The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1383 authored by Rep. Cook regarding judicial officers. The bill provides that a person commits battery on a public safety official if the offense is committed against a current or former public safety official: (1) while the official is engaged in the official’s official duty; or (2) in retaliation for the official having engaged in the official’s official duty. Under current law, a person commits the offense only if the official is acting in the person’s official duty. The bill 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. The bill 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.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition. The bill passed 10-0.
Read the bill at: http://www.iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/house/1383