By Luke McNamee
ISMA Deputy Policy Director

The Legislative Council of the Indiana General Assembly met last week to assign topics to interim legislative study committees. The meeting was held on a Zoom conference call and may have been the first virtual legislative meeting in history. The study topics assigned by the Legislative Council are typically recommended by bills and resolutions from the previous legislative session but can include other topics requested by legislators. 

Only a few individual study topics were assigned, because much of the council’s activity focused on the impact of COVID-19 across Hoosier industries. The bulk of the interim work will consist of reviewing reports and hearing testimony from every state agency on its response to COVID-19, including:

• An overview of which operations, services and laws the agency suspended or reduced.
• An overview of preparations to address future emergencies and recovery from emergencies, based on the agency’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Recommendations for legislation that may be needed to help ensure the agency is prepared to address future emergencies.
• Recommendations, if any, for legislation to permanently repeal or modify any regulations or laws that were or are partially or fully suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services will hear reports from the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). ISMA has worked with each of these agencies to relax or modify state laws to help physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. It isn’t clear yet which, if any, of those may be included in their reports, but ISMA will closely monitor the summer study committees and report back on any relevant information. Given the possibility of continued restrictions on public meetings, it is also unclear whether or to what extent committees will hear public testimony. 

Another interesting issue put forth by Legislative Council is the newly formed Legislative Continuity Committee. The committee is charged with studying the effects of the current COVID-19 emergency and developing plans for the response by, and continuation of operations of the General Assembly and the agencies in the legislative branch of state government in the event of an emergency. Specifically, the Committee will study public participation in the functions of the General Assembly in the future, communication safeguards, protecting vital legislative records, and how the legislature can continue to operate if some or all members of the General Assembly or staff are unable or limited in their ability to perform their functions during an emergency or if the state capitol building is not useable. 

Stay tuned for more updates in future ISMA Reports and ISMA E-Reports.