Legislative study committee topics released
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — The Legislative Council of the Indiana General Assembly has announced interim study committee topics for 2021. The committees will meet during the summer and fall months to study each issue ahead of the 2022 legislative session.
Among the topics this year, the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code will study juvenile sentencing to life without parole and human trafficking in Indiana. The latter drew praise from Representative John Bartlett (D-Indianapolis), who authored House Bill 1018, from which specific topics will be studied.
“Human trafficking has been allowed to grow and thrive in Indiana because the General Assembly has failed to give it the attention it deserves,” Bartlett said in a news release. “Now, we have the chance to really look at how it happens and how it affects Hoosiers. I am hopeful that the committee’s findings will drive home the prevalence of this issue and the pressing need to enact real legislative change.”
The Interim Study Committee on Education will also conduct a multi-year study “to eliminate, reduce, or streamline the number of education mandates placed on schools, streamline fiscal and compliance reporting to the general assembly on a sustainable and systematic basis.”
Additionally, the Interim Study Committee on Employment and Labor will study unemployment programs for gig economy workers and independent contractors.
“Study committees provide an important opportunity for lawmakers to examine complicated issues in depth without the time restrictions we face during a legislative session,” said Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray (R-Martinsville). “As such, they serve an important role in helping us prepare for the next session. I look forward to productive conversations between lawmakers, Hoosiers and stakeholders as we take a hard look at these issues in the coming months.”
House and Senate leaders are expected to assign members to each study committee over the next few weeks.
You can view the full list of study topics by clicking here.