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.