STATEHOUSE – State Representative Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) authored House Bill (HB) 1004, creating the Safety P.I.N. (Protecting Indiana’s Newborns) grant program to combat infant mortality in Indiana. One of the priorities of the House Republicans legislative agenda is to address public safety concerns, including infant mortality. The bill was co-authored by House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) and Rep. Hal Slager (R-Schererville) and passed unanimously out of the Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee today.
“HB 1004 takes a unique approach to combating infant mortality in Indiana,” said Rep. Sullivan. “By incentivizing private and public entities to form partnerships and develop innovative plans the Safety P.I.N. grant program will do more than raise awareness, but it will create tangible results that leads to more Hoosier lives saved.”
The Safety P.I.N. grant program requires applying groups to provide in their proposals the targeted area, the amount they plan to reduce the infant mortality rate and the timeframe in which they will achieve their goal. Applying organizations that incentivize at-risk pregnant women to obtain prenatal care, decrease smoking rates among pregnant women and address other important factors with a significant impact on Indiana’s infant mortality rate.
“When we live in an affluent of a state as Indiana and we see that we have the fifth highest infant mortality rate in the nation that should give us all pause, and the House is committed to addressing this issue,” said Speaker Bosma. “HB 1004 was crafted as a result of discussions with health care providers about creating incentives for the private and civic sector to reduce the infant mortality rate.”
Nearly one-third of pregnant women do not receive prenatal care and over 60 percent of infant deaths can be attributed to mothers that received fewer than 10 prenatal visits. Additionally, more than 16 percent of Indiana mothers smoked at some point during their pregnancy.
“The infant mortality rate is a growing concern in Indiana and I was proud to work with Speaker Bosma and Rep. Sullivan in crafting this legislation,” said Rep. Slager. “It is my hope that this legislation will not only raise awareness but create outlets for those with questions or concerns about proper prenatal care.
This bill will now go to the full House for further discussion and debate.
Visit iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1004 for more information about HB 1004 or www.indianahouserepublicans.com for more information about Speaker Bosma or Rep. Sullivan and Rep. Slager.
