Bills Still Alive Midsession

 

Last Updated February 5, 2010

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 CRIMINAL JUSTICE

 

* SB 415 Discharge of long term inmates

Provides that an inmate is eligible for rehabiliation based discharge for long term inmates if the inmate has served 21 years and has received four years of credit time.

At Stake: Promotion of rehabilitation

Position:  Support 

 

* HB 1163 Expungement of records of certain convictions

Provides that if postconviction DNA testing is favorable and the court orders release of the person, the court shall order records removed and destroyed or sealed.

At Stake: Restoration of rights; rehabiliation

Position:  Support

 

* HB 1271 Problem solving courts

Provides that certain courts may establish a problem solving court for alternative treatment and rehabilitation.

At Stake: Alternative to incarceration; policy preference for rehabilitation

Position:  Support

 

DISABILITY RIGHTS

* HB 1109 Early voting by voters with disabilities

Requires that all locations (other than circuit court clerk’s office)  where absentee ballots may be cast meet the same accessibility requirements that apply to a polling place for a precinct.  Provides that assistance in casting a ballot be given to persons with disabilities or a person unable to read or write English.  Provides that a person with disabilities is entitled to  vote on a direct record electronic voting system.

At Stake: Voting rights of persons with disabilities

Position:  Support

 

DUE PROCESS, EQUAL PROTECTION

* SB 256 School corporation administrative hearings

Provides that a student or parent who believes the student has been improperly denied participation in an educational function or subjected to an illegal rule is entitled to a hearing with the school corporation’s superintendent upon request.  Provides for an appeal.

At Stake: Due process

Position:  Support

 

* HB 1157 Select joint commission on child welfare services oversight

Establishes the commission to determine whether CHINS and delinquent children are receiving appropriate care; determine  whether Indiana has the appropriate types of placement and service options for children in all parts of the state; oversee efforts to maximize federal funds; receive and respond to ombudsman reports; investigate other child welfare service matters and recommend legislation.       3^rd Reading:

At Stake: Appropriate care for children

Position:  Support

 

FREE SPEECH / EXPRESSION

*  SB 64 Display of political signs

Prohibits a homeowners association from adopting or enforcing certain restrictive covenants or rules concerning the display of political signs.

At Stake: Freedom of political speech

Position:  Support

 

* SB 224 Electronic dissemination of indecent material

Provides that a child commits a delinquent act if the child creates, transmits, or possesses a photograph, video or other material that shows a minor in a state of nudity.  Creates certain defenses to child exploitation, possession of child pornography and dissemination of material harmful to minors.

At Stake: Harmful to minors criminalization of ill-advised expression

Position:  Oppose

 

IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

* SB 213 Unauthorized aliens

Requires the DOC and sheriffs to determine the citizenship and immigration status of the confined and makes the status relevant to the setting of bail.  Prohibits legislation that limits exchange of such information with other government bodies.  Requires status verification of those seeking unemployment benefits.  Requires state agencies to verify employees through the E-Verify program and permits contract termination for services if there is knowing employment or retention of unauthorized aliens.

At Stake: Separation of federal & state jurisdictions; freedom from appearance-based discrimination and unreliability of federal databases

Position:  Oppose

  

LESBIAN & GAY RIGHTS

* SJR 13 Definition of marriage

Provides that only marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in Indiana.  Provides that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized. [This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

At Stake: Equal treatment

Position:  Oppose

 

 

POLICE PRACTICES

*  HB 1193 Juvenile, education, and law enforcement matters

Creates the law enforcement, school policing, and youth work group to be staffed and administered by the criminal justice institute.  Requires the group to study and make specific recommendations concerning law enforcement in schools, including basic training on interacting with juveniles, regulations on gun carry, continuing education including deescalation techniques appropriate for youth, annual reporting by schools, summarizing those reports for submission to the legislative council and education roundtable and posting on dept. of education website.

At Stake: Regulation of increasing law enforcement presence in schools

Position:  Support

  

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

*  SB 71 Unlawful termination of pregnancy

An intoxicated driver whose driving causes the termination of another person’s pregnancy and a person who recklessly causes a termination of pregnancy commits criminal recklessness.  S. Cmte:  Broadened to include death of a child caused by  reckless supervision by a child care provider and death of a viable fetus  caused during commission of a crime that inherently poses a risk of serious bodily injury.

At Stake: Making concept of fetal personhood a matter of law

Position:  Oppose

 

VOTING RIGHTS

* SB 83 Public inspection of provisional ballot materials

Requires that nonidentifying election material related to provisional ballots be made available for copying and inspection under the access to public records law.

At Stake: Right to have vote counted

Position:  Support

 

*  HB 1106 Provisional ballots; vote centers; satellite offices

Requires that nonidentifying election material related to provisional ballots be made available for copying and inspection under the access to public records law.  Permits a person eligible to vote in person to vote by absentee ballot.  Removes all other qualifications for absentee voting except for help for persons with disabilities.  Requires the circuit court clerk to notify voters who cast a provisional ballot to provide both orally and in writing within three days an explanation for why the ballot is treated as provisional and the steps the voter must take to have the vote counted.

At Stake:  Right to vote and have vote counted

Position:   Support

   

PREVIOUS SESSIONS

To see Bills of Interest from 2009, click here