The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 285 sponsored by Rep. Dermondy and Rep. McMillin on inmate correspondence. Author Sen. Tomes explained that the bill gives offenders within the Department of Correction the option of sending correspondence via electronic mail or through the US Postal Service. Sen. Tomes stated that DOC currently provides offenders with stationery … [Read more...] about Inmate correspondence
Controlled substances
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1184 on controlled substances sponsored by Sen. Grooms and Sen. Becker. Author Rep. Davisson explained that the bill allows certain optometrists to prescribe Tramadol, now classified as a controlled substance, for ocular pain management. The bill also updates Indiana Code to mirror federal law on the classification of controlled substances. An … [Read more...] about Controlled substances
Expungement
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1302 on expungement sponsored by Sen. Steele and Sen. Taylor. Author Rep. McMillin explained the bill and his amendments as: (1) authorizing the expungement of charges when an arrest did not occur or allegations of juvenile delinquency did not lead to a delinquency adjudication; (2) specifying that the records of expungement proceedings become … [Read more...] about Expungement
Missing and trafficked children
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard HB 1216 on missing and trafficked children sponsored by Sen. Head and Sen. Houchin. The bill requires the Indiana State Police to prepare a pamphlet for distribution to every law enforcement agency to include information on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Runaway Safeline. The bill also … [Read more...] about Missing and trafficked children
Department of Child Services
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard HB 1434 concerning the Department of Child Services sponsored by Sen. Head and Sen. Holdman. This legislation (1) provides for background checks for host homes used in the collaborative care program, (2) exempts DCS staff from social work licensure in the same manner as other state agencies, (3) repeals duplicative Regional … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services