FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alting: Senate approves measure
containing ‘Jimmy DeBoy Bill’
(STATEHOUSE) –Today, the Senate passed a measure containing language from Sen. Ron Alting’s (R-Lafayette) “Jimmy DeBoy” Bill. The proposal to stiffen the penalties for intoxicated drivers who cause crashes that kill or seriously injure another person was included in House Bill 1052, a bill the Senate approved by a 46 to one vote.
HB 1052, containing Senate Bill 90, will return to the House of Representatives where Senate amendments will be considered.
On Tuesday, Alting successfully amended his “Jimmy DeBoy” bill into HB 1052.
“I am very pleased the language in the ‘Jimmy DeBoy’ bill was approved today,” Alting said. “We are one step closer to making the punishment for impaired drivers who hurt or kill someone else fit the crime.”
Alting’s Senate Bill 90 – named for a local youth who was struck and killed by an impaired driver – faced defeat this session after the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code failed to hear it.
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 voted for the SB 90 when it passed the Senate on Jan. 29 by a 33 to 15 vote.
Alting said if the bill becomes law, impaired drivers who cause death will face Class A felonies and those causing serious bodily injury should be charged with Class B felonies.
“This is a good day for the DeBoy family and others who testified and fought tirelessly to stiffen the penalties of impaired drivers who kill or injure another person,” Alting said. “The fate of this bill is now in the hands of my colleagues in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tim Neese (R-Elkhart), author of HB 1052, and co-sponsor of SB 90, Rep Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette).
Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.
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