The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 547 on veterans and courts. Author Sen. Zakas testified that the bill makes appropriations to the Indiana Judicial Center to assist in the development of veterans’ courts statewide. The bill also authorizes (1) veterans’ courts to accept individuals from another county, (2) mandates the establishment of a veterans’ court in each judicial distr … [Read more...] about Veterans and courts
Circuit court clerks
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Richardson’s HB 1373 on circuit court clerks. This bill requires a fee for filing a petition with a court for the expungement of a person's record of arrest or conviction. It also requires a person who requests a circuit court clerk to send an additional mailing by registered or certified mail to provide an addressed envelope w … [Read more...] about Circuit court clerks
Court fees
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1425, authored by Rep. McMillin and Rep. Steuerwald, on court fees. The automated record keeping fee is currently $7, but will decrease to $5 on July 1, 2015. This bill increases the automated record keeping fee collected after June 30, 2015 to $9. This bill also provides that 100% of the automated record keeping fee is … [Read more...] about Court fees
Religious exemption in state and local contracts
The Civil Law Committee heard SB 127 authored by Sen. Holdman on religious exemption in state and local contracts. The bill provides that any state and local contract with a religious-based organization executed after June 30, 2015, must include a provision authorizing the religious-based organization to give employment preference to individuals of a particular religion or to … [Read more...] about Religious exemption in state and local contracts
Debt collection
The Civil Law Committee heard SB 211 authored by Sen. Patricia Miller on debt collection. The bill was prepared at the request of Attorney General Zoeller amending the deceptive consumer sales statutes to further consumer protection efforts. A representative from the Office of the Attorney General testified that the bill (1) defines “debt buyer;” (2) enhances the debt collector’s req … [Read more...] about Debt collection