I-CAN Update for April 20
Thursday,April, 19 ,2007 Filed in: I-CAN
Conference committee phase of the session began this week. The most critical bill is HB 1001, State budget. However, there are two other bills that must be agreed to before the budget can be finalized. These are the property tax adjustments in HB 1478 and the slots at the horse race tracks in HB 1835. Both are related to revenue and the allocation of state resources. Committees have been working on these bills all week.
ICC is interested in HB 1001 for a number of reasons. In addition to funding important social and safety net programs, ICC is working to maintain a scholarship tax credit program to support parental choice. We continue to seek network support in contacting representatives and senators urging their support of this program. It is critical that the conferees, especially Representative Bill Crawford of Indianapolis and Speaker Pat Bauer of South Bend know that the tax credit is very important and needs to be kept in the budget. Senate conferees are Senator Bob Meeks of LaGrange and Senator Frank Mrvan of Hammond.
Other committees meeting this week
Conference committee process includes finding compromises and getting agreement on issues and topics that have passed one body but not the other. For example, one such bill ICC supported is the topic of conversation in SB 500. It deals with several economic and tax matters and the House included HB 1351 dealing with funding the housing and community trust fund. In addition, other bills are being considered as a home for HB 1351 if conferees on SB 500 are unwilling.
SB 503, dealing with the health insurance needs of low income workers, is another bill receiving attention. Along with it is the issue of increasing the cigarette tax. The insurance and health access program in SB 503 will be combined with an increase in cigarette tax in HB 1678. We expect a tax increase of approximately 40 cents. This will not be enough for the entire health care program. Revenue from the slots at horse tracks may be added to provide the needed dollars. This trade off adds support for slots to ensure passage.
Conference committees expected to meet next week
Conferees were named to HB 1067, Pension issues. The plan is to include the Sudan divestment bill.
Conferees will have to decide whether to keep changes from the Senate that added enforcement of illegal gambling into HB 1510, Charity gaming.
HB 1348, Umbilical cord blood, will go to conference committee if there is a need to find a home for issues dealing with Medicaid. We do not expect any weakening of the bill as passed by the Senate to encourage cord blood storage and research.
Some bills passed concurrence vote this week and are now on their way to the Governor for signature.
HB 1027, Minimum wage
HB 1037, Home energy assistance sales tax exemption
HB 1075, Individual Development Accounts
SB 190, Food establishment sanitary requirement exemption
SB 445, Notaries
Other committees meeting this week
Conference committee process includes finding compromises and getting agreement on issues and topics that have passed one body but not the other. For example, one such bill ICC supported is the topic of conversation in SB 500. It deals with several economic and tax matters and the House included HB 1351 dealing with funding the housing and community trust fund. In addition, other bills are being considered as a home for HB 1351 if conferees on SB 500 are unwilling.
SB 503, dealing with the health insurance needs of low income workers, is another bill receiving attention. Along with it is the issue of increasing the cigarette tax. The insurance and health access program in SB 503 will be combined with an increase in cigarette tax in HB 1678. We expect a tax increase of approximately 40 cents. This will not be enough for the entire health care program. Revenue from the slots at horse tracks may be added to provide the needed dollars. This trade off adds support for slots to ensure passage.
Conference committees expected to meet next week
Conferees were named to HB 1067, Pension issues. The plan is to include the Sudan divestment bill.
Conferees will have to decide whether to keep changes from the Senate that added enforcement of illegal gambling into HB 1510, Charity gaming.
HB 1348, Umbilical cord blood, will go to conference committee if there is a need to find a home for issues dealing with Medicaid. We do not expect any weakening of the bill as passed by the Senate to encourage cord blood storage and research.
Some bills passed concurrence vote this week and are now on their way to the Governor for signature.
HB 1027, Minimum wage
HB 1037, Home energy assistance sales tax exemption
HB 1075, Individual Development Accounts
SB 190, Food establishment sanitary requirement exemption
SB 445, Notaries
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