Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Pence vetoes private college police bill

Back To Front Page

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Bills that would have sheltered private college police departments from many state public-records law requirements and restricted the authority of the state’s environmental agency were vetoed Thursday by Gov. Mike Pence. It was the Republican’s final day to take action on measures approved by the General Assembly during its session that ended two weeks ago.

Here’s a look at the governor’s actions:

PRIVATE COLLEGE POLICE

The bill would have required less disclosure of crime records by the 11 private college police agencies around Indiana, which have the same arrest authority as state, county, city and public university police departments.

The University of Notre Dame is in a court fight with ESPN after the school refused a request for records of crime investigations involving student-athletes. While the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled last week in favor of ESPN, saying the Notre Dame police are subject to the state public records law, the school plans to appeal that decision to the state Supreme Court. “Limiting access to police records in a situation where private university police departments perform a government function is a disservice to the public and an unnecessary barrier to transparency,” Pence said Thursday in a veto statement.

AUTO LICENSE FEES

Pence signed into law a measure aimed at reducing the complexity of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ fee structure, which came after an audit last year found the agency had overcharged motorists more than $60 million since 2013.

Steps included in the bill include paring down the BMV’s current 191 classifications for registering vehicles to about two dozen. The bill also reduces or eliminates 163 fees. The changes will go into effect in January.

FANTASY SPORTS

Pence signed a bill giving the Indiana Gaming Commission authority to regulate daily fantasy sports companies. The bill includes requirements that players be at least 18 years old, prohibits contests based on college or high school sports and sets an initial licensing fee of $50,000 for companies. About 20 states are considering bills to regulate the industry, in which players pay to compete online for cash prizes by picking teams of real-life athletes and racking up “fantasy” points based on how they perform.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Medical malpractice victims will be eligible for more compensation as Pence signed into law a bill increasing the payment cap for the first time since the 1990s. The cap would increase from the current $1.25 million limit to $1.65 million next year and then to $1.8 million in 2019.

Supporters say the increase was needed to protect the cap from court challenges since it hasn’t been raised for so long. Some medical groups opposed the size of the cap increase, saying doctors would not be able to absorb jumps in malpractice insurance premiums.

 

 

Posted 3/25/2016

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search