Entering the Home Stretch

March Madness is over and now the major league baseball season is getting underway. With baseball in mind, I like to compare this period in the Legislature to a runner who has crossed third base and is heading towards home plate. We have less than three weeks left until our deadline to finish legislative business.

The end is well within sight, but we still have to keep running hard until the job is done. With our deadline fast approaching, I wanted to provide a quick update on where some of the key legislation currently stands.

House Enrolled Act 1151 – Blue Alert Program

House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1151 creates a ‘Blue Alert’ program to be operated by the Indiana State Police Department. The ‘Blue Alert’ program is designed to notify the public when a law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured or missing in the line of duty. The concept is relatively similar to the Amber and Silver alert programs.

The ‘Blue Alert’ makes communities aware of serious situations involving law enforcement officers. I am hoping that it will provide peace of mind to the men and women who serve and to their families as well. HEA 1151 was signed into law yesterday by Governor Pence.

House Bill 1005 – Remediation

House Bill (HB) 1005 is an education remediation bill that is designed to help high school students become college and career ready. As an educator, I recognize the importance of equipping students for life after graduation.

HB 1005 improves standards for dual credit courses. It requires students to receive a C or better in order to obtain dual credit for college-level high school courses. Demonstrating proficiency at the high school level, be it in a dual credit course or otherwise, will save students the time and money that goes into taking remediation courses at the post-secondary level.

This bill also reduces graduation waiver rates. Any student that receives a general diploma waiver will be prohibited from receiving state financial aid until they pass a college and career readiness assessment and the secondary school official determines that the student does not need additional remediation or instruction.

Preparing students for the future will pay dividends in their lives for years to come.

HB 1005 was passed out of the Senate unanimously. Since the bill was amended in the Senate, it will return to the House to be reconciled.

If you have any questions about these bills or any other legislation I have authored, please feel free to connect with me via email at h76@in.gov or by phone at (317) 232­-9671.

Indiana – Catch the latest addition of the “Indiana State Police Road Show” radio program every Monday morning at your convenience.

Download the program from the Network Indiana public website at www.networkindiana.com. Look for the state police logo on the main page and follow the download instructions. This 15 minute talk show concentrates on public safety and informational topics with state wide interest.

The radio program was titled “Signal-10” in the early sixties when it was first started by two troopers in northern Indiana. The name was later changed to the “Indiana State Police Road Show” and is the longest continuously aired state police public service program in Indiana.

Radio stations across Indiana and the nation are invited to download and air for FREE this public service program sponsored by the Indiana State Police Alliance and Cops for Kids, a subsidiary of the Indiana State Police Alliance.

This week’s show features Sergeant Rod Russell, of the Indiana State Police Public Information Section. Sergeant Russell discusses the Indiana State Police 73rd recruit academy process and the preliminary timelines for the 74th recruit academy.

Evansville Redevelopment Commission
AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 – 9:00 am
Civic Center Complex – Room 307

1. Call to Order

2. Downtown Redevelopment Area

13-ERC-15 – Approving a Pre-Development Agreement with Hotel Developer

13-ERC-16 – Authorizing Change Order No. 2 to the Contract with Arc Construction for New Accessible Entrance at the Old Post Office

13-ERC-17 – Authorizing Change Order No. 3 to the Contract with Arc Construction for New Accessible Entrance at the Old Post Office

13-ERC-18 – Authorizing Change Order No. 4 to the Contract with Arc Construction for New Accessible Entrance at the Old Post Office

3. Other Business

4. Adjournment

* This preliminary Agenda is subject to change. The final Agenda will be posted at the entrance to the location of the meeting prior to the meeting.

STATEHOUSE – State Representatives Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) and Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) co-sponsored Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 153, which was signed into law today by Governor Pence. SEA 153 amends Indiana’s child labor laws to allow Hoosiers under age 14 to work as referees, umpires or officials for youth athletic programs.

“Matthew Burkhart, a 13-year-old from Newburgh, brought this idea to me because he wanted to make a difference,” said Rep. Crouch. “This bill could help as many as 300 young Hoosiers, just like Matthew, to realize their dreams of serving as referees.”

