Senate Bill 202 (Worker’s Compensation), authored by Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Portage), cleared the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee by a vote of 5-1. This measure would increase benefits for injuries and disablements by 2% each year for three years, beginning on July 1, 2020. The Chamber believes that this is a very reasonable increase. However, this must be paired with a benefit for employers. The House has a bill that will address ambulatory surgical centers and their rising costs. The committee chairman, Sen. Phil Boots (R-Crawfordsville), stated that the intent is to marry these two issues. When that happens, the Chamber will move from neutral to supportive of the measure.
House Bill 1006 (Regulation of Tobacco Products) and SB 1 (Tobacco and Vaping Smoking Age), authored by Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer (R-Beech Grove) and Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), passed the House 84-14 and the Senate 38-9, respectively. The Chamber priority measures raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21; the difference is in the level of fines for selling the products. Both now switch to the other house; at this time, it’s uncertain which one will be the vehicle for final passage.
House Bill 1008 (Occupational Licensure Reciprocity), authored by Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne) was amended and passed in the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday. The intent of the measure is for Indiana to recognize individuals licensed in other jurisdictions. A priority issue for the Chamber and the House GOP, it was amended to ease concerns of several industry associations to clarify that it does not supersede any existing reciprocity or industry board-dictated requirements. The Chamber-backed amendment passed 8-3 and the revised bill cleared the committee 9-2. Meanwhile, the Senate version – SB 427 (Provisional Occupational License), authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan (R-Lebanon) – was heard and held by the Senate Commerce and Technology Committee. With similar purpose as HB 1008, the Chamber testified in support, saying: (1) people do not become less qualified simply by crossing the Indiana border, and (2) all practitioners are subject to the same legal oversight, regardless of whether they come from out of state or earned their license in Indiana. Opposition again came from several associations that want to make sure it does not interfere with systems and processes already in place in their industries. The bill was held in order to resolve this concern with an amendment – the same course as the House measure.
Resources: Mike Ripley at (317) 264-6883 or email: mripley@indianachamber.com; Adam H. Berry at (317) 264-6892 or email: aberry@indianachamber.com
