Legislative Update From Indiana Courts.

For amend and vote only, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Becker’s SB 27 providing that limitations on punitive damages do not apply to civil actions in which the plaintiff was injured as a result of the conduct described in certain criminal sexual misconduct statutes. The bill was amended by consent to clarify the crimes included […]

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Sandlin’s SB 174 on fertility fraud. This introduced bill provides that a physician who treats a patient of that physician for infertility by using the physician’s own spermatozoon or ovum, without the patient’s consent or by using donated human reproductive material without the consent of the donor commits fertility […]

            The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Taylor’s SB 210 on the license reinstatement fee reduction reducing the driver’s license reinstatement fee to: (1) $25 for a first suspension; (2) $50 for a second suspension; and (3) $100 for a third suspension. The bill was amended by consent to clarify the […]

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Freeman’s SB 238 on the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute expanding grant funding beyond the county and state governments, removing duplicate and nonexistent funding, and abolishing certain programs within the institute. Representatives of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault testified […]

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Raatz’s SB 276 on the opioid treatment pilot program extending the program until 2022. The bill removes Marion County from the pilot program. Representatives of Mental Health America of Indiana testified in support of the bill. The bill was amended by consent to put Marion […]

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Head’s SB 319 on sentencing after probation revocation removing the statutory provision requiring the commission of a new criminal offense from the probation revocation statute concerning Level 6 offenses. The bill was amended by consent to clarify that a person must be charged with a […]

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Young’s SB 488 on public defenders authorizing the Indiana Public Defender Commission to create a system for and guidelines governing multi-county public defender offices. The bill also specifies term limits, member appointments, and meeting requirements for the joint board of a multi-county public defender’s office. […]

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Buchanan’s SB 568 adding a Tippecanoe County superior court. Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Randy Williams testified in favor of the bill. The bill passed 10-0 and was recommitted to Appropriations. Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/senate/568

The Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy heard SB 582 authored by Sen. Charbonneau on removing the jurisdiction of the Tax Court over municipal fees. The bill was introduced in response to a Tax Court ruling on December 5, 2018, that a storm sewer fee imposed by the town of McCordsville was a tax. […]

For amend and vote only, the Committee heard HB 1080 on community corrections and credit time authored by Rep. Steuerwald and Rep. McNamara. The bill provides that a person who is placed in a community corrections program may be deprived of earned good time credit due to a violation of a term of the person’s […]

The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1186 on synthetic drug crimes authored by Rep. Negele. The bill makes possessing or dealing in a substance that is a controlled substance analog an offense of the same level as possession of or dealing in the controlled substance of which the substance is an analog, […]

The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1208 on prohibited name changes authored by Reps. Clere, McNamara, Hatcher, and Engleman. The bill provides that a person convicted of certain crimes may not petition for a name change. The bill passed 12–0. Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1208