Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1167
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 25-22.5; IC 25-23-1; IC 25-27.5.
Synopsis: Implicit bias continuing education. Requires the medical
licensing board of Indiana to adopt rules requiring a physician and a
physician assistant who apply for a license or renewal to complete
continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias. Requires the
Indiana state board of nursing to adopt rules requiring a nurse who
applies for a license or renewal to complete continuing education
addressing the topic of implicit bias. Establishes certain requirements
for an implicit bias continuing education course. Provides that the
Indiana professional licensing agency must maintain on the agency's
website a schedule of or link to implicit bias continuing education
courses that are available.
Effective: Upon passage.
Shackleford
January 8, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Public Health.
2024 IN 1167—LS 6387/DI 141 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
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,
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Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
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between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1167
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
professions and occupations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 25-22.5-1-1.2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.2-2007,
2 SECTION 327, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
3 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 1.2. As used in this article:
4 "Implicit bias" means an attitude or internalized stereotype that
5 affects an individual's perceptions, actions, and decisions in an
6 unconscious manner.
7 "Nursing school" includes a hospital nursing school, a nursing
8 program, and a nursing department of a postsecondary educational
9 institution. This shall include two (2), three (3), and four (4) year
10 programs of nursing education.
11 "Shortage area" is an area in which there is a less than adequate
12 supply of physicians or nurses relative to the need for nursing or
13 physician services.
14 SECTION 2. IC 25-22.5-5-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
15 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
16 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7. (a) Before July 1, 2025, the board shall
17 adopt rules in accordance with IC 25-1-4 to require a physician
2024 IN 1167—LS 6387/DI 141 2
1 who applies for a license or renewal under this article to obtain
2 continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias.
3 (b) A continuing education course required under subsection (a)
4 must include at least one (1) of the following topics:
5 (1) Examples of how implicit bias:
6 (A) affects perceptions and treatment decisions of
7 physicians; and
8 (B) leads to disparities in health outcomes.
9 (2) Strategies to address how unintended biases in decision
10 making may contribute to health care disparities by:
11 (A) shaping behavior; and
12 (B) producing differences in medical treatment in regard
13 to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,
14 socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
15 (c) All continuing education courses required under subsection
16 (a) must be:
17 (1) approved by the board; or
18 (2) offered by an approved organization (as defined in
19 IC 25-1-4-0.2).
20 (d) The agency shall maintain on the agency's website a schedule
21 of or link to implicit bias continuing education courses that are
22 available under subsection (c).
23 SECTION 3. IC 25-23-1-1.8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
24 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
25 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 1.8. As used in this chapter, "implicit bias"
26 means an attitude or internalized stereotype that affects an
27 individual's perceptions, actions, and decisions in an unconscious
28 manner.
29 SECTION 4. IC 25-23-1-35.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
30 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
31 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 35.5. (a) Before July 1, 2025,
32 the board shall adopt rules in accordance with IC 25-1-4 to require
33 an applicant for a license or renewal under this article to obtain
34 continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias.
35 (b) A continuing education course required under subsection (a)
36 must include at least one (1) of the following topics:
37 (1) Examples of how implicit bias:
38 (A) affects perceptions and treatment decisions of a nurse
39 practicing the nurse's profession under this article; and
40 (B) leads to disparities in health outcomes.
41 (2) Strategies to address how unintended biases in decision
42 making may contribute to health care disparities by:
2024 IN 1167—LS 6387/DI 141 3
1 (A) shaping behavior; and
2 (B) producing differences in medical treatment in regard
3 to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,
4 socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
5 (c) All continuing education courses required under subsection
6 (a) must be:
7 (1) approved by the board; or
8 (2) offered by an approved organization (as defined in
9 IC 25-1-4-0.2).
10 (d) The Indiana professional licensing agency shall maintain on
11 the agency's website a schedule of or link to implicit bias
12 continuing education courses that are available under subsection
13 (c).
14 SECTION 5. IC 25-27.5-2-7.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
15 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
16 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.4. "Implicit bias" means an
17 attitude or internalized stereotype that affects an individual's
18 perceptions, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
19 SECTION 6. IC 25-27.5-4-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
20 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
21 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. (a) Before July 1, 2025,
22 the board shall adopt rules in accordance with IC 25-1-4 to require
23 an individual who applies for a license or renewal under this article
24 to obtain continuing education addressing the topic of implicit bias.
25 (b) A continuing education course required under subsection (a)
26 must include at least one (1) of the following topics:
27 (1) Examples of how implicit bias:
28 (A) affects perceptions and treatment decisions of
29 physician assistants licensed under this article; and
30 (B) leads to disparities in health outcomes.
31 (2) Strategies to address how unintended biases in decision
32 making may contribute to health care disparities by:
33 (A) shaping behavior; and
34 (B) producing differences in medical treatment in regard
35 to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,
36 socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
37 (c) All continuing education courses required under subsection
38 (a) must be:
39 (1) approved by the board; or
40 (2) offered by an approved organization (as defined in
41 IC 25-1-4-0.2).
42 (d) The Indiana professional licensing agency shall maintain on
2024 IN 1167—LS 6387/DI 141 4
1 the agency's website a schedule of or link to implicit bias
2 continuing education courses that are available under subsection
3 (c).
4 SECTION 7. An emergency is declared for this act.
2024 IN 1167—LS 6387/DI 141