More than 40 interest groups representing a variety of causes are urging state lawmakers to improve transparency and public participation in Indiana's legislative process, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
A letter sent Tuesday to the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Indiana House and Senate requests fewer spur-of-the-moment schedule changes and more opportunities for Hoosiers away from the Statehouse to share their thoughts on pending legislation.
"While changes are essential for the short-term as elected officials envision how to legislate during social distancing, we must also use this opportunity to reimagine our legislative process with greater accessibility for all Hoosiers," the letter says.
In particular, the groups request proposed amendments be filed and available to the public at least one full day, rather than just two hours, before they are eligible for a vote, and committee hearings be scheduled 72 hours, instead of 24 hours, in advance.
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They also ask that House and Senate committees accept written, prerecorded, live video, and in-person testimony on legislative proposals, with sufficient time for everyone who wants to be heard to have a chance to make their case for or against a measure.
"The Indiana General Assembly cannot make the critical policy decisions that will be required in 2021 without centering the voices, experiences and expertise of those who are most underserved and marginalized," the letter says.
Groups signing the letter include Northwest Indiana Community Action, the Indiana Public Health Association, Hoosier Environmental Council, ACLU of Indiana, Feeding Indiana's Hungry, Indiana Catholic Conference, Indiana NAACP, and the ARC of Indiana, among others.
Due to COVID-19, legislative leaders already have announced plans to use video testimony at committee hearings and to temporarily relocate the House to a meeting room at the Indiana Government Center that's more spacious than its Statehouse chamber.
They've also limited each representative and senator to 10 proposals for new laws to limit debate on extraneous matters and reduce the workload of legislative staffers.
The General Assembly is set to convene Jan. 4 for a four-month session.
Letter requesting changes to 2021 Indiana legislative session
The Jingle Johns sing "Hallelujah."
Get to know these new Indiana laws that took effect in 2020
Get to know these new Indiana laws that take effect in 2020
911 fee
The Statewide 911 Board is authorized to increase the fee paid by all telephone users for access to 911 emergency services to $1.10 per month, from $1. (HEA 1235)
Abortion
Women completing a pill-induced abortion away from a clinic or hospital are encouraged — but not required — to collect the embryonic remains and return them to the abortion provider for burial or cremation. (SEA 299)
Breast prostheses
Health insurance sold in Indiana that provides coverage for mastectomies must also provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, including one additional breast prosthesis per breast affected by the mastectomy. (SEA 239)
Cancer screening
Health insurance companies, in most circumstances, are obligated to cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45, instead of 50, in accordance with a recent recommendation by the American Cancer Society. (HEA 1080)
Child sex crimes
The statute of limitations for filing charges against perpetrators of sex crimes against children can be extended five years beyond the victim's 31st birthday if prosecutors discover new DNA evidence, a recording of the crime or the perpetrator confesses. The deadline for victims to seek assistance from the Violent Crimes Victim Compensation Fund also is extended. (SEA 109)
Chinese tech
Every state agency and department, including universities, and every local unit of government in Indiana, is barred from spending public funds to purchase services or products, including 5G networking equipment, produced or provided by Huawei Technologies or ZTE Corporation, due to their alleged surveillance and espionage work on behalf of the Chinese government. (SEA 197)
Distracted driving
It’s illegal for drivers to hold or use a handheld mobile device while operating a moving vehicle, unless the device is mounted on a dashboard, another surface in their vehicle, or otherwise operated in hands-free mode. Motorists caught holding a phone in a moving vehicle can be fined up to $500 and possibly lose their driver’s license for repeated violations.
