Grants, until January 1, 2025, the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction with the prosecuting attorney to prosecute an action in which a person is accused of committing a criminal offense while a member of an unlawful assembly. Permits the chief executive officer of a political subdivision to establish a curfew under certain circumstances. Makes refusing to leave a location in violation of a curfew, after having been informed of the curfew and ordered to leave by a law enforcement officer, a Class B misdemeanor. Allows for the civil forfeiture of property that is used by a person to finance a crime committed by a person who is a member of an unlawful assembly. Prohibits a person from being released on bail without a hearing in open court, establishes a rebuttable presumption that money bail shall be required, and requires a court to consider whether bail conditions more stringent than the local guidelines should be imposed. Adds enhanced penalties to the crimes of: (1) rioting; and (2) obstruction of traffic. Allows a conspiracy charge for a misdemeanor committed while a member of an unlawful assembly. Provides that a person may recover actual damages in a civil action against a county, city, or town (unit) for loss of property proximately caused by an unlawful assembly, if the unit recklessly fails to exercise reasonable diligence to prevent or suppress the unlawful assembly.
Sponsored bills
A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. upon his retirement from the Indiana State Senate.
Requires the state board of education to establish a maximum per diem rate for meetings of members of governing bodies of school corporations, including Indianapolis Public Schools. Removes a provision that provides that, if the members of a governing body is totally comprised of appointed members, the appointive authority must approve the per diem rate before the governing body may make payments to the members.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing FFA and all of its work to advance the quality of agricultural education both locally and nationally.
Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications (committee) the topic of the installation and leasing of broadband capacity infrastructure by investor owned electric utilities to broadband service providers for the provision of broadband Internet service to unserved and underserved areas in Indiana. Provides that if a study is assigned to the committee: (1) the committee must consider certain specified issues; and (2) an electric utility may submit to the committee, not later than July 1, 2021, a study concerning the feasibility of making available broadband capacity infrastructure for use by broadband service providers in providing broadband service in unserved or underserved areas in the electric utility's assigned service area.
A SENATE RESOLUTION recognizing Religious Freedom Day.
Specifies that "reasonable force" includes the pointing of a loaded or unloaded firearm for purposes of arrest or to prevent an escape, or for self-defense when used to prevent or terminate the an unlawful entry of or attack on a dwelling, curtilage, fixed place of business, motor vehicle, or aircraft in flight.
Provides that the statute that permits a city to change its name does not apply to a city if the city is named in the Constitution of the State of Indiana or in the Indiana Code. Provides the following with regard to a petition to change the name of a city: (1) Petitioners must file the petition with the county board of registration signed by the number of voters equal to 2% of the votes cast in the last election for secretary of state in the city. (2) If the county board of registration finds that the petition meets the statutory criteria, the county election board shall place the question of the name change on the ballot provided for voters in the city at the first general or municipal election following certification of the public question.
Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the task of studying requirements regarding the first day of school dates and school calendars.
Removes the topic of the department of education's responsibility for licensing teachers from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Removes the topic of high ability students (including high ability curriculum) from the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2021 legislative interim. Adds certain education topics to the list of statutes that the legislative council is urged to assign to a study committee during the 2023 legislative interim. Removes an expired proposed study topic.