The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 155 on human trafficking sponsored by Reps. McNamara, Steuerwald, Bartlett, and Olthoff. The bill elevates the crime of human trafficking to a level 4 felony regardless of the victim’s age and makes conforming changes. Testimony was heard from the Indiana Public Defender Council, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana M … [Read more...] about Human trafficking
Court procedures
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 182 on court procedures sponsored by Rep. J. Young and authored by Sen. Freeman. The bill makes clarifying changes to the expungement statutes and provides for automatic expungement by the court of certain records. Testimony in support of the bill was heard from the Indiana Public Defender Council. The bill passed … [Read more...] about Court procedures
Probate code study commission
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 193 sponsored by Rep. J. Young and authored by Sen. Freeman and Sen. Sandlin on the probate code study commission. The bill provides that the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, or the Chief Justice's designee, is a nonvoting member of the probate code study commission and that eight affirmative votes are required for the commission to … [Read more...] about Probate code study commission
Notice requirements for local government meetings
The House Government & Regulatory Reform Committee heard SB 237 sponsored by Rep. D. Miller and authored by Sens. Boehnlein, Buck, and Becker on notice requirements for local government meetings. The bill requires: an agency of a political subdivision (local agency) under the open door law to post a meeting notice and meeting agenda (if any) on the local agency's official web … [Read more...] about Notice requirements for local government meetings
Pro bono legal services fee
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 241 sponsored by Rep. J. Young and authored by Sen. Boehnlein and Sen. Koch on a pro bono legal services fee. The bill extends the sunset provision for pro bono legal service fees from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2025. Testimony was presented in favor of the bill by DoxPop, the Indiana Bar Foundation, and the Indiana State Bar Association. The … [Read more...] about Pro bono legal services fee