The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1235 authored by Reps. Cook, Torr, and Lehman on judicial officers & public safety officials. The bill provides that a person commits battery on a public safety official if the offense is committed due to the person’s status or former status as a public safety official. It exempts a person who retires from judicial office after at least 20 years of service or because of a disability from the payment of the fee for a license to carry a handgun, permits a former judicial officer to possess and use a handgun in the same locations as a judicial officer, and requires the supreme court to annually issue an identification card to a former judicial officer.
Testimony was presented in support of the bill by the Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Indiana Fraternal Order of Police. The Indiana Public Defender Council presented testimony partially in support and in opposition to the bill. The bill was amended to enlarge the scope of officials and actions covered and passed by a vote of 11 – 0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/bills/house/1235.