Friday, January 19, 2018
This week was busy with ‘Team
Institute’ testifying in back-to-back hearings on legislation affecting working
families, including bills to restructure the state’s workforce development
system (including adult education); provide a fee amnesty for low-income
drivers with suspended licenses; and to educate childcare providers about
safe sleep practices. Next week, we anticipate hearings on SB 416 and HB 1319 –
both create predatory lending products with triple-digit APRs; as well as a
final Senate vote on SB 11 to remove the lifetime ban on nutrition assistance
for people with prior drug charges. See the full list of bills we're tracking here.
This Week’s Highlights:
HB
1152,Traffic
Amnesty Program, would offer a temporary reduction in fees for low-income
drivers with suspended drivers’ licenses. Senior Policy Analyst Andrew Bradley
testified in support, and presented data from a 2016 IU McKinney Law
School report which found Indiana’s fines and
fee structures disproportionately impact low-income Hoosiers, leaving nearly 1
in 10 adults over 16 without a legal way to get to work. The bill passed the
House Courts and Criminal Code Committee 10-0, with a likely next stop in House
Ways and Means. Representative Negele has been added as a coauthor.
SB11, Eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, would
remove the lifetime ban from SNAP placed upon people with felony drug charges.
The bill has passed out of floor on second reading and in now scheduled for a
third reading on the Senate floor Monday January 22.
SB374,Individual Development
Accounts, was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Appropriations committee on
Wednesday. The Institute planned to testify in support of SB374, however the bill
was pulled from the committee by Senator Doriot, the bill’s author. We hope we
will still have the opportunity to talk about the amazing opportunity
IDA’s provide for low income families to build assets.
HB1319, Uniform Consumer Credit
Code and SB416, Consumer Credit Code were
introduced last week. The Institute opposes both bills, which allow for loans with triple
digit APRs in violation of our long-standing criminal loan sharking standard of 72% APR. SB416 would allow banks, credit unions and non-traditional lenders to skirt the criminal loan sharking statute and raise interest and fees on many types of consumer credit products. HB1319 creates a new installment product exclusively for payday lenders that is loaded with fees, driving the APRs above 200%. Meanwhile, our bill, SB 325, Small Loan Finance Charges,
would cap APR on payday loans at 36% and protect families from predatory lending practices. You
can find more information on the payday lending bills here.
HB
1002, Reorganization of Workforce Funding and
Programs, would sunset many of the state’s training programs and evaluate their
return on investment before reauthorizing. The bill would redirect corporate
taxes into a ‘next level workforce training and development fund’ and would
require all state apprenticeship programs to be registered with the USDOL,
among other provisions. Senior Policy Analyst Andrew Bradley testified with
support for strengthening Indiana’s workforce, but with concerns that the
present bill doesn’t do enough to support low-skill adults seeking to upskill
by addressing non-academic barriers and prioritizing supportive services and
middle-skill credential attainment for adults. The bill was held without a vote
in the House Ways and Means Committee.
SB187, Child Care, provides a mechanism for FSSA to educate child care
providers about safe sleep practices and impose penalties for violations.
Policy Analyst Erin Macey testified in the Senate Family and Children Services
Committee in support of the bill. “All Hoosier families want and deserve safe,
affordable childcare and we’re grateful that the General Assembly is taking
steps to ensure that providers are educated and held accountable,” she said, also noting that there are many, many families in need of support dealing with the costs of childcare. It passed
out of committee 6-0. On Monday, January 22 the bill will have a second
reading on the Senate floor.
HB1344, Pregnancy and Childbirth Discrimination, would make it illegal
for an employer to discriminate against women who are pregnant, require
employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women and requires
the Civil Rights Commission to investigate and employee claims of
discrimination has been referred to the Employment, Labor and Pensions
committee. Chairman Representative Van Natter has yet to schedule the bill for a
hearing. The committee has one hearing left this session - please call Rep. VanNatter at 317-234-9499
and ask that he give HB 1344, a bill with bipartisan support, a committee hearing.
For more information and talking points please see our fact sheet Pregnancy
Accommodations in the Workplace. SB113, another job quality bill introduced in the Senate with bipartisan support, creates
a study committee on paid leave, which the Institute supports as well.
