STATEHOUSE (Jan. 16, 2020) – State Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) has authored several bills for the 2020 legislative session, tackling a number of important issues including human trafficking, mental health and highway safety.
Senate Bill 116 would increase the penalty for human trafficking if the victim is less than 18 years of age from a Level 5 felony to a Level 4 felony, and specifies that consent by the victim or a belief that they are at least 18 years old is not a defense. It would also remove the requirement that money paid for a human trafficking victim or for an act performed by them be paid to a third party.
Senate Bill 192 would provide inpatient mental healthcare services for a child on Medicaid who has been certified for admission to a psychiatric hospital.
Senate Bill 268 would authorize the Indiana State Police to establish an automated traffic control system pilot program to enforce highway worksite speed limits. It provides that a worksite speed limit violation recorded by an automated traffic control system could not be enforced unless the violation is at least 11 mph above the established worksite speed limit.
“Each session, I try to author bills that are relevant to our local community,” Ford said. “Often, the idea for a bill comes from a constituent who recognized an issue that state government could improve or help out with. I’m grateful to have worked with a number of local professionals on many of my bills, and look forward to the positive impact they will have in District 38.”
Ford has also authored the following legislation:
• Senate Bill 3 would eliminate surprise medical billing, which is when a person receives medical care from an out-of-network provider at a specified in-network facility, but are unknowingly charged for out-of-network care.
• Senate Bill 67 would require a township trustee to place a homeless individual in a county home or provide temporary township assistance. In addition, each township would be required to compile and distribute a list of resources for homeless persons in the area.
• Senate Bill 270 would remove teacher evaluations from being a determining factor when considering a teacher’s salary increase. SB 270 would also hold teachers harmless for the 2019 and 2020 ILEARN test results, meaning a school corporation may not use the test results as part of an annual performance evaluation.
• Senate Bill 310 would prohibit the Indiana Department of Child Services from considering the eligibility and amount of adoption subsidies needed when determining the suitability of prospective adoptive parents. SB 310 would also have the potential to increase adoption subsidy payments by no less than 50% and no more than 100% of the amount payable for foster care services.
To view all of Ford’s proposed legislation session, click here.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Ford, click here.
