STRAIGHT FROM THE SENATE

NEW LAWS ON JULY 1 WILL HELP PROTECT PUBLIC, MAKE HIGHWAYS SAFER, ENHANCE EDUCATION

STATEHOUSE – Headlines from this year’s Indiana General Assembly have been dominated by the state budget and our ailing unemployment insurance fund. Some may judge the success or failure of this session on those issues. Yet there were several other bills passed involving important everyday matters for Hoosiers. Many of them took effect July 1. Here is a capsule look at some of these new laws:

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Consumer Protection

Identity Theft: Lawmakers approved House Enrolled Act 1121 increasing the state’s power to fight identity theft by creating a unit within the Indiana Attorney General’s office that would investigate complaints and assist victims. The legislation also includes a provision providing identity theft victims the tools needed to recover from these crimes, including a copy of the police report outlining the crime and a court judgment verifying that they are indeed an identity theft victim.

Crime & Punishment

Public Safety: Criminals who murder or attempt to murder a pregnant woman causing the death of her unborn baby could face longer prison terms under Senate Enrolled Act 236 adopted by the General Assembly. The bill would allow six to 20 years of additional prison time for people convicted of attempted murder or murder if they cause the loss of pregnancy.

Driver’s Licenses

Teen Drivers: Teen drivers are four times more likely than older drivers to crash. Legislators supported Senate Enrolled Act 16 that prohibits Hoosiers under the age of 18 from using cell phones while driving.

Effective July 1, 2010, this new law requires young adults holding learners’ permits to begin logging 50 adult-supervised hours behind the wheel before qualifying for an Indiana driver’s license.

Online License Renewals: Indiana motorists could soon save time and avoid trips to the BMV under Senate Enrolled Act 391 that will now allow online and mail-in renewals of driver’s licenses. Using this new technology could also save the state money since in-branch transactions are at least three times more costly than mail-in and online renewals.

Education

Classroom Computers: Lawmakers approved Senate Enrolled Act 27 naming Indiana’s educational technology fund after the late State Sen. David C. Ford, a Blackford County legislator who died March 5, 2008. Sen. Ford was a champion for advancing technology in the classroom. The fund will be used to supply computers and Web access to libraries and schools, and to further computer training for educators and career development opportunities for students.

School Bus Checks: Experts estimate about 5,000 students are left behind on school buses annually in North America. In an effort to protect Hoosier students, lawmakers supported Senate Enrolled Act 228 requiring drivers to visually inspect each seat within the bus at the end of the route. Drivers who fail to thoroughly inspect buses could face a Class C infraction.

Financial Literacy: House Enrolled Act 1581 provides Hoosier students with improved financial acumen. Lawmakers approved legislation requiring the Indiana State Board of Education to incorporate financial literacy skills in school curriculum for grades 6-12. Studies reveal that today’s students lack the skills to manage their personal finances. This new law will help to change that.

We’ll take a look at more new laws in my next column.

Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne) is President Pro Tem of the Indiana Senate. He serves District 16, which includes portions of Fort Wayne