CHAPTER 8. REPORTING OF VETERANS EXPOSED TO CHEMICALS

IC 10-17-8
    Chapter 8. Reporting of Veterans Exposed to Chemicals

IC 10-17-8-1
"Agent orange"
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "agent orange" means theherbicide composed primarily of trichlorophenoxyacetic acid anddichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8.

IC 10-17-8-2
"Department"
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "department" refers to the Indianadepartment of veterans' affairs.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8.

IC 10-17-8-3
"Director"
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "director" refers to the director ofveterans' affairs.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8.

IC 10-17-8-4
"Veteran"
    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "veteran" means an individualwho:
        (1) was a resident of Indiana:
            (A) at the time of the individual's induction into the armedforces of the United States; or
            (B) on or before March 31, 1983; and
        (2) served in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos during the Vietnamconflict.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8.

IC 10-17-8-5
Exposure reports; forms
    Sec. 5. (a) A physician who has primary responsibility for treatinga veteran who believes the veteran may have been exposed tochemical defoliants or herbicides or similar agents, including agentorange, while serving in the armed forces of the United States shall,at the request of the veteran, submit a report to the department on aform provided by the department. If there is no physician havingprimary responsibility for treating the veteran, the hospital treatingthe veteran shall, at the request of the veteran, submit the report tothe department. If the veteran desires to submit a report directly tothe department, the veteran must submit the report on a formprovided by the department and made available to the veteran atphysicians' offices, hospitals, and county courthouses.
    (b) The department shall provide forms to all physicians,hospitals, and county courthouses in Indiana for distribution to a

veteran who believes that the veteran may have been exposed tochemical defoliants or herbicides or similar agents while serving inthe armed forces of the United States. Forms provided under thissubsection must request the following information:
        (1) Symptoms of the veteran that may be related to exposure toa chemical defoliant or herbicide or similar agent, includingagent orange.
        (2) Diagnosis of the veteran.
        (3) Methods of treatment prescribed.
    (c) The department may require the veteran to provide otherinformation determined by the director.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8.

IC 10-17-8-6
Compilation of information; report by department
    Sec. 6. (a) The department, in consultation and cooperation witha department certified medical toxicologist and herbicide specialist,shall compile information submitted under this chapter into a report.The report must contain an evaluation of the information and shall bedistributed annually to the legislative services agency, the UnitedStates Department of Veterans Affairs, the state department ofhealth, and other veterans groups. The report must also contain:
        (1) current research findings on the exposure to chemicaldefoliants or herbicides or similar agents, including agentorange; and
        (2) statistical information compiled from reports submitted byphysicians or hospitals.
    (b) The department shall forward to the United States Departmentof Veterans Affairs a copy of all forms submitted to the departmentunder section 5 of this chapter.
    (c) A report distributed under subsection (a) to the legislativeservices agency must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.28-2004, SEC.82.