Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 May 2007 — Page 21

The Muncie Times • May 3, 2007 • Page 21

Week in review at the Indiana General Assembly from State Senator Sue Errington, D-Muncie

INDIANAPOLIS—As of this writing, there are still two days remaining for the Indiana General Assembly to conclude business. By law, lawmakers have until midnight Sunday to finish their negotiations on several major issues including the state's two-year budget plan, health care for more Hoosiers, legislation that would allow for slot machines and the state's two horse tracks and property tax relief as well as restructuring. Conference committees will continue to meet throughout the weekend and members will be in chambers to debate and vote on final reports. In the meantime, many other initiatives have been approved and the governor has already signed numerous proposals into law. This brief summary highlights some of these bills. Divestment of state funds in Darfur region The State Senate unanimously passed legislation this week that includes language to allow the state's Public Employees' Retirement Fund (PERF) and Teachers' Retirement Fund (TRF) to divest from companies that actively support the Sudanese government which is aiding and abetting genocide. Specifically, the bill calls on PERF and TRF, in the capacity of shareholders, to request that companies with certain business activities in Sudan to cease those activities. If a company is unresponsive

to the request, the fund managers would sell or divest all publicly traded securities held by PERF or TRF in that company. Passage of House Bill 1067 is meant to place economic pressure on the Sudanese government and compel it to halt its blatant human rights violations in the Darfur region where over 400,000 people have been killed and an additional 2.5 million have been displaced from their home s. Six other states have passed Sudanese divestment legislation and several more have legislation pending this year. Previous divestment campaigns have helped to end policies like apartheid in South Africa. The bill now proceeds to the governor for final consideration. Integration of intelligent transportation systems Legislation has been signed into law which requires the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to conduct a feasibility study of integrating intelligent transportation systems into Indiana's highway systems to determine if new technologies could reduce travel times and improve safety on Indiana's highways. Intelligent transportation systems encompass a broad range of communi-cations-based information and electronic technologies such as advanced traveler information, traffic and incident management systems, and vari-

able message signs. The study will include plans for reserving rights-of-way for power, communication and fiber cables, d edicated lanes for commercial and passenger traffic and parallel rail lines. Senate Enrolled Act 315 requires INDOT to report the results of the study to the public and General Assembly in an intermediate report due before January 1, 2008 and in a final report due before January 1, 2009. Student delinquency Schools and courts will be able to work together on student matters through school notification and record sharing under a bill signed into law this week, House Enrolled Act 1382. Law enforcement agencies will be required to notify a school principal or superintendent within 48 hours if a child is taken into custody for allegedly committing certain crimes. Schools would also be notified by the courts within seven days of an original conviction or modification if a student is convicted of certain felonies. The notification requirements by law enforcement would apply to both public and nonpublic schools. In addition, the law requires par ents to be notified if their child is interrogated on school property by a law enforcement officer regarding an incident in which the student is a suspect, even if the student is 18 years old or older. The Indiana Department of

Correction reported that 39 children were convicted of a Class A, B, C, or D felony during 2004. Also, 811 were adjudicated as a delinquent offender for the aforementioned felony charges. These figures do not include the number of children who were place on probation. Heating assistance for low-income Hoosiers Additional funds will be made available for an energy assistance program for low-income Hoosiers under House Enrolled Act 1037, another measure signed into law this week. The new law will exempt heating and cooling bills from the state sales tax allowing more money to go toward helping low income families receive assistance. It affects customers who participate in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, the state's energy assistance program that provides grants for winter heating and summer cooling assistance. Funding for the program comes exclusively from federal sources and dedicated state funds and is distributed through a statewide network of 24 community action agencies. More than 159,000 households were assisted last year. Bills in conference committee HB 1001 - lays out the state's $26 billion budget proposal for the next two years. HB 1478 - contains a comprehensive property tax restructuring proposal.

HB 1835 - would provide for slot machines at Indiana's two horse racing facilities. Funds derived from the cost of the two licenses could go toward property tax relief. SB 503 - would provide health insurance to many Hoosier families who have jobs, but no health insurance. SB 9 would allow municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate the time and location for the use, ignition or discharge of fireworks. To stay informed about legislation moving through the General Assembly, log on to www.in.gov/legislative/. From this site, you can research bills, review both committee calendars and legislative floor calendars and watch Senate and House sessions live as well as some committee hearings. Deadline dates April 29 - General Assembly has until midnight to adjourn. Feel free to contact me with your comments and concerns regarding pending legislation or other matters pertaining to state government. To reach me: • send correspondence to: Statehouse, 200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. •call toll-free 1-800-382-9 4 6 7 send emails to [email protected] mailto:[email protected] or visit my web site at www.in.gov/s26 http://www.ai.org/legislati ve/homepages/S49.