HB 1384 creates a new health coverage pathway for certain court-appointed attorneys who work full time or full-time equivalent, regularly handle appointed cases in more than one county, and are not eligible for an employee health plan through any state or local unit. These attorneys would be allowed to enroll in a state employee health plan, with coverage matching that provided to active or retired state employees. The bill also requires the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys to certify eligible attorneys twice each year and to share the cost of coverage with the attorney, while the commission pays administrative costs.
To support this arrangement, the bill establishes the public defender health benefit fund and directs state budgeting and fund administration to cover amounts owed under the new benefit program. It also makes conforming changes to Indiana’s state employee insurance statutes so that these attorneys are treated as a category of state employee for health plan purposes. The bill is effective July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill amends IC 5-10 and IC 33-40 to expand access to the state employee health plan for a limited class of indigent defense attorneys and to create a dedicated funding mechanism for the state’s share of their coverage. It adds a new statutory section authorizing enrollment, defines eligibility and coverage rules, requires periodic certification by the commission, and establishes the public defender health benefit fund to pay the commission’s obligations. It also requires the budget director to augment appropriations as needed and makes related changes to state insurance and public defender administration law.
Sentiment
The available legislative history shows strong support in committee: the House Committee on Insurance reported the bill do pass unanimously, 11-0. The bill’s structure suggests a policy goal of improving recruitment and retention for public defenders and court-appointed counsel by addressing health coverage gaps. No opposing votes or recorded floor debate were provided in the materials, so the overall sentiment appears favorable and largely noncontroversial at the committee stage.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal responsibility and how the new benefit will be financed. The bill splits premium costs between the attorney and the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys, and it creates a new fund backed by appropriations and donations to cover the commission’s obligations. Another point of potential concern is eligibility: the benefit is limited to attorneys who work full time or full-time equivalent, serve in more than one reimbursed county, and lack access to another public employee health plan, which may raise questions about administration and who qualifies. The committee amendment also shows attention to technical implementation details, especially the certification process and fund language, rather than substantive opposition.