January 30, 2009
Status report on selected measures
SB 89 Physician admitting privileges (abortion-related): In the Senate Public Health Committee; Hearing expected Jan. 26-30.
SB 90 Abortion matters: In the Senate Public Health Committee; Hearing expected Jan. 26-30
SB 22 Death penalty ban for mentally ill: in the Senate Judiciary committee
HB 1026 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): In the House Ways & Means committee
SB 580 Immigration reform: In the Senate Pensions & Labor committee
HB 1025 Child and dependent care tax credit: Passed the House Small Business & Economic Development committee, Jan. 21, and is headed to House for second reading. The bill provides a refundable income tax credit to individuals for certain household, child care, or dependent care expenses associated with an individual’s gainful employment. ICC supports the bill as a positive way to assist families and targets families who need it most.
HB 1080 Sales tax exemption for home energy assistance: Asigned to House Ways & Means committee, seeks to make permanent what was given a two year extension in 2007. ICC will again support this bill; it seems prudent to utilize all allocated resources for heating assistance.
SB 281, Contributions for food banks, would add the Indiana food bank trust fund as a charitable purpose to which an individual may choose to give all or part of the individual’s state income tax refund. The bill received a hearing in Senate Appropriations committee on Jan. 15, but no vote was taken.
HB 1315, Funding for food banks, creates the food bank account within the general fund to provide funding for food banks. This bill is in House Ways & Means committee. Because of fiscal costs the bill faces a difficult path. However, ICC supports this bill and SB 281 as many agencies who provide for the needy are finding it difficult to meet the daily and nutritional needs of growing number of individuals and families.
Find out what’s going on at the state legislature and how you can become involved. Go to www.indianacc.org and click “Legislative Action Center” on the left side of the screen. Indianapolis Catholic Radio WSPM features a legislative update Saturday and Sunday mornings at 11:05 a.m., and also streams on the internet and can be heard statewide by going to www.catholicradioindy.org and clicking on “Listen Now” button.