HB1390, Equal Pay; Wage Disclosure Protection, was introduced into the
House this week. The Institute is excited to see bipartisan support for this
bill which aims to address gender pay discrepancies. To learn more
about the gender pay gap and the affects on working women and Hoosier families
please join us for drinks and dessert on Thursday January 25th from
5 – 7 at our office in Indianapolis. We will be discussing the findings in our
report, Wage, Wealth and
Poverty: Where Hoosier Women Stand & Ways Our State Can Close the Gaps.
The event is free, but desserts for men will cost $1 and for women $0.74. Please
register for the event here.
Other
Institute Happenings:
On Thursday January 18th Policy
Analyst Amy Carter attended and spoke at the "MLK Jr. Influence on Poverty and Nutrition Education" event held at Purdue
University. She spoke about
self-sufficiency, SNAP, and poverty along with Maxine Thomas of RESULTS
Indianapolis, Katy Bunder of Food Finders Bank, and Melissa Maulding of Purdue
Extension Nutrition Education Programs.
Other Bills in
Committee this Week:
REPORTING
ON WORKER MISCLASSIFICATION (NIEZGODSKI D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the
Indiana Code concerning labor and safety.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report amend do pass, adopted
COMPUTER
SCIENCE (RAATZ J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education and to make an appropriation.
Current Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report
amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
CHILD
SUPPORT (BRAY R) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning family
law and juvenile law.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report amend do pass, adopted
ACCESS TO FOOD PROGRAM (RUCKELSHAUS J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to
amend the Indiana Code concerning human services.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report do pass, adopted
WORKER'S COMPENSATION (FORD J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the
Indiana Code concerning labor and safety.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report do pass, adopted
PERINATAL LEVELS OF CARE DESIGNATION CERTIFICATION (CHARBONNEAU
E) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report amend do pass, adopted
INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR K-12 EDUCATION DONATIONS (MELTON E) A BILL
FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.
Senator Mishler, Chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee heard SB364 however he did not call for a vote. SB364
was introduced along with two other similar bills addressing the same topic.
Sen. Mishler chose to hear the bill and give the bills supporters a chance to
present their arguments. Since SB364 deals with tax credits which affect the
state budget the bill will need to be reintroduced in a budget year.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS (BOOTS P) A BILL FOR AN ACT to
amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report amend do pass adopted;
reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy
REVERSE TRANSFER AGREEMENTS AND DEGREES (ECKERTY D) A BILL FOR AN
ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning higher education.
Current
Status: 1/17/2018 - Senate Education and Career Development,
(Bill Scheduled for Hearing)
URGING
SUPPORT OF CHIP RE-AUTHORIZATION (BREAUX J)
Current Status: 1/18/2018 - Committee Report do
pass, adopted
Scheduled for hearings:
HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVICE (OBER D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana
Code concerning utilities.
Current
Status: 1/17/2018 - House Utilities, Energy and
Telecommunications, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) Held until next week.
REAL WORLD CAREER READINESS PROGRAM (RUCKELSHAUS J) A BILL FOR AN
ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.
Current
Status: 1/24/2018 - Senate Education and Career Development,
(Bill Scheduled for Hearing)
SMALL LOANS (PERFECT C) A BILL FOR AN ACT to
amend the Indiana Code concerning financial institutions.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - Senate Insurance and Financial
Institutions, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing)
Referred:
UNIFORM CONSUMER CREDIT CODE (CARBAUGH M) A
BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade
regulation.
Current Status: 1/11/2018
- Referred to House Financial Institutions
Picked up Second
Authors and Co-Authors:
HIGHER EDUCATION RESIDENT TUITION FOR
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS (HARRIS JR. E) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend
the Indiana Code concerning higher education.
Current
Status: 1/18/2018 - added as coauthor Representative Clere
1/9/2018 - Referred to House Education
1/9/2018 - First Reading
TAX CREDITS (LEHMAN M) A BILL FOR AN ACT
to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.
