Senate judiciary committee to look at abuse, DNA bills
The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday and has five bills on its agenda, including legislation that redefines child fatality committees in each county.
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Probate, child seduction bills move out of committees
Several bills moved out of legislative committee this week, including one that would expand the definition of child seduction to include a mental health professional engaging in certain sexual behavior with a patient between 16 and 18 years old.
Senator files bill restricting educational credit time for sex offenders
Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, announced Wednesday that he has introduced legislation to revise the state’s education credit law for sex offenders. He said eight months ago that he would seek to change the law after a sex offender was released early after earning this type of credit.
Bill on habitual offender filing deadline moves out of committee
The Senate Committee on Corrections & Criminal Law voted this week to move legislation that will allow an indictment or information to be amended to include a habitual offender charge at any time before trial, as long as the amendment doesn’t prejudice the substantial rights of the defendant.
Hoosiers want legislators to focus on job creation
A survey released Thursday by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University shows that 81 percent of residents want job creation to be the main priority for the Indiana General Assembly in 2013. This is the third straight year that Hoosiers said jobs are the No. 1 priority.
LSA leaves opinions at the door
In a world of partisan wrangling, the Legislative Services Agency has “jealously guarded” its nonpartisan nature.
Legislature announces summer study committees
The Legislative Council of the Indiana General Assembly has assigned the study topics various committees will examine this summer and fall. Some of the areas include creating a centralized department of administrative law judges and review of various Department of Child Services practices.
Indiana legislative round-up
A snapshot of key points from bills heard in the 2012 legislative session. All enrolled acts were signed by the governor by March 20.
Power of attorney, Allen County magistrate bills ready for enrollment
Legislation that deals with power of attorney and that would give Allen Circuit Court a second full-time magistrate have made it through both houses of the Indiana Legislature.
CFOs, CAFOs in the spotlight
An update on Indiana laws and legislation involving confined feeding operations and confined animal feeding operations.
Indiana becomes right-to-work state
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed legislation Wednesday making Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state. The law makes it illegal for any worker to be forced to pay union dues or fees or become a member of a labor union as a condition of employment.
Senate passes ‘right-to-work’ bill by narrow vote
The Indiana Senate voted 28-22 in favor of House Bill 1001, which would make it illegal to require employees to pay union dues as a condition of employment.
Governor signs human trafficking bill
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed Senate Enrolled Act 4, which more clearly defines human trafficking and strengthens penalties for that crime. The new law is effective immediately.
Barnes-inspired legislation passes Senate on 3rd reading
The legislation created in response to a controversial Indiana Supreme Court ruling last year regarding defending against unlawful entry was approved 45-5 by the Senate on third hearing Monday.
Bills would make changes to pro bono funding, court costs, early voting
Indiana’s 2012 legislative session promises to be a busy one, with hundreds of bills already filed and a short session deadline of March 14. Read about some of the bills Indiana Lawyer is watching.
Guidelines aim to raise concussion awareness
New laws and policies are prompted by the long-term effects of head injuries in sports.
Man pleads guilty to espionage, theft
A Chinese national and former employee of Dow AgroSciences LLC pleaded guilty Tuesday to economic espionage and theft of trade secrets in federal court. Kexue Huang’s case is the first prosecution in Indiana for foreign economic espionage.
Lawmakers taking second look at ‘second chance law’
Legislators want to take a second look at a new law passed this year that gives Indiana residents with nonviolent criminal histories a chance to limit public access to parts of their record.
U.S. sees most significant patent reform in decades
Some Indiana attorneys think this new first-to-file process will create a race to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in order to obtain patent protection first.
President signs patent reform law
A long-debated patent reform law is now in place, signaling the most significant change to the system in nearly six decades.