2010 Indiana legislation

We support...

SB 96 – Prenatal substance abuse commission • Author: Sen. Errington
A prenatal substance abuse commission was established in 2007 and expired December 31, 2009. This bill would have reauthorized that commission and require it to develop and recommend tactics to improve early intervention and treatment for pregnant women.

Update: SB 96 passed through the Health and Provider Services Committee on 1/27 with a vote of 7-0. SB 96 was heard by the entire Senate on 2/2 where it passed with a vote of 42-8. Planned Parenthood Advocates thanks all the Senators who voted in favor of SB 96.

The bill was referred to the House of Representatives and assigned to the Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee. The bill was not heard in committee, and subsequently died, because an anti-choice legislator tried to attach a poison pill amendment regarding abortion to the bill in order to kill the bill. This is a glaring example of the anti-choice zealots who use wedge issues to prevent good public policy that would provide real assistance to pregnant women and their children. Sen. Errington is hoping to find another bill in which to insert this language before the session ends.

SB 141 – Contraception definition • Author: Sen. Simpson
Defined"contraception" as separate from abortion and any abortion statutes.

Final Outcome: SB 141 was assigned to the Health and Provider Services Committee. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not move along in the legislative process and died.

SB 192 – Hospital visitation rights for domestic partners • Author: Sen. Errington
Would have extended hospital visitation rights to domestic partners.

Final Outcome: SB 192 was assigned to the Health and Provider Services Committee on 1/5. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not move along in the legislative process and it died.

SB 279 – Medicaid coverage for breast cancer treatment • Author: Sen. Dieg
Would have provided a definition for the term “treatment” when referring to breast and cervical cancer programs to help determine Medicaid eligibility.

Final Outcome: SB 279 was assigned to the Health and Provider Services Committee on 1/11. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not move along in the legislative process and it died.

SB 316 – Dating violence policy and education • Author: Sen. Rogers
Would have required school corporations to have policies and provide education regarding dating violence.

Update: SB 316 was heard in the Education and Career Development Committee on 1/27 where it was amended and passed with a vote of 8-1. Upon the bill’s 3rd reading on 2/2 in front of the entire Senate, the bill passed with a vote of 41-8. Planned Parenthood Advocates thank all the Senators who voted in favor of SB 316.

SB 316 was referred to the House and assigned to the Education Committee. The bill was heard in committee on 2/10 where it was amended by Representative Riecken and passed with full support by a vote of 11-0. During the bill’s 2nd reading on 2/16 harmful amendments were filed to poison the bill, so the sponsor withdrew the bill. This is another example of progress being thwarted by extreme political agendas.

SB 406 – Relationship education; dating violence policies • Author: Sen. Rogers
Would have required school corporations and nonpublic schools to: (1) provide age appropriate education concerning healthy relationships to students in kindergarten through grade 12; (2) develop a dating violence response policy; and (3) provide training to staff concerning healthy relationship education and dating violence response policies.

Final Outcome: SB 406 was assigned to the Education and Career Development Committee on 1/14. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not continue through the legislative process and it died.

HB 1007 – Domestic battery • Author: Rep. Duncan
Would have increased the penalties for domestic battery.

Final Outcome: HB 1007 was assigned to the Courts and Criminal Code Committee on 1/5. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not move along in the legislative process and died.

HB 1185 – Health care consent • Author: Rep. Sullivan
Would have allowed domestic partners to consent to health care decisions for her/his partner if s/he is incapable of consent.

Final Outcome: HB 1185 was assigned to the Public Policy Committee on 1/7. Unfortunately, because the bill was not scheduled for a committee hearing, it did not move along in the legislative process and it died.

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We oppose...

SB 198 – State contracts and grants • Author: Sen. Walker
This bill specifically targeted Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) and attempted to create a law barring the state from entering into any state contracts with PPIN. In short this bill was a direct attack on PPIN and would have resulted in stripping PPIN of necessary family planning dollars that support preventive reproductive health care services to about 90,000 Hoosiers per year.

Final Outcome: SB 198 was assigned to the Commerce and Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation Committee on 1/5. On 1/12 Senator Stutzman was added as a co-author of the bill. On 1/21, Senators Schneider, Kruse, Waltz, and Delph showed their support of this bill – and therefore their opposition of PPIN – as they were also added as co-authors of the bill. Fortunately, SB 198 was not scheduled for a committee meeting so it also died.