Current Status:1/18/2018 - added as coauthors
Representatives Sullivan, Slager, Goodin
1/3/2018 - Referred to House Ways and Means
1/3/2018 - First Reading
Bills Discussed and
Voted on House Floor: (second and third readings)
VARIOUS HIGHER EDUCATION MATTERS
(SULLIVAN H) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning higher
education. Third Reading Passed 92-0
EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR VETERANS (WESCO T)
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning military and veterans.
Third Reading Passed 94-0
Bills Discussed and
Voted on Senate Floor: (second and third readings)
MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE
(LEISING J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health. Third Reading Passed 49-0
Current
Status: Sent to House
1/18/2018
- Cosponsor: Representative Kirchhofer
FSSA MATTERS (CHARBONNEAU E) A BILL
FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code
concerning human services. Third Reading Passed 49-0
Current Status: 1/18/2018 -
Cosponsor: Representative Bacon
Recent Status:
1/18/2018 - House sponsor:
Representative Kirchhofer
Next Week:
Monday, January 22,
2018
SENATE ELECTIONS
Committee Video Link Mon., Jan. 22, 2018, 9:30 AM, Senate Chamber
Sen. Walker: 317-232-9984
REDISTRICTING
STANDARDS. (WALKER G) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
elections.
ELECTION DAY
REGISTRATION AT CENTRAL LOCATION. (WALKER G) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the
Indiana Code concerning elections.
Tuesday, January 23,
2018
HOUSE EMPLOYMENT,
LABOR AND PENSIONS
Committee Video Link Tue., Jan. 23, 2018, 8:30 AM, Rm. 156-A
Rep. VanNatter: 317-234-9499
DRUG ADDICTION
WORKFORCE RECOVERY PROGRAM. (DAVISSON S) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana
Code concerning human services.
SENATE TAX AND FISCAL
POLICY
Committee Video Link Tue., Jan. 23, 2018, 9:00 AM, Rm. 431
Sen. Holdman: 317-232-9807
TAX ISSUES. (HOLDMAN
T) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.
TAX CREDITS. (KRUSE
D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.
SENATE VETERANS
AFFAIRS AND THE MILITARY
Committee Video Link Tue., Jan. 23, 2018, 10:00 AM, Rm. 233
Sen. Delph: 317-232-9541
EMERGENCY RULES FOR
VETERANS' PROGRAMS. (BECKER V) A BILL FOR AN ACT concerning military and
veterans.
Wednesday, January
24, 2018
SENATE HEALTH AND
PROVIDER SERVICES
Committee Video Link Wed., Jan. 24, 2018, 9:00 AM, Rm. 431
Sen. Charbonneau: 317-232-9494
HOSPICES AND
MEDICAID. (BECKER V) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
human services.
VETERANS PROGRAMS.
(DELPH M) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning military and
veterans.
SENATE EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Committee Video Link Wed., Jan. 24, 2018, 1:30 PM, Senate Chamber
Sen. Kruse: 317-233-0930
REAL WORLD CAREER
READINESS PROGRAM. (RUCKELSHAUS J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code
concerning education.
VETERANS EDUCATIONAL
MATTERS. (FREEMAN A) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
military and veterans.
VARIOUS EDUCATION
MATTERS. (RAATZ J) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Thursday, January 25,
2018
SENATE INSURANCE AND
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Committee Video Link Thu., Jan. 25, 2018, 10:00 AM, Rm. 130
Sen. Perfect: 317-232-9541
CONSUMER CREDIT CODE.
(ECKERTY D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade
regulation.
House Floor:
STREAMLINING
AGENCY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (GUTWEIN D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the
Indiana Code concerning state offices and administration. Scheduled for 3rd
reading 1/22
UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE (LEONARD D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
labor and safety. Scheduled For 3rd reading 1/2
SUNDAY
SALES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR CARRYOUT (SMALTZ B) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend
the Indiana Code concerning alcohol and tobacco. Second Reading 1/22
DENTAL HYGIENIST ACCESS PRACTICE
AGREEMENTS (FRIZZELL D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
professions and occupations. Second Reading 1/22
PROFESSIONAL
LICENSING AGENCY MATTERS (ZENT D) A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code
concerning professions and occupations. Second Passed order Engrossed Third
Reading 1/22
