Update On Legislation State Legislature’s 2016 Session

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Update On Legislation State Legislature’s 2016 Session

Now that the Indiana State Legislature’s 2016 session is well under way in Indianapolis, I wanted to give you an update on some of the legislation I am working on or following very closely:

Body Cameras:

Last week, we heard law enforcement and media representatives testify on legislation, House Bill (HB) 1019, pertaining to access police body camera recordings.

There are still some issues to work out on HB 1019. Disagreements exist over the role of the Public Access Counselor in handling requests from the media and also whether or not there should be payment of attorney fees in lawsuits regarding video from police body camera recordings.

HB 1019 is expected to be considered on the House floor next week—and amendments to this legislation will be offered by those of us who have expressed concern with the legislation as it is now written.

Local Government Accountability:

HB 1372: This bill calls for changes to Indiana’s bond law, exit conferences and audits. It is a next step in ensuring that Indiana’s local units of government are accountable to the public. Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) is carrying HB 1372 and I am co-author.

HB 1022: For those attending private, independent colleges in Indiana, the college police departments of those colleges will be more open to public access if there is a crime. The bill’s author, Rep. B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend), is pushing for changes after an incident at Notre Dame. HB 1022 will be eligible for a vote in the House later today (Jan. 21, 2016).

Local Government Leadership:

HB 1137: Rep. Steven R. Stemler (D-Jeffersonville) has an important bill on water and interstate cooperation regarding water usage. This legislation means a great deal to the citizens and communities of Southwestern Indiana and across the state, as well. HB 1137 will be heard in a House committee on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Children’s Issues:

HB 1064: The victim of a rape should not have to give the rapist custodial rights to a child born out of that rape. This bill deals with such situations. The leading Democratic representative on issues of violence toward women, Rep. Christina Hale (D-Indianapolis), is the co-author of this bill. Rep. Harold Slager (R-Schererville), is HB 1064’s primary author.

Senate Bill (SB) 305: This bill—among others—is being sought by Child Protective Services and would add human trafficking to Indiana’s child abuse statutes.

Roads:

The roads plan advanced by the Indiana House Republican Caucus, HB 1001, was passed out of the Indiana House Roads & Transportation Committee yesterday (Jan. 20, 2016) and now moves to the House floor for consideration by all 100 state representatives. Unfortunately, HB1001 currently calls for a tax increase, something Democrats in the Indiana State Legislature would like to avoid by utilizing some of the state’s budget surplus.

Education:

The House has just passed SB 200 with a vote of 97-1 and is expected to take action later today (Jan. 21, 2016) on a companion bill, HB 1003, that holds teachers harmless for recent failures in ISTEP testing.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. By mentioning HB 1064 and SB 305 I am assuming that you, Gail, support these bills. Thank you!

    As one who is pro life without exceptions, it is crucial that the rapist is denied all rights of custody and visitation past his right to sign the check to support the second victim of his crime.

    There are more people living in slavery today than at anytime in our history.

    • …there are two wildly wrong ideas in your commentary today I-E.
      1. That anyone would de-humanize women, treat them as property of the state and YOUR whims by denying a woman her right to decide whether to have a Rapist’s child is unbelievably cruel and subhuman. It is abuse, plain and simple.
      2. And you’re selling something Indiana Enoch, I don’t know what (got to be snake oil cures, indulgences, or something like that), but selling WAY too hard, if one of your supporting arguments is “there are more people living in slavery today than at anytime in our history.”

      • Two things wrong with your response.
        !. I don’t dehumanize women by believing adding the trauma of abortion to the trauma of rape. nor do I determine the humanity of someone b the circumstances of humanity. Giving the child conceived in rape a death sentence when we don’t even execute a rapist because it is disproportional to the crime committed is abuse.
        2. I would have thought that no matter where one is one the question of abortion, we all could agree that rapist should have no custodial rights. Put down whatever you’re drinking today, and let’s agree that we need to protect women from men who not only sexually abused them but would us the child to continue his abuse.

  2. Republicans: the party of rape babies, back room politics, and not holding police accountable.

    • The party of rape babies? Is that to offset the party of rapists, Ghost of the Murderer?

    • You call the rape babies, we call them human beings with a right to life the same as you have.

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