Friday, March 31, 2017
This Week:
Last
week, the Institute helped stop an amendment to SB 283 Pyramid promotional
schemes (Messmer) that would have allowed a .395% daily "customary fee" to be added to installment loans, bringing the potential cost of loans up close to 170% APR. Messmer held the bill so that the amendment could be discussed further. That same amendment did not make an appearance this week and the original bill
moved on to third reading with no new amendments; however, we will keep
tracking this bill for the rest of the session, prepared to take action if need
be. HB 1539
is another bill we are watching for payday lending language. It remained on
second reading Thursday, so we will continue to watch next week.
A
bill we’ve been working on all session, SB 154 Asset
limits for SNAP eligibility (Merritt), was amended in committee – the asset
limit was lowered from $10,000 to $5,000, it excludes the certificate of
deposit, expands funeral and burial services covered, removes exemption for
savings accounts in the name of a dependent child, and removes self-attestation.
It passed 7-0 with that amendment and is on second reading. The Institute is
disappointed with the removal of several desirable pieces, but thinks raising the asset
limit will help more Hoosiers become eligible for SNAP while still saving for
expected and unexpected situations.
SB
312 Use of criminal history information in hiring (Boots) passed the House
80-11.The bill would "ban the Ban the Box" and preempt local fair
chance hiring ordinances for people with prior criminal records. While the bill
also allows protections designed to encourage private employers to hire
ex-offenders, it provides no tools for communities to help ensure employment
rights for this population. The Institute encourages Governor Holcomb to veto
the bill unless it is paired with an executive order to "Ban the Box"
for state employee hiring.
HB 1008
Workforce development (Huston) passed the full Senate 49-0. In Appropriations
committee, the Workforce Ready Grant was deleted from the bill. However, Sen.
Kenley amended the bill on second reading to include the language about grants
to help Hoosiers have access workforce credentials for high demand, high wage
jobs. This language is important for working families and we are pleased it is
back in the bill.
HB 1004
Prekindergarten education (Behning) passed the Senate this week with an
amendment requiring the Department of Education (DOE) and Family and Social
Service Administration (FSSA) to do a survey to find the number of 4 year olds
enrolled in Pre-K, determine what kind of Pre-K program, and how they qualified
for the program they’re in. It will go to conference committee to determine its
final form.
Higher
Education/Adult Education Bills:
HB 1281 Various
higher education matters (Sullivan) passed 50-0 with the language that requires
the commission to study and make recommendations regarding the benefits of a reverse
credit transfer policy for Indiana students. It was on 3rd
reading this week.
SB 108
Education matters (Kruse) was heard in committee this week where an amendment was
added that would require the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to
commission a group that specializes in improving access to adult literacy
programs to submit a report on adult literacy opportunities. Andrew Bradley
from the Institute has worked hard to get this language in a bill and was there
to testify to its need. It will be on second reading next week.
HB 1384 Various
education matters (Behning) passed 7-4 out of Senate Education, and was also
amended to include a report on the need for adult literacy services.
SB 198 Career
and technical education (Long) included an amendment in committee that would provide
for a new career and technical education grant program for schools so students
can begin training or apprenticeships for high wage, high demand jobs. It
passed 18-0 out of Ways and Means.
Licensing
Bills:
HB 1308 Various
professional licensing matters (Zent) passed 49-0 and was returned to the House
with no amendments. SB 59
Reciprocity in professional licensing (Head) had an amendment tightening the
language in regards to licensed addiction counselor associates and licensed
clinical addiction counselor associates. It will be on third reading next week.
SB 114
Professional licensing (Kruse) passed the House 83-13 amended, sending it back
to the Senate where a motion to concur was filed.
HB
1394 Waiver of local occupational license fees (Frizzell) passed out of
committee 9-0 with an amendment including veteran spouses in fee waivers among
other things. While the Institute supports the idea of increasing access to
middle-skill licensed jobs for low-income families, we are concerned about
efforts to deregulate licensed professions by starving their budgets.
Other
bills:
HB 1001 State
biennial budget (Brown) passed out of Senate Appropriations 11-0.
