House Bills
 
HB 1027 Minimum wage, now economic matters, passed the House with a strong bipartisan vote of 71 – 29. It will next be considered by the Senate, probably not until March. The bill raises the minimum wage in steps to $7.50 by September 2008. It also provides for an increase in Indiana Inheritance Tax Exemption from $100,000 to $200,000.
HB 1075, Individual development accounts, passed the House 98 – 0. It awaits action in the Senate in March. The bill adds repair of a residence as an allowable use for the funds, and increases the number and amount that each account can be matched.
ICC supports both bills.
 
Senate Bills
 
SB 190, Food establishment sanitary requirements exemption, passed the Senate 49 – 0. This bill removes the sunset provision of the law that passed last year to exempt church and schools from some very prescriptive rules regarding food sales at concessions and church functions. ICC supports the bill.
SB 262, Public school transfers, passed the Senate 32 – 17; except for one vote it followed party lines. No amendment supporting parental choice for education of children at Catholic and other non-public schools was added. We did not expect the bill to be amended, but it is hoped that many contacted their senator to express support for the concept of tax credits for children enrolled in Catholic schools. Other bills may provide an opportunity where an amendment would be better suited. We want to keep this issue before the General Assembly.  Both bills await action in the House in March.
 
Committee Action
 
SB 24, Death penalty and mental illness, received a full hearing in Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee. As expected no vote was taken. In addition to ICC, several individuals and groups expressed support for the bill which would exclude the death penalty for only mentally ill individuals, if a judge determined that the preponderance of evidence proved mental illness; punishment for the crime would include imprisonment up to life without parole. One group, Prosecutors Association, opposed the bill because they thought mental illness should be taken into consideration upon sentencing. Vote may be taken in coming weeks if there is sufficient support to move the bill. Should it not be supported, we expect the chairman will hold the bill.
 


SJR 7, Definition of marriage, passed the Senate Judiciary committee 7 – 4 on party lines. The committee heard testimony from all sides for over 3 hours. Opponents were mostly concerned about the second part of the amendment that prohibits Indiana law from being construed to require marital status for unmarried couples or groups. Most raised concerns that this was vague and would prohibit benefits now offered by employers or what is permitted already by state law such as adoptions by single persons. The proponents maintained that the amendment prohibits only courts from granting rights; it does not prohibit the legislature from conferring or granting rights to unmarried individuals, and it does not change laws protecting individuals and groups already enacted. ICC supports the amendment because it would strengthen Indiana’s current law defining marriage and the amendment would not constrict the legislature regarding other laws.

 
SB 327, Immunization for school age girls, passed Senate Health and Provider Services 11 – 0.  The bill was amended and removes the requirement of vaccination; it now provides that parents are to be informed about the vaccine and the link between HPV and cervical cancer. Parents will be able to decide if the vaccine is appropriate for their daughter(s).  The Church has no objection to the vaccine and supports the goal of preventing cervical cancer. ICC expressed concerns that parents should make the determination about vaccination. ICC also spoke to senators about access for the poor, uninsured and underinsured. Since the vaccine is not inexpensive and because higher incidents of the disease parallels lower socio-economic populations, it is necessary for all families to have access.
 
HB 1037, Home energy assistance sales tax exemption, passed the Ways and Means Committee with a bipartisan vote of 21 – 0. It now goes to the House floor for a vote. ICC supports the bill.
 
HB 1348, Umbilical cord blood bank, authored by Rep. Peggy Welch from Bloomington, was heard in the House Public Policy Committee but no vote was taken. Committee chairman, Rep Trent Van Haaften, heard testimony in order to let the committee further consider the bill before voting. The bill would direct the state Department of Health to establish an umbilical cord blood bank, to which parents could donate umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells that can be used for therapy for the child or siblings as bone marrow is now used. It could also be used for research to develop therapies for diseases. Using umbilical cord blood is moral and ethical and is supported by the Church. ICC supports the bill. A concern is that it could be amended to include embryonic stem cell research. However, should that happen, Rep. Welch has committed to hold the bill.
 
To contact your State Representative and/or State Senator
http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl#house
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about legislative process on the web at http://www.state.in.us/legislative/session/calendars.html .  You can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site at www.indianacc.org