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House Bill
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1356
DIGEST OF HB 1356 (Updated March 23, 1999 2:16 pm - DI 88)
Citations Affected: IC 16-18; IC 16-19.
Synopsis: Office of women's health. Establishes the office of women's health within the state department of health. Describes the purposes of the office. Requires the state health commissioner to appoint a director of the office and any other necessary employees to staff the office. Requires the state health commissioner to appoint an advisory committee on women's health to advise the director of the office regarding duties relating to the office. Prohibits the director or employees of the office from advocating, promoting, referring to, or otherwise advancing abortion or the use of abortifacients.
Effective: July 1, 1999.
Crosby, Becker, Kruzan, Welch, Summers, Dickinson, Budak, Duncan, Goeglein, Klinker, Lawson L, Leuck, Richardson, Pond, Scholer, Whetstone, Brown C, Cheney, Mellinger
SENATE SPONSORS _ SIMPSON, GARD, BREAUX, MILLER, LAWSON C)
January 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
February 10, 1999, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
February 18, 1999, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
February 19, 1999, engrossed.
February 22, 1999, read third time, passed. Yeas 92, nays 5.
SENATE ACTION
February 25, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services.
March 18, 1999, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
March 23, 1999, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
First Regular Session 111th General Assembly (1999)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 1998 General Assembly.
ENGROSSED
HOUSE
A
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 16-18-2-96 IS AME
(b) "Director", for purposes of IC 16-28, IC 16-29, and IC 16-30, means the individual acting under the authority of and assigned the responsibility by the state health commissioner to implement IC 16-28, IC 16-29, and IC 16-30.
(b) (c) "Director", for purposes of IC 16-31, refers to the director of the state emergency management agency established under IC 10-8-2-1.
(c) (d) "Director", for purposes of IC 16-35-2, refers to the director of the program for children with special health care needs.
SECTION 2. IC 16-18-2-254.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999]: Sec. 254.5. "Office", for purposes of IC 16-19-13, refers to the office of women's health established by IC 16-19-13.
SECTION 3. IC 16-19-13 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1999]:
Chapter 13. Office of Women's Health
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office of women's health established by this chapter.
Sec. 2. The office of women's health is established within the state department.
Sec. 3. The office is established for the following purposes:
(1) To educate and advocate for women's health by requesting that the state department, either on its own or in partnership with other entities, establish appropriate forums, programs, or initiatives designed to educate the public regarding women's health, with an emphasis on preventive health and healthy lifestyles.
(2) To assist the state health commissioner in identifying, coordinating, and establishing priorities for programs, services, and resources the state should provide for women's health issues and concerns relating to the reproductive, menopausal, and postmenopausal phases of a woman's life, with an emphasis on postmenopausal health.
(3) To serve as a clearinghouse and resource for information regarding women's health data, strategies, services, and programs that address women's health issues, including the following:
(A) Diseases that significantly impact women, including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
(B) Menopause.
(C) Mental health.
(D) Substance abuse.
(E) Sexually transmitted diseases.
(F) Sexual assault and domestic violence.
(4) To collect, classify, and analyze relevant research information and data conducted or compiled by:
(A) the state department; or
(B) other entities in collaboration with the state department;
and to provide interested persons with information regarding the research results, except as prohibited by law.
(5) To develop and recommend funding and program activities for educating the public on women's health
initiatives, including the following:
(A) Health needs throughout the woman's life.
(B) Diseases that significantly affect women, including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.
(C) Access to health care for women.
(D) Poverty and women's health.
(E) The leading causes of morbidity and mortality for women.
(F) Special health concerns of minority women.
(6) To make recommendations to the state heath commissioner regarding programs that address women's health issues for inclusion in the state department's biennial budget and strategic planning.
(7) To seek funding from private or governmental entities to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(8) To prepare materials for publication and dissemination to the public on women's health.
(9) To conduct public educational forums in Indiana to raise public awareness and to educate citizens about women's health programs, issues, and services.
(10) To coordinate the activities and programs of the office with other entities that focus on women's health or women's issues, including the Indiana commission for women (IC 4-23-25-3).
(11) Represent the state health commissioner, upon request, before the general assembly and the Indiana commission for women established by IC 4-23-25-3.
(12) Provide an annual report to the governor, the legislative council, and the Indiana commission for women regarding the successes of the programs of the office, priorities and services needed for women's health in Indiana, and areas for improvement.
(13) This section does not allow the director or any employees of the office to advocate, promote, refer to, or otherwise advance abortion or abortifacients.
Sec. 4. (a) The state health commissioner shall appoint persons to staff the office, including:
(1) the director of the office; and
(2) any other employees that the state health commissioner determines are necessary.
(b) The employees appointed under subsection (a)(2) shall report to the director. The director shall report to the state health
commissioner.
(c) The director shall supervise the employees assigned to the office.
(d) The director shall oversee the administrative functions of the office.
Sec. 5. (a) The state health commissioner shall appoint an advisory committee on women's health to assist in advising the director regarding the duties required under this chapter.
The advisory committee is comprised of persons with an expertise in and a knowledge of women's health issues in Indiana.
(c) The state health commissioner shall:
(1) determine the number of persons to serve on the advisory committee;
(2) appoint a chairperson or co-chairpersons for the advisory committee; and
(3) establish the policies and procedures under which the advisory committee operates.