Bill restricting social media access for sex offenders passes Senate

Senate Bill 347, introduced to rectify issues brought up by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals when it struck down an existing law regulating social media use by registered sex offenders, passed the Senate Monday by a vote of 49-0.

The bill prohibits sex offenders, as a condition of probation, parole or participation in a community transition program, from using social media to contact someone less than 16 years old, with possible exceptions for minor relatives. The bill is in response to the recent Circuit Court ruling that found Indiana’s existing law regulating sex offender use of social media to be unconstitutional because it’s too broad.

Also moving this week:

House Bill 1411, creating a court staff attorney pilot program, passed second reading;

HB 1053, which includes a requirement that the Department of Correction remove from the sex offender registry information relating to a sex or violent offender who is dead or no longer required to register, passed in the House 91-0 Tuesday;  

HB 1061, dealing with the appointment of magistrates in Marion Superior Court and Warrick Circuit and Superior Courts, was moved to the full House by the Ways and Means Committee;

HB 1393, creating a Judicial Technology Oversight Committee and establishing the amount of automated record keeping fee a clerk can collect, passed the Ways and Means committee;

HB 1394, which makes various changes to provisions concerning corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, nonprofit corporations and limited liability companies, was approved by Judiciary Committee; and

HB 1519, which adds agricultural products and livestock to the items for which a person, who in good faith donates to a charitable entity, is not liable for civil damages unless the damages are result of the person’s intentional, knowing and reckless misconduct, also moved out of the Judiciary Committee.

On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear six bills: SB 555, Indiana firearms reciprocity license; SB 280, defense of legislative lawsuits; SB 383, state university use of eminent domain; SB 202, petitions to modify custody and visitation (amend and vote only); SB 460, foreign law; and SB 171, grandparent and great-grandparent visitation (amend and vote only).