Senate to hear new bill
proposals
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
The Senate will hear a bill that would help Indiana
families save money.
Bill number 2108 passed 95—0 in the House
of Representatives Tuesday. This bill would exempt distributions from
an Indiana family college savings account used to pay for higher education
expenses from the Indiana adjusted gross income tax, according to a
press release. More than 5,500 Indiana families have signed up to participate
in the Indiana Family College Savings Plan since the plan was created
in September 1997.
"The fund allows parents and others to save money
and earn interest using payroll deduction or other contributions," said
Sheila Klinker, D—27. Klinker, who authored the bill, said, "The
goal is to get families to start saving as soon as possible when their
children are young and this bill makes the program more appealing to
those who are weary about starting an account."
Three other bills will move to the Senate.
House bill 2111 was passed on Tuesday with a vote
of 95—0. This bill would raise the offense of exploitation of a
dependent or an endangered adult from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class
D felony if the adult is at least 60 and has lost personal property
that is more than $1,000.
"Adult abuse is just as serious as child abuse
and something must be done," said Klinker.
Klinker said that recent incidents that have taken
place in her district have been the reason for her taking action in
these issues.
Another bill was passed in the House that would
combine Tippecanoe County's Election Board and the Board of Registration
for Tippecanoe County to form one organization, the Board of Elections
and Registration for Tippecanoe County.
In addition to the aforementioned bills, House
bill number 2131 was passed and will now move to the Senate.
If approved the bill would wave zone businesses
of the credits and exemptions they pay, unless the business files the
required verified summary of tax credits and tax exemptions on time.
However, if the business pays a penalty fee, it will still be allowed
to receive the wave.
"We want these enterprise zones to spur economic
growth but we need them to cooperate with the law in order for the law
to work fairly and to the advantage of these zones," said Klinker.
All bills will be heard in the Senate and the future
of their progress will be decided thereof.
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