FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sen. Wyss Tapped to Chair New Committee on Driver’s Permits, Licenses
Local legislator appointed by Senate Leader to serve on seven committees
(STATEHOUSE) Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today appointed State Sen. Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) to chair the Learner’s Permits and Graduated Drivers Licenses Committee.
Wyss authored the Learner’s Permits and Graduated Drivers Licenses legislation which passed the Indiana General Assembly in 1999. In 2007, Wyss introduced changes to increase the amount of driving practice before a teen receives a probationary license and to prohibit teens from using cell phones while driving. The legislation died in the House of Representatives and an interim study committee was assigned to the issue.
Long also tapped Wyss to serve on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, the Indiana Homeland Security Foundation, the Integrated Public Safety Commission, the Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs, the Counterterrorism and Security Council and the Joint Study Committee on Mass Transit and Transportation Alternatives.
During summer and fall months when the legislature is not in session full-time, lawmakers utilize bipartisan interim study committees and commissions to conduct in-depth research into complicated, complex issues facing Hoosiers. Often their work results in solutions and legislation that might otherwise go unaccomplished during the fast pace of the winter- and springtime legislative session, Long said.
“Sen. Wyss brings a wealth of knowledge to this committee,” Long said. “Based on his reputation here in the Senate, I know he will work diligently to ensure fellow legislators have comprehensive and accurate information and are able to make appropriate decisions on these matters of importance to constituents.”
“We've seen many tragedies across this state involving teen drivers on the road,” Wyss said. “I look forward to my role on graduated driver’s licenses committee and finding a bi-partisan solution.”
Wyss said he will closely follow this year’s six new Interim Study Committees which will meet before the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in January 2009 which will study the following:
- Adult Education: The Interim Study Committee on Adult Education will address issues including funding of state-sponsored locally administered programs utilized by dropouts to acquire basic workforce skills and to complete K-12 graduation requirements.
- Alcoholic Beverages: The Interim Study Committee on Alcoholic Beverages will review server training and sales clerk licenses, additional permits for restaurants in economic development areas, the possible separate display of alcohol by retailers and Sunday sales of microbrewery products.
- Dialysis Coverage: The Interim Study Committee on Dialysis Coverage will address issues related to insurance coverage of dialysis treatment under accident and sickness insurance and HMO contracts.
- Education Matters: The Interim Study Committee on Education Matters will review and make recommendations on virtual or computer-based learning, school transportation funding, college readiness, steroid testing, technology funding, and reciprocal tuition and fee exemptions by colleges.
- Immigration: The Interim Study Committee on Immigration will research illegal immigrants’ costs to schools, hospitals, criminal justice and social service agencies; the impact of illegal immigrants on wages; federal limitations on state actions regarding immigration; and the accessibility and reliability of current and future federal citizenship verification systems like E-Verify.
- Learner’s Permits and Graduated Driver’s Licenses: The Interim Study Committee on Learner’s Permits and Graduated Driver’s Licenses will consider the minimum age when learners and probationary drivers should be issued permits and licenses by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; supervised practice-driving requirements before probationary licenses are granted; possible penalties for minors accompanying probationary drivers without required adult supervision; use of handheld devices by probationary drivers; and rules concerning driver education.
More information about committee topics, schedules and agendas will be available online at www.in.gov/legislative/interim. -30-
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