The minutes from the September meeting (PDF) of the Census Data Advisory Committee records a pretty interesting debate on the issue of provisional ballots. The Democrats seemed to be concerned that provisional ballots aren’t counted as quickly or as fully as regular ballots and that a challenge to a citizen’s right to vote will automatically relegate them to provisional vote purgatory with almost no chance of adverse consequences for a challenger who does so maliciously or frivolously. Julia Vaughn of Common Cause Indiana stated that Indiana was among 5 states with the lowest rates of counted provisional ballots. Much of this discussion was in response to a draft bill being considered by the committee:

Senator Craycraft asked Mr. King if the draft was proposing that any challenged voter must vote a provisional ballot. Mr. King responded that Senator Craycraft’s characterization of the draft was accurate.

According to the October 3, 2005 minutes of the Commission on Courts (PDF) Representative Richardson has requested an opinion from the attorney general as to whether garnishees should be considered defendants in small claims and civil cases. At issue is whether Plaintiffs with judgments seeking to garnish wages to collect from Defendants are required to pay the $10 “additional defendant” fee before adding garnishees to the case. Currently, most Clerks of Courts seem to be taking the position that they are defendants and are requiring the fee. However, this is likely out of an abundance of caution in that, if they do not collect a fee they are supposed to, they could find themselves personally liable.

The August 10, 2005 Minutes of the FSSA Evaluation Committee has a lot of discussion of issues in the news just lately about Mitch Roob’s plan to privatize (err, “localize”) FSSA functions. The committee was apparently meeting again today.

If you’re interested in these things, check out LSAs 2005 Study Committees page which has a list of the committees.

Update Mike Smith has AP article stating that the interim committee reviewing BMV issues declined to take any action or make any recommendation about Silverman’s actions shutting down BMV branches. However, they did recommend two drafts, one of which apparently tightens up notice requirements for public hearings and the other of which requires BMV branches that issue photo IDs to remain open on the day before and the day of elections. This last one was proposed by Rep. Rogers as an effort to mitigate to some extent the new requirement that before a citizen can exercise his or her right to vote, he or she must produce a state or federal photo ID.

The Legislative Council passed a resolution (PDF) setting up various interim study committees and assigning topics of study. They include:

Public security and regulatory matters charged with studying Boxing Commission regulations (SR 21); Public safety, homeland security, and identification issues (SB 201; HB 1597); and Identity theft (HCR 74).

Fire Safety Issues charged with studying Building, fire, and equipment laws (HCR 71; and Fire safety in dorms and senior care facilities (SCR 12).

Motor Vehicle Issues (a/k/a The ‘payback Joel Silverman Committee’) charged with studying License branch siting criteria required under IC 9-15-2-1 and the administration of those criteria when a branch is closed under IC 9-1-2.5 (Legislative Council); The procurement and implementation criteria for the State Tracking and Record System (“STAR”) information technology by the BMV (Legislative Council); and Staff hiring patterns and other BMV personnel management issues (Legislative Council)

Census Data Advisory Committee is charged with studying the effectiveness of the state election commission structure.

Child custody and support advisory committee is charged with studying child support for post-secondary education.

Criminal law study committee is charged with studying Interstate compact on violent felons and sex offenders (SB 390); and Pedophiles (SR 60).

Education Roundtable is charged with studying high school dropout rates in Indiana.

Environmental Quality Service Council is charged with studying environmental funds, mercury recovery issues, confined feeding operations, and biofuels: agriculture based alternatives to petroleum fuels.

FSSA Evaluation Committee is charged with studying Survey of FSSA service providers and consumers (SCR 7); and Evaluate the impact of the administrative dissolution of Step Ahead Councils.

Gaming Research Department is charged with studying Impact of gaming on Indiana citizens and communities (HB 1342); and Effects of gambling on Indiana citizens (per letter from Rep. Welch).

Health Finance Commission is charged with studying Cost of infertility treatment (SR 37); Certificate of need (CON) and a moratorium on construction of nursing home beds (Legislative Council); and the problems surrounding childhood and adult obesity (Legislative Council)

The local government efficiency and financing study commission is charged with studying Replacing all property taxes with substitute funding (HB 1723; HB 1616); Administration of personal property tax collection (SB 171 amendment); Smart growth and local planning issues (HB 1602); and Fiscal impact of public lands on local government units (HR 84)

The Natural Resources Study Committee is charged with studying Tillery Hill State Recreation area (SR 61).

The Northwest Indiana Transportation Study Commission is charged with studying Northwest Indiana Transportation, infrastructure, and economic development issues (HB 1299; SB 30).

The Pension Management Oversight Commission is charged with studying Local government pension relief distribution delay (SR 10); Repeal of the expiration of deferred retirement option plan (DROP) (SR 11); and Volunteer public safety officers health benefits/presumptions (Unnumbered HR).

The Probate study commission is charged with studying living wills.

The Sentencing policy study committee is charged with studying Pretrial diversion programs (SR 39); Pretrial service fee while on bail (HB 1055; SR 35); and Reduction in correctional costs, including a prisoner release program for offenders who no longer pose a threat to Hoosiers (Unnumbered SR).

The state tax and financing policy commission is charged with studying the fiscal impact of federal mandates on local schools.

The tourism council is charged with studying the impact of school start date.