Indiana General Assembly - The Indiana Lawyer

DCS, schools seeking more funds in 2019 legislative session

December 21, 2018

Among the biggest issues the 2019 General Assembly will have to contend with is the Department of Child Services, which is still reeling after a tumultuous year that saw a leader abruptly resign and a national group identify several shortcomings in the department’s operations. Gov. Eric Holcomb is calling on lawmakers to devote significant financial resources to the struggling department, and all four legislative leaders say their caucuses plan to make DCS a top priority.

New rule: Pence, lawyer Congress members exempt from CLE

December 21, 2018

Indiana lawyers who are members of Congress, senators or vice president no longer have to worry about meeting continuing legal education requirements under a rule adopted this week by the Indiana Supreme Court. The new rule also decreases CLE credits required for state lawmakers who are attorneys.

AG Hill in minority praising ruling against ACA mandate

December 18, 2018

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill spent Monday morning on cable television news channels applauding a federal court’s ruling that found the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, but Republican leaders in Indiana remained silent.

Advocates push Indiana lawmakers to approve hemp cultivation

December 17, 2018

Indiana’s efforts to eradicate wild industrial hemp will soon come to an end and cultivation of the plant could soon follow.

Holcomb says passing hate crime law ‘long overdue’

December 17, 2018

The spray-painting of a swastika outside a suburban Indianapolis synagogue this summer was the final straw for Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who quickly called for Indiana to join the 45 states that have hate crime laws.

On remand, divided COA again allows modification of fixed-plea sentence

December 14, 2018

A divided Indiana Court of Appeals has once again reversed a trial court ruling holding that a man sentenced pursuant to a fixed plea agreement could not seek a sentence modification, with the appellate court finding instead on remand that statutory amendments to laws governing fixed pleas are not applicable in this case.

Legislative leaders to focus on DCS funding, teacher pay in ‘extraordinarily difficult’ budget session

December 13, 2018

In what the Indiana House Speaker said is likely to be an “extraordinarily difficult” budget session, Indiana’s legislative leaders plan to focus their efforts during this year’s legislative session on budget-impacting legislation, such as funding for the embattled Department of Child Services and increasing teacher pay.

Fight over Indiana abortion law still waiting at U.S. Supreme Court

December 12, 2018

While the Supreme Court of the United States has yet to agree to hear an abortion rights case this term, a petition from Indiana regarding its law regulating the disposal of fetal remains and prohibiting women from terminating their pregnancies based on race, sex or disability remains under consideration. Indiana filed a writ of certiorari after the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction against 2016's House Enrolled Act 1337.

DCS budget could grow significantly next year

December 12, 2018

The Indiana Department of Child Services is requesting a 42 percent increase in its budget next year compared to the funding it was designated to receive this year in the previous budget cycle. The proposed budget from DCS would include $965 million from the state’s general fund per year for the next two fiscal years.

ACLU urges high court to let Indiana abortion rulings stand

December 7, 2018

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand two decisions that stopped portions of an Indiana abortion law signed when Vice President Mike Pence was governor.

Appellate courts seek extra $1M for legal aid, technology

December 5, 2018

Citing a need to further invest in Indiana’s civil legal aid infrastructure, the Indiana Supreme Court is asking the General Assembly to allocate an additional $1 million to the court in the next biennial budget to fund civil legal aid efforts.

AG Hill, through deputies, asks for $5 million budget increase

December 4, 2018

Embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill wants lawmakers to increase his budget by about $5 million, despite previously drawing their ire for spending $300,000 on office renovations and a van with his name emblazoned on the side.

Judge strikes lethal injection secrecy law, says lawmakers ‘overstepped’

November 30, 2018

The Indiana Department of Correction has again lost a suit in which it argues to keep secret the drugs it would use in a lethal injection. The judge in the case extraordinarily outlined how the DOC, the governor’s office, and the Indiana General Assembly appeared to directly undermine her order that the department disclose the drugs it might use in a potential execution.

Critics say General Assembly harassment proposal sidesteps key concerns

November 27, 2018

A new proposed policy is being sent to the Indiana General Assembly House and Senate ethics committees for further review before it lands in both chambers for a full vote. Even so, questions linger over whether the recommendations will change behavior and protect potential victims.

Indiana lawmakers look to update ‘Do Not Call’ law

November 26, 2018

Indiana lawmakers are looking for new ways to address illegal and unwanted telephone calls as telemarketers use technological advances to skirt the state’s telemarketing law.

Legislative Council recommends adoption of sexual harassment policy

November 21, 2018

Top Republican and Democratic lawmakers voted Tuesday afternoon to recommend that the General Assembly adopt a new sexual harassment policy when it convenes next year. The Legislative Council unanimously approved the guidelines to combat sexual harassment at the Indiana Statehouse, but the policy will still undergo review by the ethics committees in the House and Senate and require approval from both chambers.

Indiana lawmakers return to Statehouse ahead of 2019 session

November 20, 2018

Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse on Tuesday for the ceremonial start to the new legislative session.

Top legislators say no forcing out AG Hill

November 20, 2018

Top Republican legislative leaders don’t expect lawmakers will take any action toward removing state Attorney General Curtis Hill from office even though the governor and other state officials have called on him to resign over allegations that he drunkenly groped four women during a party.

Indiana lawmakers move forward with hate crime bill

November 19, 2018

Two Republican state lawmakers have released draft legislation that would address Indiana’s lack of a hate crimes law by giving judges the ability to consider bias as an aggravating factor when considering prison sentences.

Subcommittee silently makes sexual harassment recommendations; Legislative Council must act

November 14, 2018

Legislature should respond to complaints of sexual harassment by legislative employees, but it’s still unclear whether the Legislative Council will meet next week’s statutorily-mandated deadline to officially adopt the recommendations.

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