The Indiana General Assembly concluded the 2015 legislative session this week.
State Senator Randy Head said, “Lawmakers advanced legislation that strengthens education, maintains our fiscal stability and supports Hoosiers across the state.”
A few noteworthy policies approved by the General Assembly this sessioninclude HEA 1001, the balanced budget that puts education first. The General Assembly passed a balanced two-year state budget with no tax increases. Head said, “Our budget maintains Indiana’s hard-fought reserve funds and prioritizes education funding with a $474 million increase for K-12 schools.”
SJR 19, the constitutional balanced-budget amendment will make Indiana’s recent track record of fiscal responsibility permanent by prohibiting state spending from exceeding state tax revenue unless two-thirds of the General Assembly deem it necessary to use emergency spending measures.
SEA 566, local school boards can allow up to half of each teacher’s bonus under the School Performance Grant program to be a permanent part of the teacher’s salary. This legislation also permits school boards to approve extra pay for teachers with master’s degrees in a subject they teach.
Protecting Hoosiers from exploitation and trafficking (SEA 532) is a bill, Senator Head authored. He said, “It will allow law enforcement to seize real or personal property that is used by a person committing a crime relating to human trafficking or promoting prostitution.” SEA 532 also establishes the human trafficking prevention and victim assistance fund. The newly created fund will provide grants and services for victims of human trafficking. It also mandates that 80 percent of the money collected in the seizure of property used in connection with human trafficking be transferred to this newly established fund.
Another bill the state passed this session has stronger government ethics laws. HEA 1002 strengthens legislators’ financial disclosure requirements and prevents executive-branch employees from leaving government to go work for a company they formerly helped regulate. These changes will help government officials avoid conflicts of interest and will make state government more transparent for Hoosiers.
Senator Head said, “Although this year’s legislative session has come to a close, lawmakers will continue to meet over the summer and fall to discuss important issues facing Indiana. I continue to welcome your input as these discussions develop in the months ahead.”
