Legislative Update 119th General Assembly

Friday, February 12th, 2016

Week Six Overview

Greetings! Legislators returned to the State House this week after the midpoint break refreshed and ready to hear bills from the opposite legislative chamber. They hit the ground running with hearings on law enforcement legislation, education reform bills, and road funding proposals.

Points of Interest

Senator Randy Head (SD 18) announced early this week that he will give up his Senate seat in favor of running for Attorney General. Other Republican hopefuls include Elkhart County Prosecutor and former Attorney General Steve Carter. will be vacating his position to run for Indiana’s 9th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, Governor Pence announced the nomination of former State Republican Party leader as his running-mate in 2016. Mr. Holcomb will assume the role of Lieutenant Governor in the coming weeks, pending his confirmation by the General Assembly. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann plans to resign at the appropriate time and seek the position of President of Ivy Tech Community College. A chief responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor is presiding over the Senate while it is in session.

Committee Updates

Committees were reconvened, and began hearing bills passed over from the opposite chamber.

On Wednesday, the House Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee met to discuss Senate Bill 132, Food stamp assistance after drug conviction. The bill’s author, Sen. John Broden (SD 10), explained that under current law, someone who has a drug felony on their record is not eligible to receive food stamps. The bill would allow individuals to receive food stamps if they have been out of prison for at least five years and have not been convicted of any additional offenses since incarceration. Individuals who have had a drug conviction in the past five years but have not violated the terms of their probation, parole or community corrections program and pass a drug test may also be eligible to receive food stamps. Numerous representatives from food banks and other service providers around the state testified in favor of the bill, stating that having access to food stamps and other benefits is key to helping drug offenders move on with their lives. The bill was held for further discussion.

Also on Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee met to hear testimony on House Bill 1019, Law enforcement recordings. The bill is a product of discussions from the 2015 Interim Study Committee on Government. As the bill stands now, members of the public may request law enforcement recordings if the recording depicts law enforcement activity within the scope of their duties. The release of the recording must serve the public interest without creating a significant risk of harm to any person or the general public or creating a prejudicial effect on ongoing civil or criminal proceedings. The bill also specifies that some information must be redacted from the recording and establishes the length of time that a recording must be retained by a public agency. Chairman Brent Steele (SD 44) entertained testimony in favor and against the measure and elected to hold the bill for further discussion.

On Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers heard House Bill 1219, High school diplomas, in the Senate Education & Career Development Committee. The bill requires high schools to offer all students the opportunity to earn any type of state diploma as approved by the State Board of Education. The bill’s author, Rep. Edward Clere (HD 72), explained that the bill also provides that students with disabilities shall not be required to complete additional local school requirements that exceed the state requirements to receive a diploma unless doing so is required as part of the student’s individualized education program. The bill will be voted on by the Committee next week.

Upon adjournment of the Senate on Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee convened to hear testimony on House Bill 1001, Road funding. In addition to adjusting the amount and distribution of fuel taxes, granting local governments more taxing power, increasing the state cigarette tax, and calling for studies on indexing the fuel tax and tolling on state highways, Rep. Ed. Soliday’s (HD 4) bill now includes a personal income tax rate reduction which would be phased in from 2016 to 2025. The Committee heard testimony from private consulting firms specializing in public and private transportation, elected local officials, and stakeholders both for and against the increased cigarette tax proposed in the bill. HB 1001 was held for further consideration and discussion by the Committee.

Session Floor Highlights

House of Representatives

On Monday, House Minority Leader Scott Pelath (HD 9) spoke to his fellow lawmakers in the House on the importance of acting to extend full civil protections to LGBT individuals during the 2016 session. He said the issue is not going to disappear and that his caucus intends to find a way to have the civil rights debate on the House floor. Introducing a second reading amendment on the topic could be challenging since an amendment must be germane – meaning the subject matters must be similar – to the bill it is amending. House Speaker (HD 88) has already stated that introducing an amendment aimed at expanding civil rights for LGBT individuals is not appropriate at this point in the session.

Senate

With few bills eligible for discussion on the floor of the Senate this week, legislators turned their attention to several special resolutions honoring Hoosier citizens.

All fifty Senators came together to author and co-author Senate Concurrent Resolution 27 honoring Justice Brent E. Dickson upon his retirement from the after 30 years of distinguished services.

All Senators also authored and co-authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 honoring the efforts of Senior Indiana State Police Trooper J. Ryan Winters. Winters was named 2015 National Trooper of the Year after he entered a burning house alone to save a couple and their 11 year old grandson.

Sen. Mike Young (SD 35) authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 recognizing the International Airport and its Board for their excellent services to the state of Indiana.

Please feel free to contact a member of our legislative team should you have questions regarding the happenings in the !

Brian Burdick Joe Loftus Office: (317) 231-7393 Office: (317) 231-7213 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Bill Moreau Mike O’Brien Office: (317) 231-7349 Office: (317) 231-7507 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Heather Willey Jake German Office: (317) 231-6448 Office: (317) 231-7538 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Steve Wolff Chris Minter Office: (317) 261-7845 Office: (317) 231-7478 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Matt Portner Office: (317) 261-7817 Email: [email protected]