Brandon Smith

New Law Aims to Enhance Police Interaction with Alzheimer's Patients

Brandon Smith — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:52:05 +0000

Advocates for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia say new legislation will help ensure law enforcement know how to deal with that growing segment of the population.

Legislation unanimously approved by the General Assembly was developed largely in response to an incident in Peru, Ind., in which police used a stun gun several times on an elderly Alzheimer’s patient after he became aggressive.

BMV Halts Negotiations on Specialty Plates

Brandon Smith — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:10:16 +0000

Three Indiana groups whose specialty license plates were suspended last year have been told negotiations to recover them are off.

Pence and Bosma Put Differences Aside Post-Session

Brandon Smith — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:42:45 +0000

Governor Mike Pence and Speaker Brian Bosma are making nice after a legislative session where their disagreements over Pence’s tax cut proposal were often public.

Legislative Session Wraps with Lower Taxes, More Spending on Roads and Schools

Brandon Smith — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:29:11 +0000

This year’s session of the Indiana General Assembly was largely framed by two debates – Governor Mike Pence’s proposed ten percent income tax cut and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Bosma Says Legislature is Done with ACA This Year

Brandon Smith — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:33:00 +0000

House Speaker Brian Bosma says the legislature is largely finished dealing with implementation of the Affordable Care Act this session.

School Safety Bill Passes Without Armed Personnel Mandate

Brandon Smith — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:55:13 +0000

The Indiana House Monday passed a school safety bill minus a controversial provision that could have required schools to arm teachers and principals.

The school safety bill creates a $10 million grant fund Indiana schools can use to evaluate existing school safety measures, purchase safety equipment or hire school resource officers –law enforcement with extra training for work in the school environment.

Abortion Drug Bill Finalized, Heads to Pence

Brandon Smith — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:43:42 +0000

Legislation regulating the abortion-inducing drug known as RU-486 is headed to the governor’s desk after the Senate approved changes made in the House.

The original legislation required women receiving RU-486 to undergo an ultrasound prior to receiving the drug. Changes made in the House allow women to opt-out of viewing the ultrasound or listening to the fetal heartbeat.

Senate approves drug testing for welfare recipients

Brandon Smith — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:47:03 +0000

Hoosiers on welfare could be subject to drug testing under legislation approved by the Indiana Senate Wednesday.

Indiana schools may apply for armed personnel policy exemption

Brandon Smith — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:11:21 +0000

Changes to a school safety bill made in a House committee Tuesday will allow Indiana public schools to opt-out of a requirement that each facility employ armed personnel, but critics say the changes still don’t solve core problems with the bill.

Senator Donnelly changes position on gay marriage

Brandon Smith — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:12:31 +0000

Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly Friday publicly announced his support of same-sex marriage, saying he changed his position in light of recent Supreme Court arguments and public discussion. The Democratic U.S. Senator’s support could influence the issue in the Statehouse.

In a statement released on his Facebook page, Senator Joe Donnelly said he opposes amending both the Indiana and U.S. constitutions to ban same-sex marriage, much as a proposed amendment to Indiana’s constitution would do if passed a second time by the General Assembly and then by voters.