Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee for the 2020 interim the task of studying carbon sequestration through conservation of forest lands, reforestation, and carbon farming.
Establishes the healthy food financing fund (fund) and healthy food financing program (program) under the administration of the Indiana housing and community development authority (IHCDA). Provides that the purpose of the fund is to provide financing in the form of loans or grants for projects that increase the availability of fresh and nutritious food in underserved communities. Defines an "underserved community" as a census tract determined to be an area with low supermarket access: (1) by the United States Department of Agriculture; or (2) as identified through a methodology used by another healthy food initiative. Provides that the IHCDA may contract with one or more nonprofit organizations or community development financial institutions to administer the program through a public-private partnership. Provides that an applicant for a grant or a loan must demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the project and the ability to repay the loan. Provides that an applicant for a grant or a loan must agree to satisfy certain conditions. Requires the IHCDA to monitor projects receiving financing and submit a report annually to the legislative council that includes the number and types of jobs created, and the health initiatives associated with the program.
Prohibits billing a patient who receives emergency services: (1) from an out of network provider; and (2) at specified facilities that are in network; for amounts that exceed the cost paid by the patient's insurance plus any deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts. Requires certain health care providers to provide, upon request from the patient, a good faith estimate to the patient for the cost of care at least five business days before a health care service or procedure is provided. Sets forth requirements of the good faith estimate. Requires the patient to acknowledge in writing receipt of the estimate and indicate whether to proceed with the service or procedure.
Establishes additional circumstances for which a school corporation may provide supplemental payments to teachers in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan. Provides that a teacher rated improvement necessary in the teacher's annual performance evaluation is eligible to receive a partial raise or increment. (Current law provides that such a teacher may not receive a raise or increment.) Relocates provisions regarding supplemental payments for teachers.
Requires a managed care organization to allow a child Medicaid recipient who has been certified for admission to a psychiatric hospital to be provided certain services that are determined by a treating physician to be necessary for the child for up to five business days before the managed care organization may require a continued review process.
Changes the membership requirements for members of the Native American Indian affairs commission as follows: (1) Specifies that eight, rather than six, members must be Native American Indians from different geographic regions of Indiana. (2) Removes the requirement that two members must be Native American Indians who have knowledge in Native American traditions and spiritual issues. (3) Replaces the commissioner of the commission for higher education or the commissioner's designee as an ex officio member with the director of the department of child services or the director's designee. (4) Provides that not more than two members of the commission may represent the same tribe or organization. (Current law limits a particular tribe or organization to one member.)
Requires testing of the drinking water in every school building in Lake County at least once in each period of two calendar years to determine whether the drinking water exceeds the lead action level for drinking water established by regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Prohibits the sale of a companion animal unless the companion animal: (1) is at least eight weeks of age; and (2) has received appropriate vaccinations. Makes a violation a Class C infraction for every animal unlawfully sold, and increases the penalty to a Class B infraction if the person has a prior judgment for an unlawful sale. Defines "unfit for sale" and provides remedies for a person who purchases a companion animal that was unfit for sale or that was the subject of misrepresentations concerning the animal's age or medical history.
Allows counties to impose an additional local income tax rate to fund the operations of a public transportation corporation and the operations of a rural transportation assistance program if the: (1) voters of the county approve a local public question; and (2) fiscal body of the county adopts an ordinance to impose the additional tax rate. Provides that the rate must be at least 0.1% but not more than 0.25%. Excludes from this provision any county that is eligible to hold a referendum on funding transportation projects under the central Indiana public transportation projects statute.
Provides that an emergency medical dispatcher who has successfully completed certain training shall be considered an emergency responder.