HB 1002
Transportation infrastructure funding (Soliday) passed 11-2 with a couple
amendments.
HB 1074
Homeowners association proxies (Macer) was on third reading Thursday and passed
49-0.
HB 1154
Unemployment insurance (Leonard) passed the Senate 50-0.
HB 1178 Voter
registration opportunity for all motor vehicle transactions (Kersey) passed out
of Senate Elections 5-0 and remained on second reading on the Senate floor
Thursday.
HB 1337
Telemedicine matters (Kirchhofer) passed out of Senate Health and Provider
Services 9-0.
HB 1386
Competency based education (Behning) was not taken for a vote.
HB 1439 FSSA
matters (Kirchhofer) passed out of Senate Appropriations 11-0.
HB 1450
Property tax matters (Leonard) passed 10-1 out of Senate Tax and Fiscal
Policy.
HB 1470
Government information (Ober) had an amendment in committee that stripped the bill
and sends the issue to summer study. That version passed 9-0. Much of the
concern was about privacy of sensitive information and a lack of knowledge of
the Management Performance Hub (MPH). It did not have the same level of
skepticism in the House.
HB 1523 Search
fee for public records requests (Richardson) was on second reading Thursday
with an amendment to exclude title searches from this fee, as discussed in
committee this week. It was on second reading Thursday.
HB 1626 Study
of universal service for telecommunications (Negele) was on second reading
Thursday.
SB 42 Pro bono
legal service fee (Grooms) postpones the current sunset provision for the pro
bono legal services fee and passed 91-0.
SB 63 Community
mental health center telemedicine pilot (Head) was in House Public Health, but
was not taken for a vote this week.
SB 242 Indiana
Housing First program (Merritt) passed 8-0 out of committee and is on second
reading next week.
SB 346 Donation
of certain local funds to foundation (Grooms) passed 98-0 and was returned to
the Senate with amendments.
SB 440 Various
tax matters (Holdman) passed 96-0 with a few failed amendments proposed by
Democrats. It is now back in the Senate as a concurrence ready for
action.
SB 507 Economic
development (Head) deals with Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
and passed 96-0.
SB 515 Various
tax matters (Hershman) passed 93-1 with two failed amendments proposed by
Democrats.
Next
Week:
SB 558 will be heard in House Judiciary on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 10am in Rm. 156-D. This bill includes language limiting local governments' ability to require a percentage of housing to be designated as affordable housing. It also allows landlords to refuse to rent based on "reasonable occupancy standards" which limit each room to 2 people instead of basing occupancy on square footage. This can greatly increase the cost of housing for families with more than 4 members. Below is a Marion County example of how dramatically housing costs increase when a third (or forth) bedroom is required. It also reveals the increasing costs of housing in general. Check out our self-sufficiency calculator to see the data for your county and family size.
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| Data from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2017_code/select_Geography.odn |
On the Floor - Monday 4/3
Senate 1:30pm
Concurrences Eligible for Action -
SB 114 Professional
Licensing (Kruse)
SB 440 Various
tax matters (Holdman)
Second reading -
HB 1178 Voter
registration opportunity for all motor vehicle transactions (Kersey)
HB 1523 Search
fee for public records requests (Richardson)
HB 1539 Financial
institutions and consumer credit (Burton)
HB 1626 Study
of universal service for telecommunications (Negele)
Third Reading -
HB 1004 Prekindergarten
education (Behning)
HB 1008 Workforce
development (Huston)
HB 1074 Homeowners
association proxies (Macer)
House 1:30pm
Second reading -
SB 108 Education
matters (Kruse)
SB 154 Asset
limitation for SNAP eligibility (Merritt)
SB 198 Career
and technical education (Long)
SB 242 Indiana
Housing First program (Merritt)
Third reading -
SB 59 Professional
licensing (Head)
SB 283 Pyramid
promotional schemes (Messmer)
The schedules above are current as of March 31,
2017. It is always important to verify the scheduling of bills and sessions on
the General Assembly website as these
can and do change.
