Ind. Code ch. 16-19-13

Ind. Code ch. 16-19-13
in effect

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-1 "Office" defined

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office of women's health established by this chapter. As added by P.L.52-1999, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-2 Establishment

Sec. 2. The office of women's health is established within the state department. As added by P.L.52-1999, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-3 Purposes

Sec. 3. The office is established for the following purposes: (1) To educate and advocate for women's health by requesting that the state department, either on its own or in partnership with other entities, establish appropriate forums, programs, or initiatives designed to educate the public regarding women's health, with an emphasis on preventive health and healthy lifestyles. (2) To assist the state health commissioner in identifying, coordinating, and establishing priorities for programs, services, and resources the state should provide for women's health issues and concerns relating to the reproductive, menopausal, and postmenopausal phases of a woman's life, with an emphasis on postmenopausal health. (3) To serve as a clearinghouse and resource for information regarding women's health data, strategies, services, and programs that address women's health issues, including the following: (A) Diseases that significantly impact women, including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. (B) Menopause. (C) Mental health. (D) Substance abuse. (E) Sexually transmitted diseases. (F) Sexual assault and domestic violence. (G) Female genital mutilation (as defined in IC 35-42-2-10). (4) To collect, classify, and analyze relevant research information and data conducted or compiled by: (A) the state department; or (B) other entities in collaboration with the state department; and to provide interested persons with information regarding the research results, except as prohibited by law. (5) To develop and recommend funding and program activities for educating the public on women's health initiatives, including the following: (A) Health needs throughout a woman's life. (B) Diseases that significantly affect women, including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. (C) Access to health care for women. (D) Poverty and women's health. (E) The leading causes of morbidity and mortality for women. (F) Special health concerns of minority women. (6) To make recommendations to the state health commissioner regarding programs that address women's health issues for inclusion in the state department's biennial budget and strategic planning. (7) To seek funding from private or governmental entities to carry out the purposes of this chapter. (8) To prepare materials for publication and dissemination to the public on women's health. (9) To conduct public educational forums in Indiana to raise public awareness and to educate citizens about women's health programs, issues, and services. (10) To coordinate the activities and programs of the office with other entities that focus on women's health or women's issues, including the Indiana cultural commission established by IC 4-23-36. (11) To represent the state health commissioner, upon request, before the general assembly and the Indiana cultural commission established by IC 4-23-36. (12) To provide an annual report to the governor, the legislative council, and the Indiana cultural commission established by IC 4-23-36 regarding the successes of the programs of the office, priorities and services needed for women's health in Indiana, and areas for improvement. A report provided under this subdivision to the legislative council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. This section does not allow the director or any employees of the office to advocate, promote, refer to, or otherwise advance abortion or abortifacients. As added by P.L.52-1999, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.28-2004, SEC.135; P.L.51-2021, SEC.1; P.L.152-2026, SEC.219.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-4 Staff appointments

Sec. 4. (a) The state health commissioner shall appoint persons to staff the office, including: (1) the director of the office; and (2) any other employees that the state health commissioner determines are necessary. (b) The employees appointed under subsection (a)(2) shall report to the director. (c) The director shall supervise the employees assigned to the office. (d) The director shall oversee the administrative functions of the office. As added by P.L.52-1999, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.143-2022, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-5 Advisory committee

Sec. 5. (a) The state health commissioner shall appoint an advisory committee on women's health to assist in advising the director regarding the duties required under this chapter. (b) The advisory committee is comprised of persons with an expertise in and a knowledge of women's health issues in Indiana. (c) The state health commissioner shall: (1) determine the number of persons to serve on the advisory committee; (2) appoint a chairperson or co-chairpersons for the advisory committee; and (3) establish the policies and procedures under which the advisory committee operates. As added by P.L.52-1999, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-6 Repealed

As added by P.L.280-2001, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.1-2002, SEC.72; P.L.98-2004, SEC.97. Repealed by P.L.126-2006, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 16-19-13-8 Additional duties

Sec. 8. In addition to performing the duties described in section 3 of this chapter, the office shall do the following: (1) Develop and administer a program of community education, prevention, and outreach activities regarding: (A) the health risks and emotional trauma inflicted by the practice of female genital mutilation; and (B) informing the community of the criminal penalties for committing female genital mutilation. (2) Develop and disseminate information to teachers and law enforcement officers regarding: (A) female genital mutilation; (B) recognizing the risk factors associated with female genital mutilation; (C) recognizing the signs that an individual may be a victim of female genital mutilation; and (D) the criminal penalties for committing female genital mutilation. (3) Develop policies and procedures to promote partnerships between departments, agencies, and political subdivisions, including the department of child services, the office of family and social services, the department of education, and other governmental entities and nongovernmental organizations to prevent female genital mutilation and to protect and provide assistance to victims of female genital mutilation. (4) Outline best practices for responses to victims of female genital mutilation. (5) Develop policies and procedures for the training of providers of health services: (A) regarding the best practices for responses to victims of female genital mutilation; and (B) to recognize: (i) the risk factors associated with female genital mutilation; (ii) the signs that an individual may be a victim of female genital mutilation; and (iii) the criminal penalties for committing female genital mutilation. (6) Collaborate with health care practitioners of each county to obtain annual statistics concerning cases of female genital mutilation and provide the information, which includes no personal identifying information, in the annual report compiled under section 3(12) of this chapter. As added by P.L.51-2021, SEC.2.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026

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