The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1322 concerning trial court jurisdiction authored by Rep. Koch. The bill amends a number of statutes to allow all trial courts to have the same jurisdiction to act in these areas. This bill is a follow-up to legislation adopted in 2011 on this general topic. Judge John Pera, Lake Superior Court, testified in favor of the bill o … [Read more...] about Trial court jurisdiction
Marion Circuit Court magistrate
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 27, authored by Sen. Steele and Sen. R. Michael Young, allowing the judge of Marion Circuit Court to appoint one full-time Marion circuit court magistrate. The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary. A representative for the Marion Circuit Court testified in support of the bill, … [Read more...] about Marion Circuit Court magistrate
Senior judges and judges pro tempore
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 81 on senior judges and judges pro tempore authored by Sen. R. Michael Young. This bill allows a senior judge or a judge pro tempore serving in a county that has more than one superior court judge to, with the consent of any judge of a superior court in the county, sit as the judge of the superior court in any matter as if the senior judge or … [Read more...] about Senior judges and judges pro tempore
Release of identifying adoption information
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 91, authored by Sen. Steele, on the release of identifying adoption information. This legislation would permit release of identifying adoption information from 1941 – 1994, unless a non-release form is on file with the Indiana State Department of Health. Numerous groups testified in favor of the legislation including National Center on Ad … [Read more...] about Release of identifying adoption information
Department of Child Services reporting
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 131 on Department of Child Services reporting authored by Sen. Broden and Sen. Grooms. Sen. Broden stated this legislation would define near fatalities to include "life threatening" injuries.” “Life threatening” includes those which are categorized as "serious" or "critical" in hospital records or those which result in crit … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services reporting