Commission on Courts to consider Vanderburgh magistrate, bail issues
The Indiana Commission on Courts will meet Thursday to hear a request for an additional magistrate in Vanderburgh Circuit Court and to review the state’s bail surety system.
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Department of Correction to request funding for upgrades at 3 facilities
Proposed upgrades to three of the state’s correctional facilities will be among the items considered during Wednesday’s meeting of the Indiana State Budget Committee.
Low enrollment numbers in the Healthy Indiana Plan are questioned
As Indiana seeks federal approval to continue its Healthy Indiana Plan, a health insurance program for income-eligible uninsured Hoosiers, some state legislators are concerned enrollment in the program is not higher.
Marion County seeks plan to handle expungement requests
Marion County courts expect a flood of requests for expungement of criminal convictions and charges after a new law takes effect July 1. Judges on Friday agreed for now those requests should be heard by the judges in courts where the convictions were entered or charges brought.
Fines will stand in legislative walkout case
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled the dispute over fines imposed on lawmakers resulting from Democratic walkouts during the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions is outside of the court’s authority to render a decision.
Lawmakers put more teeth into consumer protection of Indiana seniors
Indiana seniors get some new consumer protections July 1. As a group, they also get a little younger.
SCOTUS ruling emboldens lawmakers to expand DNA collection
This time next year, Indiana may join the majority of states that collect DNA samples from people arrested on suspicion of committing felonies, rather than only from those convicted. Lawmakers who’ve been stymied are encouraged by a Supreme Court of the United States decision upholding the practice.
Indiana General Assembly to review ISTEP debacle next week
Review of the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress moves to the Statehouse next week with the Indiana General Assembly’s Commission on Education scheduled to hear testimony about the ISTEP testing debacle that occurred in April.
House, Senate override veto of HEA 1546
Indiana legislators gathered Wednesday on the first regular technical session of the 118th General Assembly to vote on whether to override Gov. Mike Pence’s veto of House Enrolled Act 1546, a bill concerning tax administration matters. Pence vetoed the bill over concerns about retroactive approval of taxes collected in Jackson and Pulaski counties.
Convenience store association says cold beer ban discriminatory
Along with the usual reasons including giving consumers more options, providing price competition and sparking new investment in the state, Indiana convenience store owners have added a new argument to their push to sell cold beer – it’s their constitutional right.
Justice, probation officer appointed to children’s commission
Indiana Chief Justice Brent Dickson has appointed Justice Loretta Rush and Henry County Chief Probation Officer Susan Lightfoot to the newly created Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana. He made the appointments Wednesday.
Legislative Council approves interim committees but concedes number becoming unwieldy
While Indiana’s Legislative Council passed by consent Thursday the resolution creating 18 commissions and interim study committees, leaders in the Indiana House of Representatives voiced concerns over the growing number of summer study committees and unwieldy list of topics to review.
Taxed to death no more
The fate of the inheritance tax in Indiana went from a slow, lingering demise over the next decade to sudden death in the biennial budget lawmakers approved this session.
Legislators taking time to investigate
Interim study committees are credited with enabling the Indiana General Assembly to thoughtfully review issues.
Governor signs JTAC, workers’ comp bills into law
The Division of State Court Administration’s Judicial Technology and Automation Committee will see a temporary boost in funding for its Odyssey case management system under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Pence.
Pence signs into law changes to sex offender registry
Changes are coming to Indiana’s sex offender registry, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Mike Pence Thursday.
Attorney General touts consumer bills passed in 2013 legislative session
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller applauded the Legislature on the number of bills it passed this session which, he said, support law enforcement as well as serve and protect the state’s residents.
Changes coming to prosecuting attorneys retirement fund
On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Pence signed into law HEA 1057, which will alter the prosecuting attorneys retirement fund to incorporate several features that are found in the 1985 judges’ retirement system.
Rockport on the rocks
The Indiana Legislature leaves the fate of a derided coal gasification plant proposal to justices.
Criminal code and expungement bills signed by governor
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed two bills today that could significantly transform Indiana’s criminal judicial system.