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2008 Indiana Legislative Update - Final
Notice:This confidential material
is for the exclusive use of ISNA members and subscribers. DO NOT
electronically distribute or photocopy this information under
penalty of federal law.
© 2008 Indiana State Nurses Association |
Executive
Director's Report from the State House
Vol. 28, No. 1
© 2008
by Ernest Klein, CAE
Executive Director and Lobbyist
Note: Views stated may not necessarily represent those of the Indiana
State Nurses Association, Inc.
Welcome back to the 115th
General Assembly, 2008 Regular Session
Unless youâve been in Outer Mongolia, Iâm sure you realize that this
session is all about property tax and local government reform. The
legislators had a warning of the impending property tax storm shortly
before they adjourned last April. Unfortunately, there was not enough time
to adequately address the issue. Since then, the Governor has proposed
some solutions. Also, the Kernan (past Governor)/Shepard (Chief Justice)
Commission issued its report, and most every legislator has weighed in on
one or more of the issues.
You will remember that this is the ãshortä session and the legislators
plan to adjourn by March 14, 2008. However, the word in the hallways is to
not make any plans to be out of town this Spring. Since November 2008 is
an election year, the legislators will want to have something they can
ãboastä about during their campaigns. We saw what happened to the
incumbent mayor of Indianapolis because of the votersâ frustration and
anger over taxes.
Because this is the short session, the deadline for 3rd (final) reading of
Senate bills in the Senate is Wednesday, January 30, 2008 and 3rd reading
of House bills in the House is Thursday, January 31, 2008. Since the House
and the Senate are not reconvening until January 8, that means there is
barely three weeks for committee hearings and for bills to complete the
journey in the chamber of origin.
One other factor is that the number of resignations by legislators keeps
rising. There will be 17 legislators who will be first-timers in a short
session ö five in their first session ever. According to Indiana
Legislative Insight, it will be ãthe largest number of short session pure
rookies we can recall in at least two decades.ä
Brand new legislators this session are:
(R) Sen. Ed Charbonneau (Valparaiso) SD 5
(D) Rep. Greg Simms (Valparaiso) HD 10
(D) Rep. Shelli Vandenburgh (Crown Point) HD 19
(D) Rep. Sandy Blanton (Orleans) HD 62
(D) Rep. John Bartlett (Indianapolis) HD 95
So again, the perennial question ö DO YOU KNOW YOU YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND
SENATOR? Now is the time to find out at http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/legislator/search/
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Agenda for: Health and Provider Services, January 9, 9:00 AM, Senate
Chamber
Chairman: Miller
Members: Dillon R.M., Becker, Gard, Lawson, Mishler, Riegsecker;
Rogers R.M.M., Errington, Simpson, Sipes
SB 0042 Select joint commission on Medicaid oversight - Sen. Miller
Adds the determination of whether a managed care organization that has
contracted with the state to provide Medicaid services has performed the
terms of the contract to the duties of the select joint commission on
Medicaid oversight (commission). Repeals a provision that provides for the
expiration of the commission on December 31, 2008. (The introduced version
of this bill was prepared by the Select Joint Commission on Medicaid
Oversight.)
SB 0003 Dispensing of drugs by pharmacists - Sen. Drozda
Provides that a pharmacist may not be required to dispense a drug or
medical device if the drug or medical device would be used to: (1) cause
an abortion; (2) destroy an unborn child; or (3) cause the death of a
person by means of assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.
Specifies that a pharmacist's refusal to dispense a drug or medical device
may not be the basis for: (1) a claim of damages against the pharmacist or
pharmacy; and (2) disciplinary action against the pharmacist. Provides
that an employer who knowingly or intentionally takes disciplinary,
recriminatory, or discriminatory action against a pharmacist who refuses
to dispense a drug or medical device commits pharmacy discrimination, a
Class A misdemeanor. Makes a second or subsequent offense a Class D
felony. Authorizes the Indiana board of pharmacy to assess additional
fines against the employer.
SCR 0002 Surrogacy Issues Study - Sen. Miller
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the legislative council to assign to the
Child Custody and Support Advisory Committee the evaluation of surrogacy
issues.
Whereas, The issue of surrogacy has generated great debate within many
communities;
Whereas, With the increasing demand for infertility treatment and a
decline in the number of children available for adoption, surrogacy may
become an alternative for childless couples; and
Whereas, Although surrogacy now offers many couples an option to help
build the families they so strongly desire, it is important that the
issues surrounding surrogacy be thoroughly evaluated to determine if there
is a need for modification of the laws and public policy concerning
surrogacy:
Therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the
State of Indiana, the House of Representatives concurring:
SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges that the legislative
council assign to the Child Custody and Support Advisory Committee the
evaluation of surrogacy issues.
SECTION 2. That the issues studied should include, but are not limited to,
the facilitation of surrogacy agreements and births, how other
jurisdictions regulate or penalize surrogacy births and surrogacy
agreements, and current laws and regulations concerning surrogacy births
and surrogacy agreements.
The House Ways and Means Committee will start off on the road with
committee hearings on HB 1001 - Property tax relief. ö Rep. Crawford
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Ways and Means, January 9, 10:00 AM, Southside High School Auditorium,
3601Calhoun, Fort Wayne
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Agenda for: Ways and Means January 10, 11:00 AM, IUSB, Student Center,
Main Gym Student Activity Center, South Bend.
So stay tuned - weâll see you at the ISNA 2008 Legislative Conference on
Wednesday, January 23, 2008. Registration information is available at here.
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