believe the issue will be referred for interim study to one of the "umbrella" committees being established in SB 80. 

The Central Indiana Mass Transit bill, SB 176, will be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday at 9:00 a.m. in Room 404. Sen. Pat Miller's (R-Indianapolis) bill was recommitted to Ways and Means because of its tax implications after it passed from the House Roads and Transportation Committee. The bill allows local referenda in those Central Indiana Counties opting to participate in inter-local transit agreements. The bill now prohibits a light rail project. 

Here are other bills that INARF is watching that will be heard in the House Public Health committee on Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber: 

SB 44, Electronic Health data work group. Sen. Breaux and Rep. Clere. 

SB 139, Adds providing assistance with medication to scope of "attendant care services." Sen. Becker, Rep. Bacon. 

SB 180, Directs Department of Health to study implementing a program to treat veterans with traumatic brain injury. Sen. Banks, Rep. Zent. 

SB 397, Children in nursing homes. Sen. Leising, Rep. Eberhart. 

SB 406, Medicaid false claims. Sen. Mishler, Rep. Clere. 

Legislative Committees are streamed online and can be accessed here. Selecting the "Watch Live" button (either Senate or House) in the lower right then allows selection of the room in which the meeting is being conducted.

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