NEWS RELEASE
08.08.05
Contact: Jamie Jorczak (317)232-9524
jjorczak@iga.state.in.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(STATEHOUSE) Senator Brent Steele (R-Bedford), chairman of the Motor Vehicles Issues Study Committee, announced today that the committee’s first meeting will be broadcast live on the Internet.
Members of the committee will meet tomorrow (Tues., Aug. 9) at 1 p.m. Indianapolis time in the chambers of the Indiana Senate. The live broadcast can be viewed by visiting www.legislative.in.gov, clicking on “Watch the General Assembly Session” and selecting “Watch video from the Senate.”
The Motor Vehicles Issues Study Committee was created by the Legislative Council in response to questions raised after the Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced two dozen license branch closings.
“Utilizing the webcam further opens up state government,” Steele said. “Many Hoosiers are very interested in the changes occurring within the BMV, so we’re providing them the opportunity to witness these meetings from the comfort of their own homes.”
This will be the first time the Senate has broadcasted a committee hearing. The webcam was installed during the 2005 legislative session to offer more access to Senate proceedings. Because the camera is not portable, only hearings taking place in the chambers may be available online at this time. The use of the webcam is at the discretion of each committee chairman and the Senate President Pro Tempore.
The committee will study license branch siting criteria required by state law and the administration of those criteria when a branch is closed. Members also will review the procurement and implementation criteria for the State Tracking and Record System (STAR) information technology by the BMV, as well as staff hiring patterns and other BMV personnel management issues.
Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), Sen. Gary Dillon, M.D. (R-Pierceton), Sen. Allie Craycraft (D-Selma), Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and Sen. Connie Sipes (D-New Albany) also serve on the committee.
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