Church Blog

 
This week all action was focused on getting major bills moved in both houses. Several priorities for the Conference passed and now will be either concurred upon or go to conference committee.
 
Pro-life
HB 1210, Abortion matters, passed the Senate 35 - 13. It is a major victory for the pro-life community because it accomplishes several goals. First, it strengthens the informed consent law in Indiana. Women will have to be given information in writing as well as orally. The information will include the fact that life begins at conception and that there are options to abortion and support for women who carry the baby to birth. It also requires the woman to refuse to see the ultrasound prior to the abortion. Secondly, the bill will prohibit an Indiana health insurance exchange established under the federal health care act from including elective abortion coverage. The bill was changed to provide for coverage for rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother. This is language that is similar to the Hyde Amendment in Federal law. Thirdly, the bill includes a prohibition for Indiana to contract with an organization that conducts abortions. The primary target of the amendment was Planned Parenthood but will include any organization that provides abortions, except hospitals. This amendment passed second reading 36 - 13.  HB 1210 now returns to the House to consider the changes made in the original bill. The House is expected to concur with the changes rather than dissenting and going to conference committee to work out differences. The House will have to vote on the bill again to accept the changes.
 
Education
HB 1003, School scholarships, passed the Senate 28 - 22!  It was amended on second reading to provide a benefit for current private school parents. Parents of students in private or home schools with unreimbursed expenses can deduct $1000 per student from their adjusted gross income in computing state income tax. While the income tax reduction is modest, the provision recognizes that in the scholarship program (voucher) current students are not permitted to participate and yet these families deserve support also. Another important provision of the bill increases the tax cap for the scholarship tax credit program; this will allow a greater number of scholarships for students entering kindergarten who under the current bill are excluded. However, once awarded a tax credit scholarship, the student is eligible for the voucher the following school year.  HB 1003 now returns to the House for concurrence or dissent.  We expect a concurrence vote and if changes are necessary, these would be addressed in conference committee in another bill.
 
HB 1341, Special education grants, passed the Senate 43 - 6. Because no changes were made in the bill from the House version, it now goes directly to the Governor for signature. This is a major victory for many Catholic school students and parents. The bill requires that state funds allocated to benefit students in non-public schools be used to provide services for them. State law will mirror Federal law that requires a proportional amount of the funds generated by students in non-public schools be used to provide services for them.
 
Immigration
SB 590, Illegal immigration matters, passed the House.  The bill was amended further on second reading. Salient changes include protection for those renting property and homes and an alternative to E-verify, provided the option is approved by Homeland Security. The House also tightened the criteria by which employers would be held liable under the bill. It now requires that the employers have actual knowledge that the employee was unlawfully present at the time of hiring. Attempts to take out provisions that the agricultural community found problematic were not accepted.
 
The focus of the bill is employers who hire undocumented workers but it also contains many troubling provisions that remain unclear as to implementation and effect.  Because of the many significant changes in the bill, the Senate is likely to dissent and call a conference committee.
 
HB 1402, Prohibiting resident tuition for illegal aliens, passed the Senate 38 - 12. The bill will increase costs for students who have lived here for most of their life and yet cannot become citizens. An attempt was made to provide an exemption for students who had lived in Indiana at least 3 years and graduated from high school but it was defeated 15 - 33. The bill now goes to the Governor since the Senate made no changes in the House bill.
 
A Joyful and Blessed Easter!