HB1366 – Informed consent for a hysterectomy • Author: Rep. Borders
This bill was another attempt to intervene in the patient/doctor relationship and insert politicians’ grandstanding into women’s health. Currently ethical practice for all surgical procedures requires written informed consent outlining the benefits and potential negative consequences of the operation. To suggest that women need an additional step to make truly informed health care decisions assumes they are not capable of taking care of their bodies and their lives.

Final Outcome: HB 1366 was assigned to the Public Health Committee on 1/13. A committee meeting was held on 1/25, but the measure was not voted upon. Therefore, HB 1366 died and will not move along through the legislative process as a bill. This issue may still be evaluated in a summer study committee so it may not be completely dead yet.

HJR 5, HJR 7, SJR 13 – Definition of marriage
These resolutions are the first step in amending the state constitution. Current law dictates that marriage is between a woman and a man, but this amendment would go even further and outlaw civil unions for same sex couples.

Joint resolutions must be agreed to by two consecutive general assemblies and ratified by a majority of the state's voters in a ballot initiative to become effective.

Final Outcome: HJR0005 and HJR000 7 were assigned to the Rules and Legislative Procedures committee on 1/7 and 1/13 respectively. Neither of these bills were scheduled for a committee meeting so they both died.

Update: SJR0013 was assigned to the Judiciary Committee on 1/1. On 1/19, Senator Holdman was added as a co-author and Senator Stutzman was added as a second author, showing their support for this bill that PPIN opposes. SJR0013 passed through the committee on 1/20 with a close vote of 6-4. No amendments were made. The bill passed the full Senate on 1/28 with a vote of 38-10.

SJR0013 was referred to the House on 1/28 and assigned to the Courts and Criminal Code Committee on 2/9. To date, this resolution was not heard in the House committee, therefore is likely dead for this session.

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We are monitoring...

HB 1276 – Domestic violence, bullying, and sending of sexual material • Author: Rep. Blanton
Originally called for a study committee to suggest recommendations regarding the sending of sexually suggestive or sexually explicit materials over the Internet, cellular phone or a similar device. Under this law, school corporations would have been required to provide programs regarding domestic violence. Also, it would gave amended the definition of "bullying" to include communications transmitted from an electronic communications device or through social networking websites.

Update: HB 1276 was assigned to the Judiciary Committee on 1/13, amended, and passed with a vote of 8-2. During the bill’s second reading on 2/1, three minor amendments were proposed and prevailed. On 2/2, HB 1276 was heard by the entire House and passed with a vote of 97-1.

HB 1276 was referred to the Senate on 2/2 and assigned to the Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters Committee on 2/8. The bill was heard in committee on 2/16, substantially amended and passed with a vote of 6-0. The bill now regards HIV testing of defendants charged with rape and the uniform judiciary technology project for the state. PPIN will continue to monitor the actions taken on HB 1276, but this bill is an example of the radical changes that can happen in the legislative process.

HB 1277 – Health disparities in Medicaid • Author: Rep. Crawford
Sets additional requirements for Medicaid administration, which would include reporting on culturally and linguistically appropriate service plans and standards and develop and administer a community-based health disparities advisory council.

Update: HB 1277 was assigned to the Public Health Committee on 1/12 and passed through committee on 1/20 by a vote of 8-1. During its 2nd reading, numerous amendments were introduced, four of which prevailed. The bill passed the House on 2/2 with a vote of 66-31.

HB 1277 was assigned to the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee on 2/8. The bill was substantially amended and reduced but passed through committee on 2/17 and passed 2nd reading on 2/22. The bill was heard for 3rd reading on 2/23 and has been returned to the House for amendments.

SB 71 – Unlawful termination of pregnancy • Author: Sen. Paul
States that a person commits involuntary manslaughter if they cause the termination of a viable fetus while operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Update: SB 71 was assigned to the Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters Committee on 1/5. The bill was amended and passed through committee on 1/12. The entire Senate showed their support for the bill as it passed with a 50-0 vote on 1/21.

SB 71 was assigned to the Courts and Criminal Code House Committee. The bill passed through committee with a 7-0 vote on 2/17 and 2nd reading on 2/22.

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