Gary schools
The Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board may suspend the $550,000 in monthly debt repayments of the Gary Community School Corp. to the state's Common School Fund and instead use the money for school building repairs or demolition. (HEA 1065)
Griffith
The town of Griffith has until June 30 to voluntarily join either North or St. John townships, otherwise Griffith automatically becomes part of North Township. The town's voter-approved transfer out of Calumet Township becomes final Jan. 1, 2022. (SEA 365)
Health pricing
Hospitals, same-day surgery centers and urgent care clinics are required by March 31, 2021 to post on their websites the costs of their most frequently used services. The Indiana Department of Insurance is directed to begin the process of creating an all-payer claims database to improve health care pricing transparency. (SEA 5)
Indigency
Judges in all 92 counties must consider the same criteria — assets, income and necessary expenses — to determine whether a criminal defendant lacks sufficient financial resources to hire a private attorney and is entitled to use the public defender. (SEA 302)
Insulin
A prescription no longer is required to purchase insulin in Indiana beginning Jan. 1, 2021. (SEA 255)
Lake Michigan
The shoreline of Lake Michigan up to the ordinary high-water mark is, and always has been, owned by the state, and Hoosiers have a right to use the shoreline for walking, fishing, boating, swimming and any other recreational purpose for which Lake Michigan ordinarily is used. Adjacent private property owners are not entitled to exclusive use of the beach or the water. (House Enrolled Act 1385)
Marriage
The minimum age to marry in Indiana is increased to 16 years old from 15. Children ages 16 and 17 only can marry if their partner is no more than four years older and a juvenile court judge grants permission for the marriage. (HEA 1006)
Medical billing
Most health care providers must prepare, upon request, a good faith estimate of the costs of nonemergency health care services ordered or scheduled for a patient to minimize surprise medical bills. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2021, though providers may voluntarily comply sooner. (HEA 1004)
Microchipping
Employers are prohibited from mandating the implantation of any identity or tracking device in a worker or job candidate, unless the person voluntarily consents to having something put into their body. (HEA 1143)
Online eye exam
Hoosiers between ages 18 and 55 may procure a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses through telemedicine, so long as they've undergone an in-person eye exam and/or contact lens fitting in the previous two years. Only two online eye exams are permitted in a two-year period before a subsequent in-person exam is required. (SEA 19)
Organ donation
Hoosiers may indicate intent to donate their organs upon death on a state-issued hunting, fishing or trapping license, in addition to a driver's license, state identification card or donor registry. (SEA 288)
Out-of-state prescriptions
Indiana pharmacists are obligated to fill a prescription issued by an advance practice registered nurse or physician assistant licensed in another state, just as they would fill a prescription written by an out-of-state physician, podiatrist, dentist or veterinarian. (SEA 21)
RDA transit
Three members are added to the board of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority solely to vote on issues relating to transit development districts. The new members — one each from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties — are appointed by the governor from a list of candidates nominated before July 1 by the commissioners in each county. (SEA 367)
Resource officers
School corporations and charter schools must annually report to the Indiana Department of Education the number of school resource officers they employ for building and student protection. The department also is required to compile a statewide total of school resource officers. (SEA 132)
School water
Officials responsible for a school building must have its water fountains and taps tested for lead by Jan. 1, 2023, unless it previously has been tested and found in compliance since 2016. In Lake County, the water equipment in every school building must also be tested for lead at least every other year starting in 2023. (HEA 1265)
Sex assault victims
Victims of sexual assault have a statutory right to a no-cost forensic medical exam, the right to speak with a victim advocate or social worker during a hospital visit for the exam, and a law enforcement officer investigating the assault must provide notice of those rights to the victim. (SEA 146)
Small claims
The maximum value of a case eligible for judgment in a small claims court is increased to $8,000 from $6,000. (HEA 1313)
Smoking age
Hoosiers under age 21 are prohibited from buying or possessing cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or vaping products under state law, as well as federal statutes. Indiana retailers who sell tobacco products to underage purchasers may face fines of between $400 and $2,000, double the previous fines. New tobacco retailers cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school. (Senate Enrolled Act 1)
Teacher evaluations
A state mandate that annual teacher evaluations and linked pay increases be largely based on student ILEARN test results is eliminated. (HEA 1002)
Unemployment
Indiana businesses will continue paying the same unemployment insurance rates to the state through at least 2025, instead of the rates automatically being reduced sometime after July 1, 2021. (HEA 1111)
Dan Carden
Chief Political Reporter
Dan has reported on Indiana state and local government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.
