I-CAN Update for April 27
Monday,April, 30 ,2007 Filed in: I-CAN
Conference committee phase of the session is very fluid. Typically legislators are trying to find homes for bills that passed one but not the other chamber. Also legislators are fine tuning the legislation. Hence, there often are several ideas being tried and discussions are ongoing - in and outside of the formal committee meetings.
After the final language of the bill is agreed to by conferees, the bill must go to each caucus for discussion and approval before the conferee can sign the report and the report be brought to the floor for a final vote. Hence, depending on the time of the week, it can take days or hours for a bill to get the signatures. Once it does it is likely to pass each chamber since the caucus has already given approval. Most of the decisions on the significant legislation will likely take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the last days of the session.
After the final language of the bill is agreed to by conferees, the bill must go to each caucus for discussion and approval before the conferee can sign the report and the report be brought to the floor for a final vote. Hence, depending on the time of the week, it can take days or hours for a bill to get the signatures. Once it does it is likely to pass each chamber since the caucus has already given approval. Most of the decisions on the significant legislation will likely take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the last days of the session.
State budget
HB 1001, State budget, is the primary bill but is dependent on two others.
Negotiations have continued all week on the slots at the horse race tracks (HB 1835) because of its impact on the budget and the amount of property tax reform possible (HB 1478). The slots seem likely to pass with the amount of fees and taxes collected as the issues to be determined. Allocation of the revenue will be set in the property tax bill and the budget.
The budget sets Indiana’s priorities. In addition to paying salaries, building roads and taking care of state functions such as prisons, the budget provides for the social programs and education programs. For example, legislation passed this session increasing the coverage and amounts for Individual Development Accounts, but the budget will effectively set the limits by the amount allocated.
The budget bill often contains provisions beyond the dollars for specific state programs. It can authorize new programs such as the Scholarship Tax Credit, supported by ICC. The conference committee discussions include more than allocations, it includes debate about priorities and in this case the existence of the program itself. Because it is a small amount compared to many other programs ICC is hopeful it will not become the focus of negotiations. School funding, property tax reform, and other issues that involve hundreds of millions of dollars are the primary focus for the legislators. ICC is hopeful that it will remain. Calls to legislators to support the Scholarship Tax Credit are still important.
Housing and community development fund
HB 1351 has found its way into SB 550 and discussions continue regarding the amount and the source of funding for the low income housing fund. There seems to be some agreement that the fund does need an ongoing revenue source. The details are always more difficult.
Cigarette tax and health care
Agreement is forming on the cigarette tax and health care for low income families. An increase in cigarette tax is probable and may be divided between several health care concerns. Most of the increase will fund the Healthier Indiana plan to provide access to low-income working families; another portion would support an increase in doctor reimbursements as well as other health programs. It is important that the tax also restore the funding for cessation and prevention programs and increase funding for immunization. Please contact your legislator to support funding of these programs as well as funding for access to health care.
HB 1510 Charity gaming
Conference committee is discussing the enforcement aspects of the version passed in the Senate. It appears that there is agreement to crack down on illegal gaming but the specifics of how it is done is being worked out. There is clear opposition to cherry masters and other rigged gaming machines. Enforcement by local police rather than the special excise police may be an outcome of the compromise. Also, there is discussion about licensing taverns and other establishments, in addition to charity organizations, to sell pull tabs and the like. The tavern and beverage industry are pushing this addition to “level” the playing field with clubs.
Sudan divestment
The language of HB 1484 was amended into HB 1067 in conference committee on Tuesday. The divestment language protects the pension funds but sends a clear message to companies doing business with the Sudanese government that capital will dry up if the policy of Sudan does not change. This bill has received bi-partisan support from the beginning. When passed, Indiana will join 8 other states passing legislation to address this problem.
HB 1348 Umbilical cord blood
Rep. Welsh has concurred with the Senate version of the bill. She held the bill to see if there was a need for further developments in the cord blood program or to provide a home for other Medicaid provisions. However, nothing developed. The House passed the concurrence 89 – 0 on Wed.
HB 1001, State budget, is the primary bill but is dependent on two others.
Negotiations have continued all week on the slots at the horse race tracks (HB 1835) because of its impact on the budget and the amount of property tax reform possible (HB 1478). The slots seem likely to pass with the amount of fees and taxes collected as the issues to be determined. Allocation of the revenue will be set in the property tax bill and the budget.
The budget sets Indiana’s priorities. In addition to paying salaries, building roads and taking care of state functions such as prisons, the budget provides for the social programs and education programs. For example, legislation passed this session increasing the coverage and amounts for Individual Development Accounts, but the budget will effectively set the limits by the amount allocated.
The budget bill often contains provisions beyond the dollars for specific state programs. It can authorize new programs such as the Scholarship Tax Credit, supported by ICC. The conference committee discussions include more than allocations, it includes debate about priorities and in this case the existence of the program itself. Because it is a small amount compared to many other programs ICC is hopeful it will not become the focus of negotiations. School funding, property tax reform, and other issues that involve hundreds of millions of dollars are the primary focus for the legislators. ICC is hopeful that it will remain. Calls to legislators to support the Scholarship Tax Credit are still important.
Housing and community development fund
HB 1351 has found its way into SB 550 and discussions continue regarding the amount and the source of funding for the low income housing fund. There seems to be some agreement that the fund does need an ongoing revenue source. The details are always more difficult.
Cigarette tax and health care
Agreement is forming on the cigarette tax and health care for low income families. An increase in cigarette tax is probable and may be divided between several health care concerns. Most of the increase will fund the Healthier Indiana plan to provide access to low-income working families; another portion would support an increase in doctor reimbursements as well as other health programs. It is important that the tax also restore the funding for cessation and prevention programs and increase funding for immunization. Please contact your legislator to support funding of these programs as well as funding for access to health care.
HB 1510 Charity gaming
Conference committee is discussing the enforcement aspects of the version passed in the Senate. It appears that there is agreement to crack down on illegal gaming but the specifics of how it is done is being worked out. There is clear opposition to cherry masters and other rigged gaming machines. Enforcement by local police rather than the special excise police may be an outcome of the compromise. Also, there is discussion about licensing taverns and other establishments, in addition to charity organizations, to sell pull tabs and the like. The tavern and beverage industry are pushing this addition to “level” the playing field with clubs.
Sudan divestment
The language of HB 1484 was amended into HB 1067 in conference committee on Tuesday. The divestment language protects the pension funds but sends a clear message to companies doing business with the Sudanese government that capital will dry up if the policy of Sudan does not change. This bill has received bi-partisan support from the beginning. When passed, Indiana will join 8 other states passing legislation to address this problem.
HB 1348 Umbilical cord blood
Rep. Welsh has concurred with the Senate version of the bill. She held the bill to see if there was a need for further developments in the cord blood program or to provide a home for other Medicaid provisions. However, nothing developed. The House passed the concurrence 89 – 0 on Wed.
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.indiana.nasccd.org