INDIANAPOLIS-The 2010 session of the 116th General Assembly ended on March 13, with 115 bills sent to the governor. State Senator Frank Mrvan (D-Hammond) sponsored or authored a number of bills that gained approval by the legislature and are awaiting final action by the governor or set to become law. They include:
Property tax collections
House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1059, cosponsored by Mrvan in the Senate, is a bill that will make changes to the property tax billing process. HEA 1059 will require counties that anticipate being behind schedule with spring tax bills to send provisional tax bills by April 1st, in which 50 percent of the previous year's total tax liability would be due by May 10th. Exceptions can be made under the bill if a county shows the ability to send out tax bills with a due date no later than June 10th. The counties must first appeal to the Department of Local Government Finance.
If the final property tax bills were not determined by fall, the remaining 50 percent of the previous year's bill would be collected by November 10th. If the final amount for the current year can be determined, a reconciliation bill for the remainder of the current year's taxes would be issued and due in November. Provisional tax bills allow property owners to make uniform payments and ensure that money is collected by the counties until the proper billing amount can be determined. Sen. Mrvan said that this is one of the most important bills of the session because it provides the state with the opportunity to help cities and counties by not delaying the billing of property taxes.
The final draft of HEA 1059 was unanimously approved by the Senate and approved by the House of Representatives with a vote of 91-2. The act was sent to the governor for final action on March 15. The governor has seven days to sign the act into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. If enacted, the law will become effective July 1, 2010.
Government ethics and lobby reform
Lawmakers worked this session to establish a bipartisan government ethics reform package. HEA 1001, cosponsored by Mrvan, will bar legislators from entering a lobbyist position for a year after leaving office, require universities to report the tickets and gifts they give to legislators, require more lobbyist disclosure of gifts by lowering the threshold for reporting a meal or gift from $100 to $50 for a single day, and bars the governor from raising campaign funds during the budget session of the legislature.
A bipartisan, bicameral compromise on HEA 1001 was approved unanimously in both chambers and sent to the governor on March 11. The governor has seven days to sign the act into law, veto it or let it become law without his signature. If approved, the law will become effective January 1, 2011.
Transportation of radioactive material
SEA 186, coauthored by Mrvan, will increase the regulation of transporting radioactive materials within the state. It will require shippers to obtain a permit from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for the transportation of radioactive material in Indiana. Any permit issued under this proposal will also carry an expiration date and levy a fee based on the amount of material being transported by truck or train.
The Indiana State Police, including motor carrier inspectors, rail safety inspectors and other eligible law enforcement officers will be permitted to conduct vehicle inspections to enforce the new law. Vehicles found in violation could be seized, detained or impounded. Any illegal transportation of radioactive material would also be considered a class B infraction.
The governor signed the act into law March 12 and it becomes effective July 1, 2010.
Teen suicide prevention
SEA 226, coauthored by Mrvan, is a bill that will allow the Health Finance Commission to conduct a summer study of the topic of teen suicide, including the root causes and prevention, during the 2010 legislative interim.
The bill was unanimously supported in the Senate and the House of Representatives and was signed into law by the governor on March 12 and becomes effective July 1, 2010.
French Lick resort matters
HEA 1276, cosponsored by Mrvan in the Senate, will affect the French Lick resort and casino. The initiative decreases the admissions tax imposed at the French Lick casino from $4 to $3 while also adjusting what county entities receive the admissions tax from the casino.
HEA 1276 was approved by the House of Representatives 82-15 and the Senate approved the measure 38-12 and sent the act to the governor March 15. The governor has seven days to sign the act into law, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature. If enacted, the law will become effective July 1, 2010.
For more information on Sen. Mrvan, his legislative agenda or other State Senate business call 1-800-382-9467 or visit www.senatedemocrats.in.gov.
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