The Herald Bulletin
In summary
Some new laws, even if necessary, don’t take away the bad taste of this General Assembly
Dozens of new laws from the recent General Assembly go into effect today in Indiana.
Some developed from flaws in the administration of government. Some were designed to increase public safety and security. Others were no-brainers.
But all of them combined may not overcome our disappointment with the legislature’s inability to compromise, as grown adults, and resolve budget matters by April so that we avoid a special session.
We hope most Hoosiers are equally dismayed with our legislature, whether we blame the Democratic-controlled House or the Republican-led Senate. For the legislators’ hemming and hawing, Hoosier taxpayers paid $75,000 extra a week for the General Assembly to meet in special session.
The holdup came down to education, which along with public safety, gives Indiana government its two major reasons to exist.
As this is written, we pray that legislators have resolved the budget and state government has not shut down. But we’re so discouraged by our leaders that there was a threat, a chance, of closing nonessential state services. For one, the Hoosier Park Racing and Casino facility faced possible closure because state gaming officials who monitor gambling are considered nonessential. That causes us to ponder why a drink server or slot machine repairman would have to be out of work for a day because our General Assembly can’t control its own power.
On a more essential note, there were some laws that we applaud.
There was a muted cheer by some over House Bill 1468, which establishes a registry of commercial dog brokers and commercial dog breeders. The intent, while it certainly can go further, is to cut down on the so-called “puppy mills.” A fee and penalty were established so that breeders and brokers would have to register with the Board of Animal Health.
Wisely, a state registry was established for protective orders with an interface ability between the state and county case management systems.
A new identity theft unit was create for the Attorney General’s office, which includes a team to investigate consumer complaints in this growing offense that can unknowingly rip the investments and savings from any of our lives.
Teachers thankfully received a little more assistance knowing that the Attorney General can defend lawsuits against them and that they have qualified immunity for reasonable acts of discipline. This new law protects teachers who act with rational common sense from facing nuisance lawsuits.
Senate Bill 365, co-authored by local Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, cleaned up language concerning child services at a time when the state and local assistance agencies were under fire for cracks in the system that allowed children to die at the hands of their parents or guardians.
But as we review the laws effective today, we still sit and wonder how the General Assembly came down to a costly special session over a two-year budget.
State Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, suggested that legislators approve a one-year budget as a response to the economic uncertainty of the times.
Though it’s the kind of thought-provoking compromise we like to hear, at this point in our frustration, we’d rather not see an annual opportunity for a special session.
