It's Halftime for the 2024 Indiana Legislative Session

Dear Advocates,

Indiana is at a crossroads when it comes to behavioral health. The state faces numerous challenges in providing adequate mental health and addiction services to its residents. However, a series of bills currently under consideration at the Indiana Statehouse are offering hope to Hoosiers.

These bills, ranging from mental health grants to coverage for mobile integrated healthcare services, have the potential to transform the landscape of behavioral health in the state. The importance of these bills to behavioral health in Indiana cannot be overstated. They represent a concerted effort to improve access to mental health and addiction services, enhance school safety, and introduce approaches to treatment and care building off of last session's Senate Enrolled Act 1.

By supporting these bills, Indiana can take a significant step towards creating a healthier future for its residents, where behavioral health is a top priority, and individuals receive the care and support they need. It is crucial for lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to come together to ensure the passage of these bills, ultimately improving the well-being of all Hoosiers. Below you will find the bills, and their synopsis, that will make it to the second half of the 2024 Indiana Legislative Session.

House Bills:

HB1053 - Test Strips (Garcia Wilburn V)

• This bill removes provisions related to testing the strength, effectiveness, or purity of a controlled substance in the criminal laws concerning possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/31/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/30/2024
• Senate sponsors: Senators Baldwin and Pol

HB1070 - Mental Health Grants (Cash B)

• This bill allows the division of mental health and addiction to award mental health grants to for-profit community mental health organizations if a nonprofit organization does not qualify for the grant.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/31/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/30/2024
• House Bills on Second Reading on 1/29/2024
• House Committee recommends passage, as amended

HB1073 - Special Education (Cash B)

• This bill addresses special education and requires electronic recording equipment in designated special education classrooms by July 1, 2025.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 2/1/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/31/2024
• House Bills on Second Reading on 1/29/2024
• Committee Report amend do pass, adopted

HB1104 - School Safety (Davis M)

• This bill establishes armed intruder drill protocols in school safety plans and makes provisions regarding school resource officers.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/31/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/30/2024
• House Bills on Second Reading on 1/29/2024
• House Committee recommends passage, as amended

HB1138 - Professional Licensing Matters (Goss-Reaves L)

• This bill makes various changes related to professional licensing, including requirements for accountants and social workers.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/31/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/30/2024
• House Bills on Second Reading on 1/29/2024
• Committee Report amend do pass, adopted

HB1205 - Mental Health Standards and Reporting (Meltzer J)

1. This bill sets standards for recovery community organizations and reporting requirements for community mental health centers.

Certification Requirement:

• RCOs must obtain certification through an entity approved by the division (likely a government department or regulatory body).
• This certification process ensures that RCOs adhere to specific standards determined by the Indiana Recovery Network or a comparable certifying entity for RCOs.
• Essentially, RCOs need to meet certain criteria and undergo evaluation to ensure they're providing services that meet established standards for behavioral health recovery.

Additional Standards

• In addition to certification, RCOs must also meet other standards set by the division.
• These standards are established through rules adopted under IC 4-22-2, which likely refers to a specific legislative code outlining the procedures for rule-making and regulation within the state of Indiana.
• This section indicates that there are broader standards beyond certification that RCOs need to fulfill, possibly covering various aspects of their operation, service provision, or organizational structure.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/30/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/29/2024
• Second reading amended on 1/25/2024
• Committee Report amend do pass, adopted

HB1216 - Medical Services for Certain Detainees (Steuerwald G)

• This bill removes provisions regarding involuntary commitment to mental health facilities and Medicaid reimbursement for services.
• Current Status: Referred to Senate on 1/23/2024
• Key Events:Third reading passed in the House on 1/22/2024
• Second reading ordered engrossed on 1/18/2024
• Committee Report amend do pass, adopted

HB1238 - Competency Evaluation (McNamara W)

• This bill establishes a training program for competency evaluators and addresses competency-related dismissals in criminal cases.
• Current Status: Passed third reading in the House on 2/5/2024

Senate Bills:

SB10 - Community Cares Initiative Grant Pilot Program (Baldwin S)

• This bill establishes the Community Cares Initiative Grant Pilot Program to support mobile integrated health care programs and mobile crisis teams.
• Current Status: Committee Report amend do pass, adopted on 2/1/2024

SB45 - Trauma-Informed Care (Crider M)

• This bill requires the study of trauma-informed care in nursing education programs and mandates training for nurses with direct patient contact.
• Current Status: Passed third reading in the Senate on 2/1/2024

SB139 - Psilocybin Treatment Program (Charbonneau E)

• This bill establishes a fund to support research on psilocybin's use in treating mental health and medical conditions.
• Current Status: Committee Report amend do pass, adopted on 2/1/2024

SB142 - Coverage for Mobile Integrated Healthcare Services (Buchanan B)

• This bill requires health plans to provide reimbursement for emergency medical services provided by mobile integrated healthcare programs.
• Current Status: Passed third reading in the Senate on 2/1/2024

SB233 - Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (Crider M)

• This bill addresses Medicaid reimbursement for community mental health centers and certified community behavioral health clinics.
• Current Status: Committee Report do pass, adopted on 2/1/2024

SB214 - Student Mental Health Resources (Alexander S)

• This bill requires the approval and availability of student mental health resources for certain schools.
• Current Status: Committee Report amend do pass, adopted on 2/1/2024

SB273 - Biomarker Testing Coverage (Charbonneau E)

• This bill mandates health plan coverage for biomarker testing and sets requirements for prior authorization.
• Current Status: Committee Report amend do pass, adopted on 2/1/2024

SB284 - Consumer Genetic Testing Providers (Hunley A)

• This bill prohibits discrimination based on genetic testing results and regulates the use of genetic data by providers.
• Current Status: Passed third reading in the Senate on 1/30/2024