Senate Bill 311 (Coverage for PANDAS and PANS), authored by Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend), cleared the Senate Insurance Committee by a vote of 7-2. This health insurance mandate requires coverage for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), including treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. While sympathetic to the impact these conditions have on families, the measure is still a mandate and likely will increase costs for certain businesses. The bill only effects the fully insured plans – about 20% of the employer market.  Looking ahead, the bill most likely will pass the full Senate, given there were only two votes against it in committee. Thus, the Chamber will be diligently working to defeat this bill in the House.

SB 427 (Provisional Occupational License), authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan (R-Lebanon), was narrowed in scope and subsequently passed by the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee on Thursday. Senator Buchanan’s successful amendment made the bill applicable to only spouses of active military duty members. Similar to HB 1008, the amended bill also exempts licensees whose boards are part of an existing reciprocity or compact agreement. While the Chamber was hopeful that the bill’s scope would apply broadly, we are still very supportive of the underlying policy and believe this legislation serves as the starting point for progress in this area.

SB 262 (Film and Media Production Incentives), authored by Sen. Justin Busch (R-Fort Wayne), was passed unanimously on Tuesday by the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee; it’s now ready for final passage by the full Senate. As introduced, the bill would have provided a rebate to film, media and music projects in Indiana. However, at the urging of the Holcomb administration, the bill was amended to merely establish a framework for a production incentive contingent upon an appropriation during the 2021 legislative session (a budget year). During testimony, the Chamber highlighted that a state incentive would make Indiana more competitive for projects given that 32 other states have a similar incentive, argued it would attract a more diversified workforce, plus emphasized that Indiana needs to do a better job marketing (and broadcasting) our state’s assets.

Resources: Mike Ripley at (317) 264-6883 or email: mripley@indianachamber.com; Adam H. Berry at (317) 264-6892 or email: aberry@indianachamber.com