NEW LAWS NOW IN EFFECT – Straight From The Senate

Many of the laws that were passed during the General Assembly’s 2016 legislative session took effect with the start of Indiana’s new fiscal year on July 1.

My colleagues and I worked this year to address a wide range of issues. From protecting children and assisting veterans, to stopping drug dealers and streamlining BMV services, these new laws will have a positive impact on our state.

Here are some of the laws passed by the General Assembly this year that are now in effect:

Senate Enrolled Act 295 expands eligibility for financial assistance from the Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF) to all Indiana veterans who have served during a national conflict or war. It also creates a place on state income tax forms to enable a taxpayer to donate all or part of their refund to the MFRF if they wish to do so.

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Senate Enrolled Act 145 establishes a proper military burial process for remains of deceased veterans who have no surviving family members.

House Enrolled Act 1005 requires all schools in Indiana to check with the Indiana Department of Child Services to see if there are substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against any employee or contractor.

Senate Enrolled Act 357, known as Kirk’s Law, creates a child-abuse registry similar to the sex- offender registry. This gives families another resource to ensure they are choosing trustworthy individuals to care for their children.

Senate Enrolled Act 80 allows a pharmacist to deny ephedrine or pseudoephedrine sales to a customer if the pharmacist believes the product will be used to make meth. This will help curb the increasing number of meth labs in Indiana without affecting law-abiding citizens’ ability to purchase the cold medicines they need.

Senate Enrolled Act 290 allows courts to convict individuals as drug dealers based solely on the possession of a large amount of illegal drugs.

House Enrolled Act 1235 establishes mandatory minimum sentences for the worst meth and heroin dealers.

House Enrolled Act 1087 promotes fairness, transparency and reliability in BMV services by simplifying the Indiana Code concerning BMV activities, streamlining registrations and driver’s licenses and reducing the complexity of the BMV’s fee structure.

To view a summary of all laws passed during the 2016 legislative session, visit my website at www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Long and click on “Publications” on the right side of the webpage.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and ideas on these and other issues. My office can be reached at 800-382-9467 or by email at Senator.Long@iga.in.gov.