Dear Advocates,

We invite you to follow along as we navigate this year's new and exciting legislative session. If you are interested in learning more about our policy agenda, please be sure to review our 2023 Public Policy Statements HERE.

Mental Health America of Indiana advocates for effective legislation that will improve the behavioral health sector in Indiana. Below are behavioral health bills heard in committee this week.

House Bills:

House Bill 1004:

HEALTH CARE MATTERS (Schaibley, D) - Provides a credit against state tax liability to a physician who has an ownership interest in a physician practice and meets other eligibility criteria. Provides that the credit amount for a particular taxable year is $10,000. Provides that a physician may not claim the credit in more than three taxable years and that the credit is nonrefundable. Allows a credit to be carried forward for not more than 10 years. Sets forth requirements that a hospital or a health carrier must meet in order to employ a physician. Exempts certain specialties from the requirements.

Committee Status:

Bill Held in Committee

House Bill 1179:

PROFESSIONAL LICENSING (Clere, E) - Allows specified professional licensing boards to conduct meetings using electronic communications if the requirements for an electronic public meeting are met. Allows the reinstatement of a professional license that was retired, inactive, or surrendered (inactive) if the applicant meets the requirements for a delinquent or lapsed license. Provides that the reinstatement law applies to all licenses that were inactive for more than three years. Requires, for purposes of the license reinstatement law, that each board make available a list of standards that require a personal appearance before the board. Adds nonhealth professions to the professions that an out-of-state applicant may use to apply for license under the general reciprocity law. Provides that if a board does not act on an application within one year for an applicant who holds a provisional license or provisional certificate under the reciprocity law, the professional licensing agency shall issue the applicant a license or certificate.

Committee Status:

Bill Held for One Week

House Bill 1317:

INTERSTATE COMPACTS (Miller, D) - Provides that the statutes creating the following compacts expire July 1, 2025: (1) The Interstate Jobs Protection Compact. (2) The Interstate High Speed Intercity Rail Passenger Network Compact. (3) The Interstate Compact on Community Corrections Transfers. (4) The Interstate Compact on Mental Health. (5) The Interstate Compact on Juveniles. Requires the governor to give notice to each state that is a party to each compact, if any, as provided in the respective compacts, that the state of Indiana is withdrawing from the compact. Requires the governor to certify before January 1, 2024, either that notice: (1) has been given of Indiana's withdrawal from the compact; or (2) was not required to be given because there are not any other party states to which to give notice.

Committee Status:

Bill Held in Committee

House Bill 1194:

COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL (McNamara, W) - Provides that certain licensed individuals may examine a defendant and testify as to whether the defendant can understand the criminal proceedings and assist in the preparation of the defendant's defense. Allows a court to dismiss criminal charges, without prejudice, upon motion by either party, if: (1) a substantial probability does not exist that a defendant will attain competency restoration or if the defendant has not attained competency restoration after six months of restoration services; (2) the defendant has a certain diagnosis; and (3) the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor or Level 6 felony. Makes conforming changes.

Committee Status:

House Committee recommends passage Yeas: 15; Nays: 1



Senate Bills:

Senate Bill 1:

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MATTERS (Crider, M) - Provides that, not later than December 31, 2024, the office of the secretary of family and social services shall apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services: (1) for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or (2) to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. Requires the division of mental health and addiction to establish and maintain a help line: (1) to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and (2) that is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number. Reestablishes the Indiana behavioral health commission. Changes the name of the "9-8-8 crisis hotline center" to "9-8-8 crisis response center". Makes an appropriation. Makes conforming changes.

Committee Status:

Senate Committee recommends passage, as amended Yeas: 13; Nays: 0

Senate Bill 4:

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION (Charbonneau, E) - Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws. Adds members to the executive board of the Indiana department of health (state department). Requires the state department to provide district or regional services to local health departments. Allows the state department to issue guidance to local health departments. Requires the state department to make annual local health department reports available to the public. Changes the qualification requirements for a local health officer and requires certain training. Requires the state department to identify state level metrics and county level metrics and requires certain local health departments to report to the state department activities and metrics on the delivery of core public health services. Requires the state department to annually report on the metrics to the budget committee and publish information concerning the metrics on the Internet. Sets political affiliation limitations on local boards of health and adds two members to local boards of health. Requires a multiple county health department to maintain at least one physical office in each represented county.

Committee Status:

Senate Committee recommends passage, as amended Yeas: 12; Nays: 0

Senate Bill 205: TASK FORCE FOR THE REDUCTION OF VIOLENT CRIME (Qaddoura, F) - Establishes the task force for the reduction of violent crime (task force). Requires the task force to study potential statutory changes to reduce violent crime and submit a report for distribution to the general assembly.

Committee Status:

Bill Held in Committee

Senate Bill 371:

ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES (Ford, J) - Amends the hospital governing board requirements for the manner in which a psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurse will interact with other practitioners. Requires the Indiana state board of nursing to provide a report to the general assembly concerning psychiatric mental health advanced practice registered nurses who practice without a practice agreement. Makes conforming changes.

Committee Status:

Bill Held in Committee

Please be sure to sign up for our IN.session Newsletter and VoterVoice Action Alerts to stay up to date on important mental health related legislation.

If you would like to review all of the bills Mental Health America of Indiana is following, click HERE for our Action Track report!

Hoosier Idol 2023

The Battle of the Caucuses

Join us on Wednesday, April 5th, from 6 - 9 PM at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for of Hoosier Idol 2023!

Starring members of the Indiana General Assembly, legislators will compete to be crowned Hoosier Idol 2023!

Tickets are on SALE now!

Price of Table: $1,000

Price of Individual Tickets: $125

If you would like to sponsor this event, please email our Director of Communications and Marketing, Kelby Gaw, directly at kgaw@mhai.net

All funds raised from this event will be used to help protect and promote the lives of individual's effected by mental health and addiction. To learn more about the event and to register, click HERE.