Concerns about CHINS petitions raised during budget hearings
After the Indiana Department of Child Services made its presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday, the discussion quickly turned to Child in Need of Services petitions.
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Senators skeptical of funding Odyssey access for public defenders
Senate budget writers appeared skeptical of a request Thursday to spend more than $2.1 million over the next four years to give public defenders statewide the same access to case management systems that prosecutors, judges and others have in many counties.
Senate passes civil immunity, sentencing alternatives for young offenders bills
The Indiana Senate approved several pieces of legislation from the House this week, including a bill that would establish sentencing alternatives for certain offenders under the age of 18.
Criminal Code bill gets Senate hearing
Concerns over sentencing provisions and pleas for adequate funding dominated the Senate hearing on legislation overhauling the state’s criminal code.
Indiana Senate to hold hearings on crime bills
Two crime bills moving through the Indiana General Assembly are on the agenda for Senate hearings next week.
Senate panel to hear problem-solving courts, ‘sovereign citizen’ bills
Proposals to expand services offered by problem-solving courts and to attempt to curtail fraudulent liens and other tactics of so-called sovereign citizens will be heard Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
House committee to hear sex offender, immediate detention bills
The Senate Corrections & Criminal Law Committee meets Tuesday morning to hear four bills, including a bill altering registry requirements and procedures for sex offenses and sex offenders.
Bill creating study of judicial retirement benefits moves to House
A Senate bill asking the Legislative Council to have the Pension Management Oversight Commission look at the retirement, disability and death benefits provided to judges and full-time magistrates passed out of the Senate Tuesday by a vote of 50-0.
Long expects Criminal Code revision will get Senate approval
Indiana’s first major rewrite of the state’s Criminal Code in more than 30 years is now in the hands of the Senate where the Senate leader believes it will ultimately be approved.
Overhaul of Criminal Code approved by House
The bill rewriting Indiana’s Criminal Code gained approval of the House of Representatives Monday by an 80 to 13 vote. The measure now moves to the Senate.
Legislature considers changes to prosecutors’ and judges’ retirement funds
In the House of Representatives, a bill that would change features of the Prosecuting Attorneys Retirement Fund is eligible for a third reading vote. In the Senate, a bill calling for a study of judges’ pensions is ready for second reading Monday as well.
Ban on police cell phone searches in texting-while-driving cases advances
Police would be restricted in most cases from retrieving information from cell phones and similar devices for violation of texting-while-driving laws under a measure that passed the Indiana Senate on Thursday.
Senator’s push for constitutional convention passes committee
Senate President Pro Tem David Long’s legislative initiative calling for a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution advanced out of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure Tuesday.
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.
Long’s constitutional convention legislation before committee Tuesday
Senate President Pro Tempore David Long’s resolution and two companion bills calling for states to gather to amend the U.S. Constitution to limit the commerce clause and federal taxing authority will be heard before the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure Tuesday.
Legislation on judicial nominating commission members moves to House
A bill that would require the governor to appoint nonattorney members to the Judicial Nominating Commission from a list of legislator-approved candidates passed the Senate 46-2 Thursday.
Senate president calling for constitutional convention to protect states’ rights
Declaring that states’ rights are being trampled and the 10th Amendment is in shambles, the leader of the Indiana Senate is calling for a “gathering of states” to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Bill enabling legislators to fight for immigration law in court gets hearing
State senators who are fighting to go to court to defend parts of Indiana’s immigration law – a law that Attorney General Greg Zoeller concluded could not withstand constitutional scrutiny – will hear a bill Wednesday that would give them the power to defend their measures in such cases.
Anti-meth bill and right to hunt amendment clear Senate, head to House
Two high-profile bills cleared the Indiana Senate Monday and are headed to the House of Representatives.
Indiana Sen. Mike Delph’s bills raise brows in legal community
Senator drops “loser pays” attorney fees plan, but other bills target grand juries and propose retention supermajority.