INDIANAPOLIS- Committee agendas in both chambers have been packed with bills awaiting initial hearings as lawmakers work through mid-session committee deadlines. Senate bills not making it through the committee process by Monday, January 30 is considered dead for this session. Legislators have until January 31 in the House and February 1 in the Senate to vote on bills introduced in their respective chambers. Approved Senate bills will advance to the House for its consideration and House-passed initiatives will proceed to the Senate. Bills must pass both chambers before going to the governor for possible signature into law.
Many Senate proposals have gained committee approval and are moving through the process. This brief summary highlights some of the action taken by the Senate thus far.
Contentious "Right to Work" bills approved
Despite numerous objections by Senate Democrats, the Republican-controlled Indiana Senate voted 28 to 22 to approve Senate Bill (SB) 269, the controversial "Right to Work" bill. Senate Democrats argued that the legislation would be harmful to Indiana workers, working families and local economies by lowering average incomes statewide. Democrats also contended that the legislation is not necessary because of current federal protections for those who choose not to join organized labor, and that no concrete evidence has been presented indicating that the nonexistence of this policy has stifled job growth in the state. Nine Republicans voted with the 13 Democrats in the Senate in opposition to the bill. Numerous attempts by Democrats in both chambers to amend the bill were also defeated including a proposed amendment to allow citizens to vote on the divisive issue in a public referendum. Similar legislation, House Bill (HB) 1001, was approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by a vote of 55-41. Republican leaders are continuing to fast-track HB 1001. It will be heard in the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee on January 30 and likely advance to the full Senate for final consideration on February 1. If it passes both chambers, the governor could sign HB 1001 into law as early as February 2.
Child support
A proposal that would cut off child support at the age of 19 has been approved by the Senate by a vote of 49 to 1 and now moves to the House. SB 18 provides that the duty to support a child does not include support for educational costs. Child support payments would cease when the child becomes 19 years of age. Under current statute, child support payments must be paid until children reach the age of 21. The legislation would not affect parents currently providing child support. If signed into law, SB 18 would become effective July 1, 2012.
Education issues
The Senate Education Committee has advanced several bills to the full Senate including SB 267. The bill requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with organizations that have expertise in child sexual abuse, to identify or develop model educational materials, response policies, and reporting procedures on child sexual abuse. The legislation would assist schools with the implementation of these policies and materials for prekindergarten through Grade 5 to assist teachers, parents and students. The educational materials would include warning signs, basic principles of prevention, methods for outreach, actions that an abused child may take to obtain assistance, interventions, counseling options, educational support, and sexual abuse reporting procedures.
SB 268 was approved, which would require the Indiana Education Roundtable to establish an advisory committee on early education comprised of experts and advocates from around the state. The roundtable is a state board of key education, business, community, and government leaders charged with ensuring that the state has world class academic standards for student learning.
In addition, the committee advanced SB 236 and SB 83. SB 236 would establish the last Monday in August as the official school start date for most public schools. SB 83 would require each school corporation to include cursive writing in the curriculum of the school corporation. All of these bills now move to the Senate floor for further consideration by the full body.
Unopposed candidates
Legislation approved in 2011 that allowed local Clerks to drop a municipal candidate's name from the general election ballot if that candidate is unchallenged is under review again. SB 233 would repeal that language and require that all nominees for any municipal office must be on the ballot if there is an election for any office of the municipality. Senate Democrats filed similar legislation. SB 233 garnered unanimous approval of the Senate and the bill now advances to the House for further consideration.
Upcoming Senate deadlines
February 1 Deadline for Senate to hear Senate bills
February 6 Senate begins hearings on House-approved bills
To stay informed about bills moving through the General Assembly or to track legislation, log on to www.in.gov/legislative. From this site, you can also watch House and Senate committee hearings and session floor debate.
Visit the Senator's web site at www.in.gov/s4 and subscribe to receive periodic e-mails about action taken on major issues. Senate Democrats offer up-to-date information at http://www.senatedemocrats.in.gov/ and provide multimedia updates on daily activities in the Senate at The Briefing Room - and Twitter updates at @INSenDems.
Personal contact with constituents has a direct impact on legislation considered and what ultimately becomes law. Use the contact information below to express your comments and concerns regarding pending legislation:
Mailing address: Statehouse, 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Telephone: Call direct: 317-232-9847 or call toll-free: 800-382-9467, ext. 2-9847
Email address: s4@iga.in.gov
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