Church Blog

The big issue was finally moved in the House and the Senate. HB 1001 and SB 269 both passed the respective bodies. Now the House may be able to handle many other significant issues that have been delayed until Right to Work was settled. The next step in this issue will be passage of the House bill in the Senate prior to it going to the Governor for signature. Look for it to be expedited in the Senate.
 
This being the last week for committee action (unless the House suspends rules and extends the deadline) committees were active amending and moving bills to the floor. Next week all bills need to move to the other body to be eligible for further consideration this session.
 
SB 72, Abortion matters, sponsored by Senator Travis Holdman (R – Markle) passed Senate Health Committee 6 -4. The bill’s focus is chemical abortions (RU486) which are on the rise in Indiana. The bill attempts to put limits on its use by requiring an in-person examination of the woman by the physician prior to providing the prescription. The bill may undergo some modifications on second reading to accommodate the developments in the use of the drugs. The bill is an attempt to get ahead of what is happening in some states, where doctors talk to women via electronic connections and provide the prescription for the drug without examining the woman. ICC supports the bill.
 
SB 201, Transfer of human organism exemption, was amended in committee before passing unanimously. It was amended to prohibit the use of the ova and embryos for stem cell research. Also, the bill amends Indiana’s law to prohibit embryo research permitted under Federal law. ICC supported the amendment. The bill now goes to 2nd reading. ICC continues to seek an amendment that would limit the number of embryo created at one time for each woman.  The bill now moves to the floor for amendments and vote next week.
 
While three bills were heard in Senate Education Committee only one will make its way to the Senate for further consideration. SB 296, sponsored by Senator Jean Leising (R – Oldenburg), passed the committee 7 – 3 after being amended to restrict 8th grade students to the Scholarship Tax credit only, instead of allowing them access to the voucher program as originally intended. The bill provides another entry point for the Tax Credit Scholarship for current non-public students who are enrolled in grade 8. This will provide the possibility for additional support to qualified families for high school tuition. The bill now goes to the Senate for possible amendment and vote next week.
 
The other school choice bills, SB 198, sponsored by Senator Doug Eckerty (R – Yorktown), which would have expanded the voucher program to include all eligible families and SB 331, sponsored by Senator Carlin Yoder (R – Indianapolis), which would have expanded it to siblings of current voucher students, both contained fiscal obligations that required them to be recommitted to Senate Appropriations, where they will not get a hearing; the bills are dead for this session. SB 198 passed the Education Committee 5 – 4 but will go no further this year. SB 331 was withdrawn when it was apparent that the bill would not have an opportunity to move.
 
During House Education Committee consideration of HB 1134, Representative Bob Behning (R – Indianapolis) added the amendment requested by ICC that provides clarification to existing Indiana law regarding transportation of students to Catholic schools. HB 1134 now goes to the House for amendment and vote. The amendment would provide that school districts take the students to the non-public school or to a point from which the student can safely walk to the school. ICC made the same request in a bill in the Senate, SB 226, but committee chair Senator Luke Kenley (R – Noblesville) did not allow the amendment.
 
In other good news
SB 4, Human trafficking, should pass third reading today, becoming law before the Super Bowl.
 
House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed HB 1141, Home energy assistance. The bill is now eligible for consideration and passage. HB 1141 will provide additional assistance to the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) by restoring the sales tax exemption for energy consumption paid for through Federal assistance.  The bill also provides that money attributable to a utility deposit or refund that remains unclaimed after 25 years can now be used to pay utility deposits and connection fees charged to households eligible to acquire home energy through LIHEAP.  ICC supports this bill as it will utilize all Federal funds for the purpose for which they were granted instead of taking 7% for sales tax. Also, it will put to good use funds that are no longer needed for other purposes.
 
Senator Brandt Hershman (R – Buck Creek) amended SB 344, State taxation, as requested by ICC and many other organizations. The bill now requires the commission on state tax and financing policy to review all tax credits during the 2012 and 2013 legislative interims. Reviewing and determining the value of the policies before sun-setting them is more prudent. The bill contains many other tax credits and tax matters also.
 
As expected, HB 1114, Physician orders for scope of treatment form, was heard in House Public Health Committee but no vote was taken. The committee heard support for the concept and its need, but the circumstances regarding its use and the complexity dealing with the legal, medical and ethical issues need time to be worked through. ICC supports taking time to be sure the form provides for proper moral as well as legal and medical use.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC website www.indianacc.org.

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.