By Ally Marlow
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana legislator wants to make it illegal for police to use the Stingray – a device capable of wirelessly monitoring cell phones – without a warrant.

There is currently no law limiting the police and government from obtaining civilian cellular information. The Stingray is capable of downloading and monitoring calls, texts, pictures and apps – virtually all data coming to and from a cell phone – without the person ever knowing.

Sen. Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood, authored Senate Bill 64 because he said he was scared by the possibilities of the Stingray and doesn’t believe the new technology is “right.”

He said there’s no hard evidence this is a problem in Indiana, but other states have abused the technology. He cited an incident in Florida where the Miami County Sheriff’s Department gathered all of the information of demonstrators during a public protest.

“That’s disturbing,” Waltz said. “The simple Libertarian in me says there ought to be something done to prevent that.”

The restrictions would not apply if the police were given consent by the individual or if it is believed the device was involved in a crime.

But the bill would apply to someone at a routine traffic stop. That would protect a person who has been accused of a traffic violation from having to give up all the private information on their phones.

“The danger with this device is that there’s no paper trail,” said Evan McMahon, the 7^th District representative for the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “There is no record, there was no search warrant, there’s nothing to say ‘we accessed your cell information.’ There’s nothing to say who has accessed, when it was accessed, or why it was accessed.”

SB 64 passed unanimously and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Ally Marlow is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

By Erika Brock
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – The House is set to consider legislation that would shift the state’s historical preservation tax cut program into one that relies on grants instead.

House Bill 1215 – authored by Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany – would originally have expanded the tax credit from $450,000 to $10 million a year, an effort to boost its effectiveness and create move incentives for preservation projects.

But in the House Ways and Means Committee this week, lawmakers stripped the funding out of the bill and replaced the tax credit with a grant program.

Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown, R- Crawfordsville, authored the change.

“We have not been doing a very good job with the current tax credit,” Brown said. “Tax credits decrease revenue coming into the state. The idea going forward is so we can have an honest balanced budget is to really look at this as an expense to the state.”

The current program – administered by the Department of Natural Resources – is backlogged because the tax credit caps at $450,000 per year. That means some projects approved for the program have been completed but can’t claim the tax credit until 2023. Supporters of a program expansion say that gives few incentives for investors to restore historic properties, especially since many of them are private developers.

Clere and other supporters of the program have been working to change that. Last year a similar bill failed in the Senate.

“This bill is important because it is focused on Main Street Indiana,” Clere said. “Every community large and small has historical building that were once part of the economic life of the community and could be again.”

Brown said he had tried in the past to increase the tax credit but said the state needed to get rid of the outstanding credits first. He starting over with a grant program cleans “the ledger sheet so to speak.”

Amy Levander, a lobbyist for Indiana Landmarks, a historic preservation group, said she is concerned about changing the bill from a credit to a grant because Brown included no funding in the bill. That means the program would compete against the state’s other spending needs next year, when lawmakers write the next two-year state budget.

Levander said she would to see a study between sessions so the lawmakers can look at the implications of having a grant program versus a tax credit program.

“We are open to looking at options for putting in place something that will maximize and state tax dollars to stimulate redevelopment in historical properties around the state,” Levander said.

The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.

Erika Brock is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence declared an energy emergency Wednesday as he discussed his plans to help Hoosiers during the state’s propane shortage.

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann addresses the effect on agriculture during the statewide propane shortage at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Pence suspended limits on loads for propane suppliers and directed state agencies to work with the Indiana Motor Truck Association to expedite permit applications and waive fees on overweight loads carrying propane.

“These actions will help propane suppliers run at full capacity,” Pence said.

The announcement was followed by the release of $5 million of Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program funds. The funds will go to local service providers. The LIHEAP benefits for those in need will also increase from $400 to $550 through the end of March.

Pence also extended an emergency proclamation he made at the beginning of this month that lifts some restriction on the number of hours propane transporters can work. The extension will last until March 1.

The governor recently ordered roughly 575 light-duty Department of Transportation trucks to begin using alternate fuel to help conserve propane.

“They have been using unleaded gasoline since last week,” Pence said. “With the expectation of more winter weather around the corner, let me note that this change has no impact on our ability to keep our roads passable and clear snow as this difficult winter continues.”

Pence said that he was still looking to see if anything else could be done to help Hoosiers.

“Our administration is going to continue to pursue every avenue available to us to help Hoosiers through this severe shortage in propane during this difficult winter,” he said.

Pence also urged residents and businesses to do what they could to preserve propane, including turning down thermostats when they leave homes and buildings and using alternative fuel sources if possible. Pence asked for residents to help others when they could.

“I’m going to urge Hoosiers to do what Hoosiers do best. This is just the right time for us to come alongside our neighbors and friends who might be struggling with the high-energy costs or the shortages precipitated by the circumstances in the propane market,” Pence said.

Hoosiers concerned about price gouging by propane companies or broken contracts should call the attorney general’s office at 317-232-6201. Those in need of resources during the shortage can call 211.

Ryanne Wise is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.