HB 1348 Umbilical cord blood bank passed the House Public Policy Committee 7 – 0. The bill continues to be under review but time did not permit the necessary clarifications to have it as the author and other supporters want. Hence it passed unaltered with the expectation that once it passes the House, it will be modified in the Senate next month. Rep. Welch continues to discuss with hospitals and the state department to clarify how the bank will be funded and operated. If this cannot be clarified to everyone’s satisfaction Rep Welch will not move the bill. ICC continues to monitor the discussion and developments.
 
HB 1074 Earned income tax credit, sponsored by Rep. Day (D) and Rep Murphy (R) was amended in Ways and Means Committee to cap the credit at 9% of the Federal tax credit. Current law allows for 6%. More than 400,000 working families will benefit. To qualify families must be below eligibility levels depending on size of household. ICC supports the bill.
 
HB 1351, Affordable housing and community development fund, passed the Ways and Means Committee after including additional funding from interest balance in the Property Custody Fund and the interest balance in the Abandoned Property Fund.
 
SB 135, Abortion matters went from a very strong bill to a problem bill in committee on Wednesday. The bill now contains an amendment supported by Planned Parenthood that defines contraception. Another amendment changed language regarding the fetal pain and definition of life beginning at fertilization. The latter changes were acceptable and kept the substance of the original intent. The problem is the amendment to add a definition of contraception; this makes the bill unacceptable for ICC. SB 135 needs to be amended on 2nd reading. Sen. Miller has agreed to work on it. Calls to the Senate to take out the contraception language would help. The bill will be eligible for second reading on Monday.
 
Last week Sen. Simpson offered several amendments that addressed the language regarding fetal pain and the definition of life beginning at fertilization. Sen. Miller did change the language to more acceptable terms, but Sen. Simpson insisted on a definition of contraception. This amendment defines contraception as “preventing pregnancy” as defined by Federal rules. The problem is that Federal definition defines pregnancy as the embryo implanting itself in the uterus.
 
However, the embryo implants itself in the uterus several days after fertilization. Some have argued that pharmacists may need to provide informed consent when dispensing birth control pills should the bill not contain the contraception amendment. Many others do not agree. In order to keep the bill alive, Sen. Miller accepted the amendment.
 
SB 221, Rules for birthing centers and abortion clinics did not fair well in the Health Committee either. The bill failed on a 5 – 5 vote. It provides statutory authority for the State Department of Health to establish standards for the physical plant/building. Currently, rules exist based upon a bill passed in 2005. However, the statute is silent on specific authority in this area, while explicitly naming several other areas. It is feared that abortion clinics may challenge these rules when they are enforced, without specific authority to establish them. Current buildings are grandfathered and exempt from the rules until abortion clinics move or are remodeled. ICC supported the bill.
 
SB 194, Hospital requirement for physicians performing abortions, passed the Health Committee on a 6 – 5 vote.
 
SB 445, Notaries, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. The bill was amended to clarify who the law is intended to stop and to add some areas where the law would be applicable.
 
Some bills have made the cut
HB 1484, Sudan divestment, passed 2nd reading, without amendment.
 
SB 463, Identification required for driver’s license, passed 2nd reading, without amendment. The bill provides means for documented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.
 
HB 1510, Charity gaming, passed the House 74 – 23. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
 
 
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