FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sen. Alting finds a new home
for the ‘Jimmy DeBoy Bill’
(STATEHOUSE) – A proposal to stiffen the penalties for intoxicated drivers who cause crashes that kill or seriously injure another person was revived today when the Senate voiced their vote in favor of inserting the measure into another bill. Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) successfully found a new home for his “Jimmy DeBoy bill” in another legislative measure – beating today’s critical legislative deadline after the House of Representatives was unable to hear the bill.
Alting’s Senate Bill 90, named for a local youth who was struck and killed by a drunk driver, faced defeat this session after the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code failed to hear it.
However, Alting worked with Sen. Marvin Riegsecker (R-Goshen) to include the language into House Bill 1052, which Riegsecker is sponsoring in the Senate. Alting’s Goshen colleague had voted for the “Jimmy DeBoy” bill as it passed the Senate 33 to 15 on January 29.
Alting and Riegsecker agree drunk drivers causing death should face Class A felonies, while those causing serious bodily injury should be charged with Class B felonies.
“Families and friends who have lost loved ones to impaired drivers are demanding that the punishment fit the crime,” Alting said. “I am pleased that this legislation found a new home and that my Senate colleagues are addressing this issue.”
SB 90 was sponsored in the House by Rep. Linda Lawson (D-Hammond) and co-sponsored by Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette), Eric Koch (R-Bedford) and John Ulmer (R-Goshen).
The measure, now part of HB 1052, will be on its third and final reading in the Senate on Wednesday, Feb.27.
Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.
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