Due to the absence of House members and the lack of a quorum, the Democratic process has not been able to move forward as it should. However, we are still dealing with multiple issues this session and I have been busy working on bills that I hope will pass the General Assembly this session. I authored two bills that passed through committee this week and will soon be heard by the full House. House Bill (HB) 1003 concerning electronic meetings unanimously passed in the Select Committee on Government Reduction, and HB 1211 that deals with nursing homes unanimously passed the Public Health Committee. Also, HB 1190 concerning real property assessment, another bill I authored, was also heard in the House Ways and Means Committee, with a vote to follow soon. Both HB 1003 and 1190 would help make government agencies more cost effective. HB 1003 would allow a member of the governing body of any state agency to participate in an electronic meeting if it meets all requirements of the Open Door Law and a quorum of the governing body adopts a policy regarding electronic meetings. HB 1003 also states that if a meeting by electronic communication is conducted, the governing body must have at least two members physically present at the meeting place and can take only roll call votes. This bill would help cut the cost of per diem paid to board and commission members who must currently drive to Indianapolis from all the over state to attend meetings by allowing them to hold electronic meetings. HB 1190 would require county assessors to prepare a reassessment plan that would split all of the county’s parcels of land into four groups. Each group of parcels would need to contain at least 25 percent of the parcels within each class of real property in the county. It would then require a county to reassess at least 25 percent of the parcels in the county in one year, and to reassess all parcels in the county every four years. The idea behind the bill is to allow each county to use more in-house resources under this assessment schedule than they are able to now. They would not have to hire as many outside assessors or work as much overtime as they do now to meet the current deadlines which would help cut costs. Finally, HB 1211 would give patients a better idea of the options they have available to them for long-term care, as well as home health care. It would direct Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), nursing homes, and hospitals to distribute AAA contact information and information on local long-term care services, including home health care. As the go-between for the CHOICE program and Medicaid waivers, AAAs have the greatest knowledge of available local services to compile a list. I value your input on these pieces of legislation or any other issues facing Indiana this legislative session. Please keep in mind that no matter how much we work no progress can be made on any pieces of legislation, no matter how helpful they could be to Hoosiers, until a quorum is reached in the House. I encourage you to contact me by phone at (317) 232-9769 or by email at h78@in.gov. Thank you for your support as we continue to work on behalf of all Hoosiers. Despite walkout, progress on bills to cut costs and help seniors, 1-19-12.doc |
