A non-comprehensive list of Senate activity that struck me as interesting:
SB 192 Bail. Passed the Senate 50-0. Allows a court to require a combination of property or surety bonds as a condition of bail (as opposed to merely one or the other.) Allows the court to require as a condition of bail that the defendant or anyone posting bond on the defendant’s behalf agree to allow the court to apply all or part of the cash to pay costs of representation, fines, fees, and restitution.
SB 194 Teacher professional development days. I don’t know why this is a big deal, but the vote was 31 to 19 in favor, so it caught my eye. It dictates the time a school may use for parent-teacher conferences and teacher professional development. Under SB 194, a total of 6 half-days (2 of which may be used for parent-teacher conferences) or 3 full days (1/2 a day of which may be used for parent-teacher conferences) can be used for the combined activities. Under current law, parent-teacher conferences can’t be the cause of a full-day dismissal and conferences can be 10 hours per year in grades 1-6 and 12 hours per year in grades 7-12. Under the new law, the decision on whether to use 3 full days or 6 half-days is the decision of the governing body and is not subject to collective bargaining.
SB 217 Allows a redevelopment commission to create a tax increment finance district for a “housing program.” I didn’t see any real definition of what might constitute a “housing program.” I presume it has something to do with creating housing in areas with inadequate housing or for those people who are unable to afford such housing under current circumstances.
SB 232 Jury service exemptions. Eliminates automatic exemptions from jury service. Permits a person called for jury service to receive one deferral for up to one year if the juror selects an alternate date and the deferral is necessary due to hardship, extreme inconvenience, or necessity. Protects a person called for jury service from being subjected to adverse employment actions. Prohibits employers from requiring or requesting employees to use annual vacation or sick leave for jury service. Current exemptions are made for people 65 years old and older, active military service members, elected officials, veterinarians, Indianapolis school commissioners, dentists, fire and policemen, and employees of the DOC.
SB 266 Confidentiality of bariatric surgery reports. (Bariatrics specialty of medicine dealing with the medical and surgical treatment of obesity.) Specifies that the legal provision imposing a duty on a physician to monitor a bariatric surgery patient for 5 years does not apply if the physician is unable after a reasonable effort to locate the patient. Provides that a report made by a physician to the state department of health of a death or serious complication of a patient who had surgical treatment for the treatment of morbid obesity is confidential. Specifies that statistical reports compiled by the state department from the reported information are subject to public inspection.
Leave a Reply