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| Breaux legislation focuses on health care expansion, small businesses |
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| Start Date: | 2/1/2013 | Start Time: | 12:00 AM |
| End Date: | 2/1/2013 | End Time: | 11:59 PM |
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Entry Description
INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana General Assembly has begun to advance a number of proposals during the 2013 legislative session. Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) has authored bills on a variety of issues affecting Hoosiers. Sen. Breaux’s proposals focus on the areas of health care, business development, infrastructure improvement and quality of education.
Implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act
Senate Bill (SB) 540 would expand affordable health care coverage by creating a state health exchange. Within this exchange, employers could locate health care coverage to enroll in and compare online. Potential enrollees would also receive educational outreach. Another aspect of the bill involves expanding health care coverage to families of four making up to $33,000 a year. Current law limits care to families making $4,100 or less a year. This expansion could impact as many as 400,000 Hoosiers and increase medical service demands, creating thousands of jobs. The bill would also establish the Indiana Affordable Care Study Committee to research the best benefits option offered by participating insurance companies.
Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise contracts
SB 456 would promote minority and women’s business enterprises (MWBE) by requiring the governor’s commission for MWBE to set goals for participation in state contracts and subcontracts. Additionally, Sen. Breaux authored SB 455 which would protect this initiative by setting a penalty for a contractor who fails to subcontract with MWBE after promising to do so in a contract with a state agency.
“Reach Out and Read Indiana” funding
SB 452 would double the funding for the “Reach Out and Read Indiana” program to $3 million to promote early childhood literacy in Indiana. Each year, the program awards books to about 176,000 children in 166 pediatric clinics across Indiana and offers advice to parents about helping their children read.
Complete Streets
SB 450 would invigorate Indiana’s roadways by enhancing ease of access and usability for all street users. The bill is meant to adapt safer roadways for alternative forms of transportation, such as bicycles, as well as improve the overhaul of roads that have deteriorated. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) would be responsible for adopting and implementing the guidelines for project development and report its progress to the General Assembly.
Coverage for smoking cessation treatment
SB 449 would require state employee health care packages to cover medications for smoking cessation. Currently, coverage of smoking cessation treatment is limited to prescription drugs and subject to an employee’s copay policy. To comply with new federal law, both prescription and over-the-counter medications would be fully covered by state employee health care packages for 180 days of treatment.
Sen. Breaux represents Indiana Senate District 34 which includes the near eastside of Indianapolis including portions of Center, Washington, Lawrence and Warren Townships. For more information on Breaux’s legislative agenda or other State Senate business call 1-800-382-9467 or visit www.IN.gov/S34.
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NOTE TO THE EDITOR: A photo of Sen. Jean Breaux can be downloaded at:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/images/headshots/Breaux.jpg |
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Entry Category:
Announcements |
IN.gov Category:
Business & EmploymentEducation & TrainingFamily & Health |
Agency Name
Senate Democratic Caucus |
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