SEA 153 has the support of Indiana Soccer President Murray Clark. The bill lowers the eligibility age to work as a referee, umpire or official for youth athletic programs. A child must satisfy each of the following requirements:

· The child must be at least 12 years of age.

· The child must be certified as a referee, umpire or official by a national certification program.

· The child must referee, umpire or officiate for an age bracket younger than his/her own age.

“This legislation is quite an accomplishment for the young Mr. Burkhart,” said Rep. Bacon. “He should be very proud of his work. The legislative process is not easy to maneuver and his efforts to make this a possibility are commendable. I hope this will encourage more kids to be active in their local athletic programs as participants and as role models for their younger peers.

TSGS (Tri-State Genealogical Society) Meeting Notice

When: Tuesday 9 April 6:30 PM

Where: Willard Library – Bayard Room on the Second Floor

What: Monthly Meeting

A drawing for an attendance prize will be awarded at the close of the meeting… you must be present to win.

The Tri-State Genealogical Society will have a brief business meeting followed by our program:

TSGS has announced that the program will feature Bettie Cook. She holds a BA from Carson-Newman College, Master’s Degree from University of Kentucky. Bettie has been a Certified Genealogist since 1974. She has published thirty-six books, The Kentucky Record Series with her late husband. Her most recent work, Research In Kentucky, was published by the National Genealogical Society as part of their series of Research In the States. The program, “Brick Walls: Finding Answers” will examine sources that help locate a hard to find ancestor. Research problem questions will be accepted from attendees and answered.

How many of you have a hit a brick wall, a place where you think you will not find this elusive ancestor or information about them? This promises to be a program that you do not want to miss.

You do not have to be a member to come and participate at the society’s monthly meetings (except, no meetings in July and August).

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This time of the year, weather conditions may cause the society to cancel meetings… the decision to cancel usually is determined the day of the meeting, providing short notice. Since a bad weather system may develop later in the day (or that night), check our blog (http://tsgsblog.blogspot.com/) for cancellation notice or call Willard Library (812-425-4309).

Zoeller’s office also seeks preliminary injunction against Illinois-based company

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit today against a company accused of using government-like mailings to offer copies of property deeds for exorbitant fees.

Illinois Deed Provider, Inc. also doing business National Record Service, Inc. and National Deed Service, Inc. sent mailers to property owners offering certified copies of deeds for $59.50 and an additional copy for $20. Property deeds – which are usually one to two pages – are public records and county recorders can provide copies for free or at a nominal cost, often times a $1 per page.

“The solicitations mimic government legal documents which mislead consumers into believing they need a copy of their property deed,” Zoeller said. “Homeowners are not required to have copies even when they go to sell a property and they can obtain these documents from their county recorder’s office at little or no cost.”

According to the lawsuit filed in Allen County Superior Court, the company’s notices contained the property owner’s name, address, property deed document number and county recorder’s information. Interested persons would fill out the form and return it with a check, money order or credit card information. Zoeller said this is the first lawsuit his office has filed against this type of business.

Some of the company’s mailers claim, “The U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center website recommends that property owners should have an official or certified copy of their deed.” According to the lawsuit, the federal website does not contain such information and the federal government actually warns consumers of companies offering to sell you a certified copy of your deed.

The state alleges the company violated the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and the Deceptive Commercial Solicitation Act. Zoeller’s office seeks an injunction, consumer restitution, civil penalties and investigative costs.

“Hoosiers have enough to consider when they purchase a home. In the midst of a flurry of paperwork and expensive decisions, this official-sounding solicitation arrives, seeming like yet another thing a buyer is required to do,” said Allen County Recorder John McGauley. “Recorders across Indiana have long felt the National Deed Service offer is exorbitant and misleading. We thank Attorney General Zoeller for the opportunity to settle the question once and for all.”

The Attorney General’s office also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the company which would prohibit it from sending these notices to consumers pending a final judgment by the court. Zoeller thanked county recorders who assisted in the investigation and those who voiced their concerns regarding these types of services.

If you have any doubts about a mailing offering a government-provided service, contact the entity directly to confirm the solicitation’s legitimacy. If you have received a notice or paid for this service, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or requesting a complaint form be mailed to you by calling 1.800.382.5516.

Zoeller thanked Deputy Attorney General Lisa Wolf for her work on the case and her dedication to the Consumer Protection Division.