Bauer’s co-authored bills pass out of the Indiana House of Representatives

INDIANAPOLIS – State Representative Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) has co-authored five bills that have been passed by the House and referred to the Senate.

House Bill 1230 allows the anonymous surrender of custody of a child younger than 30 days to an emergency medical services provider, contacted by dialing the 911 emergency call number.

“One of the most vital tasks of government is to protect the most vulnerable in our society,” Bauer said. “There are 60 baby box locations in Indiana, but St. Joseph County has none. This bill will allow for the safe surrender of a healthy baby directly to an emergency medical service individual by calling 911. This bill expands Indiana’s current Safe Haven law, and will prevent further child abuse or neglect of infants in their first few days of life.” 

House Bill 1230 passed the Indiana House of Representatives 92-0, and it now heads to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. 

House Bill 1283 provides for the creation of urban agricultural zones, which allow for the cultivation, processing, and distributing of food in areas typically reserved for urban development.

“The pandemic has made it clear that there must be improvements to local food systems, as Indiana faces concurrent crises of an ongoing global health pandemic and climate emergency,” Bauer said. “This comprehensive legislation meets the current socio-economic needs of South Bend by addressing food deserts, encouraging careers in local food production, while also setting the foundation for careers in agriculture science and stimulating the local economy.”

House Bill 1283 passed the Indiana House of Representatives 92-0, and it now heads to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. 

House Bill 1003 defines virtual instruction for determining a school system's basic tuition support to ensure that Indiana schools will not lose funding as a result of shifting to virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the midst of the pandemic, our schools stepped up in a huge way,” Bauer said. “Teachers, staff, parents and students all adapted to unprecedented challenges. We have to make sure that those struggles aren't compounded by schools losing funding when they need it the most. Our schools deserve nothing less than the best support we can give.”

House Bill 1003 passed the Indiana House of Representatives 93-2, and it now heads to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. 

House Bill 1006 is a wide-spanning bill addressing concerns with law enforcement practices raised in Indiana and nationwide over the past year. It would mandate de-escalation training for officers at every level of employment, establish a procedure to allow the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board to decertify an officer who has committed misconduct, define and limit the use of chokeholds, require the sharing of officer service records and specify that an officer who turns off a body camera with the intent to conceal a crime commits a Class A misdemeanor.

“In 2020, I marched side by side with fellow residents of Indiana, and across America, to take a stand and demand policy reform,” Bauer said. “This is not a new problem and it isn't going to be solved overnight with a single vote here in Indianapolis. But this is a powerful way to begin restoring justice in our communities between law enforcement and civilians. It was an honor to be a part of this great step towards creating a more just state for every individual.”

House Bill 1006 passed the Indiana House of Representatives 96-0, and it now heads to the Indiana Senate for further consideration. 

House Bill 1268 requires an animal care facility adopt policies that govern the return of lost or stray dogs and cats to the rightful owners.         

“This commonsense legislative initiative would ensure lost pets have a better chance of making it back home with their families,” Bauer said. “Animal shelters would be encouraged, without penalty or additional financial burden, to instill best practices for reuniting cats and dogs with their rightful owners. As a dog owner myself, I am proud to support best practices that would ensure lost pets have a better chance of being reunited with their family.”

House Bill 1268 passed the Indiana House of Representatives 80-16, and it now heads to the Indiana Senate for further consideration.