Laws on construction wages, baby boxes, EMS death benefits and electronic cigarettes all move forward.
CONSTRUCTION WAGES
The bill repealing the state law that sets wages for public construction projects is on its way to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence after his strong push for the measure.
The Indiana House voted 54-40 Thursday to give final legislative approval to the Republican-backed bill, a day after it narrowly won approval in the state Senate.
Pence and other repeal supporters say it would save as much as 20 percent from the cost of building projects by allowing more contractors to pay wages below union scale. Opponents dispute such savings will occur and argue the change will open the door for low-paying, out-of-state contractors.
Pence says he will sign the bill. He has used television ads and social media to advocate for the repeal.
BABY BOXES
Indiana could be one step closer to becoming the first state to adopt “Baby Boxes”. A measure that calls for a study of the proposal was sent to the governor’s desk on Thursday, after the house unanimously accepted a senate amendment calling for state agencies to address questions about the boxes.
Bill author Rep. Casey Cox expects that the governor will sign the bill into law. The review will put a microscope to current practices around the state such as Indiana‘s safe haven law that allows newborns to be surrendered at certain sites without prosecution.
The bill calls for the study to be finished by the next legislative session at which time lawmakers will reconsider the use of “Baby Boxes” based on its findings. If “Baby Boxes” were to be approved they could be in use as soon as July of 2016.
EMS LEGISLATION
Legislation that will extend special benefits to emergency medical service (EMS) providers, who die in the line of duty, now moves to Governor Pence for final approval. The bill establishes the Public Safety Officer Special Death Benefit Fund. Benefits in the amount of $150,000 would be paid to the beneficiaries of EMS employees who lose their lives on the job.
ELECTRONIC CIG LEGISLATION
Legislators have approved Indiana’s first regulations for the liquids used in electronic cigarettes. The bill’s provisions include banning sales to those younger than 18, establishing manufacturing safety standards and requiring child-proof and tamper-proof caps on containers. The bill doesn’t include any limits on where electronic cigarettes may be used.