Legislation // MySmartGov.org

Legislation

These measures deal with local government streamlining. We've provided a brief synopsis of each bill and our view of it. We'll update this page regularly as these bills move through the process, so check back often.

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SB 348: Establishes a public library service planning committee in each county except Marion to prepare a services plan, that must meet state standards and will be reviewed by the state library. Allows the county to choose to finance all or part of library services with the county economic development income tax (if the county has not already reached its CEDIT limit).

Author: Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield.
Sponsor: Rep. Terri Jo Austin, D-Anderson.

MySmartgov's position: The Kernan-Shepard Commission recommended that library districts be reorganized to establish 92 countywide systems with an option to create multi-county districts. We are hopeful that the House will strengthen this bill to ensure that every Hoosier - including the 400,000 who do not now have library service - can access a library.

Action: Passed the Senate 36-13 on Feb. 24. Assigned to the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee. On March 10, the committee amended the contents of this bill into SB 452, which was subsequently defeated. The subject matter may be revived later in the session, so check back for more information.

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SB 452: Provides that a public employee is considered to have resigned his or her job if he or she is elected to office in that governmental unit. Moves the election of municipal officers to even-numbered years. Moves the election of school board members selected to the general election. Gives counties the option of using vote centers, which are polling places where any county resident may vote, rather than requiring voters to go to a specific precinct.

Author: Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville.
Sponsor: Rep. Kreg Battles, D-Vincennes.

MySmartgov's position: Ending the practice of public employees being elected to the government body that employs them removes the potential for serious conflicts of interest that arise when such elected officials must vote on their own raises or handle situations with their own bosses. Moving municipal elections to even-numbered years will save $22 million statewide every four years and increase voter participation. Voters likewise will be encouraged to participate by moving school board elections to general election time and using vote centers. Click here to read an analysis of the value of vote centers, based on the pilot project undertaken in Tippecanoe County.

Action: Passed the Senate 32-18 on Feb. 16. The House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee amended this bill to include the contents of the other pending Kernan-Shepard measures and then defeated the measure 7-1. The Kernan-Shepard subject matter may be revived later in the session, so check back for more information.

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SB 506: Allows the county commissioners to determine how the executive and legislative functions will be organized in their county. The choices are an elected county executive, who handles executive duties, and an expanded county council that has legislative and fiscal responsibilities; a five member board of county supervisors who fulfill both executive and legislative functions; or the status quo.

If the county commissioners choose the status quo, the issue will go to a referendum in which voters would choose between the status quo and the board of supervisors.

Author: Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville.
Sponsor: Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis

MySmartgov's position: We prefer the single county executive/county council model because we think people will better understand their government and know where the buck stops. If a bill setting up a referendum becomes law, we think voters should be allowed to choose an option that creates real checks and balances - the single county executive and the county council with full legislative and fiscal responsibilities. We are hopeful the bill will be strengthened in the House.

Action: Passed the Senate 30-19 on Feb. 17. Assigned to the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee. On March 10, the committee amended the contents of this bill into SB 452, which was subsequently defeated. The subject matter may be revived later in the session, so check back for more information.

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SB 512: Eliminates township boards. Gives county council binding oversight of township budgets. Prohibits nepotism in township government, but grandfathers in - until Jan. 1, 2011- relatives who already have township jobs.

Author: Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville.
Sponsor: Rep. Dan C. Stevenson, D-Highland

MySmartgov's position: While we wish that this bill would eliminate townships, these measures are meaningful reforms that will go a long way to cleaning up Indiana's townships.

Action: Passed the Senate 28-22 on Feb. 24. Assigned to the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee. On March 10, the committee amended the contents of this bill into SB 452, which was subsequently defeated. The subject matter may be revived later in the session, so check back for more information.

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