Dec. 13, 2019
Complete My Legislative Survey
During the 2020 legislative session, lawmakers will address important issues facing the Hoosier state.
As your state senator, I want to hear your thoughts and opinions on these issues. You should be receiving a newsletter in the mail soon, which includes a survey for you to complete. Once the survey is filled out, you can mail it back to me at the Statehouse.
If you prefer, an online version of the survey is also available. This allows for more household members to share their input. You can complete the online survey by clicking here.
Please submit your responses by Jan. 6.
I look forward to reviewing your input.
Senate Page Program
Applications Open
The Indiana Senate is now accepting applications for the 2020 Senate Page Program.
Through the full-day program, students in grades six through 12 can tour Indiana’s Statehouse, listen to debates and help staff with age-appropriate tasks. Students also have the opportunity to meet with their state senator.
The Senate Page Program will begin in January and run through early March. Positions fill quickly, so it is important to apply early. Pages are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the legislative session. They begin their day at 8:30 a.m. and are dismissed at 3:30 p.m. Groups serve together on Wednesdays. Serving as a page is considered an excused absence from school.
It’s always great to meet and talk with students from across our community who page for the Senate. Students are taught about state government in school, but this program provides them with a unique learning opportunity where they can see firsthand how our state government operates.
For more information or to apply, click here.
Indiana Installs 17th Baby Box
Recently, Indiana installed its 17th baby box under the Safe Haven Law.
The Safe Haven Law, which was created in 2000, allows parents who feel they are unable to care for an infant less than 30 days old to leave the child with staff at a designated Safe Haven location with no questions asked. This enables a person to give up an unwanted infant safely and anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. As long as there are no signs of intentional abuse on the baby, no information is required of the person.
During the 2018 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 340, which allows fire stations to use baby boxes.
Once the baby is examined and, if needed, given medical treatment, the Indiana Department of Child Services will take the child into custody and place it with a caregiver.
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need a Safe Haven Law to protect newborns. Unfortunately, some parents are unable to give their babies the care they need, and I believe the Safe Haven Law is an important option to protect a young life if a desperate parent feels they have nowhere else to turn.
For more information on the Safe Haven Law, click here.
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