The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 287 on expungement. Author Sen. Young introduced the bill explaining that the expungement statute has been in place for three years and additional adjustments to the law are needed. The bill: authorizes the expungement of charges when an arrest did not occur and allegations of juvenile delinquency; clarifies that if the … [Read more...] about Expungement
Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 385 pertaining to murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance. Author Sen. Hershman introduced the bill explaining that this proposal is a response to the Purdue University shooting last year. The bill creates an aggravating factor to murder if the murder is committed on property owned or rented by an educational … [Read more...] about Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance
Child exploitation
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 396 on child exploitation. Author Sen. Houchin stated that the decreases in the penalty provisions for child exploitation as a result of the criminal code revision were an oversight. An amendment was adopted removing the second level penalty increases in the bill. The amended bill raises the penalty for possession of child … [Read more...] about Child exploitation
Methamphetamine
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard SB 536, authored by Sen. Young and Sen. Yoder, on methamphetamine. The bill provides that anyone convicted of a drug-related felony must get a prescription for pseudoephedrine or ephedrine for seven years after conviction. If methamphetamine labs are not reduced by this provision, then in 2020 a universal prescription for pseudoephedrine or … [Read more...] about Methamphetamine
Criminal justice funding
The House Ways and Means Committee heard Rep. Steuerwald’s HB 1006 on criminal justice funding. The Committee amended the bill by consent to reduce the first-year appropriation to $30 million, to move the appropriations to the Judicial Center’s budget, and to define treatment for addiction. The bill passed as amended, 18-0. Read the bill at ht … [Read more...] about Criminal justice funding