I-CAN Update for February 12
Friday,February, 12 ,2010 Filed in: I-CAN
Crossover has begun with only a few technical and consensus bills getting hearings this week. The more controversial bills and major bills were given further study before hearings are scheduled. Many will not be heard, which is customary, but this "short session" may become shorter. Committees are being asked to finish next week rather than the last week of February. The session could end in early March.
HB 1367, Education matters, has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures, chaired by Senator David Long (R - Fort Wayne). It is scheduled for a hearing on Monday; however, the bill will be amended. We expect the provisions related to the Scholarship Tax Credit will be removed.
SB 213, Unauthorized aliens, has been assigned to the House Interstate and International Cooperation Committee, chaired by Representative Earl Harris (D - East Chicago). Last year Speaker Bauer assigned the immigration bill to this committee where it died without a hearing. ICC is expecting that SB 213 will meet with a similar fate this year. At this time no committee meeting is scheduled.
SJR 13, Definition of Marriage, was assigned to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. This committee is chaired by Representative Matthew Pierce (D - Bloomington); he is not a supporter of the amendment and is unlikely to give the bill a hearing. The committee schedule for next week does not list SJR 13.
The bills (HB 1001 and SB 114) from each chamber dealing with legislative ethics and lobbying reform passed with large bi-partisan majorities; each has been assigned to the respective Rules committees. HB 1001 will get a hearing in Senate Rules Committee on Monday. There is no word regarding SB 114.
The bills from the Senate regarding redistricting guidelines have also been sent to the House Rules Committee, chaired by Representative Phil GiaQuinta (D - Fort Wayne). Bills dealing with this topic filed in the House did not get a hearing during the first part of this session. It is unlikely that the Senate version will be heard in the remaining weeks of the session.
Bills dealing with township government are awaiting hearings in the respective committees dealing with local government in each house. SB 240, Township government was assigned to the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform chaired by Representative John Bartlett (D - Indianapolis). This bill eliminates township boards and moves township budgeting authority to the county level. It also eliminates nepotism by prohibiting township trustees from hiring family members. The House version, HB 1181, Referendum on retaining township trustee and board was assigned to the Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Senator Connie Lawson (R - Danville). Neither bill was scheduled for a hearing yet.
The only implicitly pro-life bill to move this session was SB 71, Unlawful termination of pregnancy. It has been assigned to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. The bill would stiffen penalties against drunken drivers by amending Indiana's law to make the killing of a fetus as a result of driving while intoxicated involuntary manslaughter. It has not been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 224 addresses the emerging issue of "sexting" - the act of sending semi-nude and nude photos of teens by cell phone. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Linda Lawson (D - Hammond). The bill will be heard on Tuesday. The bill will be amended to provide for a study committee regarding the sexting issue and include provisions dealing with sex offenders. Representative Lawson wants to broaden the issue of sexting beyond the teen focus and a study committee will allow for a comprehensive law to be considered next year.
Bills moving this week
On Thursday HB 1021, Bankruptcy exemptions; earned income tax credit, passed 9 - 2 in Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Luke Kenley (R - Noblesville).
After being amended to remove the provisions that allowed restrictions at some manufacturing and high priority sites identified by Homeland Security, HB 1065, Various provisions concerning firearms, passed (7 - 0) the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters, chaired by Senator Brent Steele (R - Bedford). The bill allows guns to remain in locked vehicles while on another's property. HB 1068, access to handgun license information, passed the same committee 7 - 1; the bill restricts public access to handgun permits.
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the Legislative Action Center under policy tools; click issues and legislation to access the state or federal bills. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site, www.indianacc.org .
SB 213, Unauthorized aliens, has been assigned to the House Interstate and International Cooperation Committee, chaired by Representative Earl Harris (D - East Chicago). Last year Speaker Bauer assigned the immigration bill to this committee where it died without a hearing. ICC is expecting that SB 213 will meet with a similar fate this year. At this time no committee meeting is scheduled.
SJR 13, Definition of Marriage, was assigned to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. This committee is chaired by Representative Matthew Pierce (D - Bloomington); he is not a supporter of the amendment and is unlikely to give the bill a hearing. The committee schedule for next week does not list SJR 13.
The bills (HB 1001 and SB 114) from each chamber dealing with legislative ethics and lobbying reform passed with large bi-partisan majorities; each has been assigned to the respective Rules committees. HB 1001 will get a hearing in Senate Rules Committee on Monday. There is no word regarding SB 114.
The bills from the Senate regarding redistricting guidelines have also been sent to the House Rules Committee, chaired by Representative Phil GiaQuinta (D - Fort Wayne). Bills dealing with this topic filed in the House did not get a hearing during the first part of this session. It is unlikely that the Senate version will be heard in the remaining weeks of the session.
Bills dealing with township government are awaiting hearings in the respective committees dealing with local government in each house. SB 240, Township government was assigned to the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform chaired by Representative John Bartlett (D - Indianapolis). This bill eliminates township boards and moves township budgeting authority to the county level. It also eliminates nepotism by prohibiting township trustees from hiring family members. The House version, HB 1181, Referendum on retaining township trustee and board was assigned to the Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by Senator Connie Lawson (R - Danville). Neither bill was scheduled for a hearing yet.
The only implicitly pro-life bill to move this session was SB 71, Unlawful termination of pregnancy. It has been assigned to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. The bill would stiffen penalties against drunken drivers by amending Indiana's law to make the killing of a fetus as a result of driving while intoxicated involuntary manslaughter. It has not been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 224 addresses the emerging issue of "sexting" - the act of sending semi-nude and nude photos of teens by cell phone. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Linda Lawson (D - Hammond). The bill will be heard on Tuesday. The bill will be amended to provide for a study committee regarding the sexting issue and include provisions dealing with sex offenders. Representative Lawson wants to broaden the issue of sexting beyond the teen focus and a study committee will allow for a comprehensive law to be considered next year.
Bills moving this week
On Thursday HB 1021, Bankruptcy exemptions; earned income tax credit, passed 9 - 2 in Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Luke Kenley (R - Noblesville).
After being amended to remove the provisions that allowed restrictions at some manufacturing and high priority sites identified by Homeland Security, HB 1065, Various provisions concerning firearms, passed (7 - 0) the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters, chaired by Senator Brent Steele (R - Bedford). The bill allows guns to remain in locked vehicles while on another's property. HB 1068, access to handgun license information, passed the same committee 7 - 1; the bill restricts public access to handgun permits.
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the Legislative Action Center under policy tools; click issues and legislation to access the state or federal bills. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site, www.indianacc.org .