STATEHOUSE (Jan. 28, 2010) - State Sen. Joe Zakas (R-Granger) joined lawmakers today in approving Senate Republicans' sweeping redistricting reforms establishing objective guidelines for creating legislative and congressional districts after the 2010 census and requiring an in-depth bipartisan review of best redistricting practices used by other states.

"It makes sense to support establishing guidelines because there has been little direction in our statutes or in the Indiana Constitution regarding redistricting," Zakas said.

Senate Bill 80, which passed by a vote of 47-1, will require lawmakers to consider the following factors when drawing future districts:

Preservation of traditional neighborhoods;

Preservation of local communities of interests;

Protection of minority voting rights;

Simply-shaped, compact districts; and

Respect for county and precinct lines.

Senators also voted 45-3 to approve legislation creating an in-depth bipartisan study of best practices of other states. Zakas said Senate Bill 136 would establish the Redistricting Study Committee and task the panel with examining ways to improve the redistricting process, including proposals to establish an independent commission to draw legislative and congressional district boundaries.

"My hope is that this committee will openly discuss what is and is not working among the other 49 states' redistricting processes," Zakas said. "We need to allow Hoosiers the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns on this issue. Then, lawmakers can make informed decisions in order to serve their constituents."

SB 80 and SB 136 now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Sen. Zakas represents Senate District 11, which includes portions of St. Joseph and Elkhart counties.

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