IBLC celebrates 2021 legislative achievements
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) today celebrated their achievements from the 2021 Legislative Session, including passing law enforcement reform, quality health care and economic development legislation.
Last summer, the IBLC announced their Justice Reform Agenda, which outlined legislation they planned to file and advocate for in the 2021 Legislative Session. Included in the agenda were House Enrolled Act 1006, which passed through the General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support, and State Rep. Robin Shackleford's (D-Indianapolis) Traffic Amnesty Program, which was successfully extended for another year through House Enrolled Act 1199.
“Advocacy truly works,” Shackleford, who also serves as Chair of the IBLC, said.
“The IBLC would like to thank the advocates and allies who fought to make these reforms possible. The passage of HEA 1006 has instilled us with confidence and hope for a more just future. We still have a long road ahead of us, but we are walking shoulder to shoulder with our communities and advocates and we can create change.”
In addition, multiple IBLC members successfully passed their own legislation including:
House Enrolled Act 1177, authored by State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis), requires the Division of Aging to develop a strategic plan concerning dementia in Indiana.
House Enrolled Act 1283, authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), allows for the creation of urban agricultural zones to bring healthy produce and new educational opportunities to urban districts.
House Enrolled Act 1090, also authored by Harris, removes current restrictions on lakefront development to bring more economic opportunities to Northwest Indiana.
Senate Enrolled Act 292, authored by State Sen. Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis), requires residential and long-term care facilities to report COVID-19 case and death data to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).
Other achievements reflected in finalized legislation include:
House Amendment #23 to House Enrolled Act 1001, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), increased the state's funding of food banks from $300,000 to $1.5 million. While Pryor's amendment was not accepted at the time, her advocacy ultimately led to an increase in the state's funding of food banks to $2 million.
House Enrolled Act 1007, to award $50 million in grants to organizations that address health disparities was included in the bill's final version thanks to the efforts of Breaux.
An additional $100,000 from the state budget has been allocated to the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC) so that they may address the racial disparity among COVID-19 cases and deaths. This was made possible specifically through the efforts of Breaux.
Additionally, Indiana will expand its postpartum Medicaid coverage from two months to one year. State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) and IBLC has advocated for this expansion for many legislative sessions, as the state’s maternal and infant mortality rate is abysmal in general, but even more so for Black mothers and babies.
“I'm very proud of what the IBLC and its members have accomplished this session,” Shackleford said. “Every member has dedicated themselves to improving the lives of all Hoosiers and creating a better Indiana, which is certainly reflected in their achievements. We are thankful for the bipartisanship that has allowed this legislation to succeed and look forward to even more accomplishments next session.”
As part of their advocacy efforts, the IBLC stood in opposition to several pieces of legislation that would have had harmful effects on Indiana's minority communities: House Bill 1367, which would have allowed for discrimination within South Bend's school corporation; Senate Bill 141, which would have eliminated critical operating funds for IndyGo; Senate Bill 168, which would have given the General Assembly control of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); and Senate Bill 198, which would have hindered individuals' right to safely protest, were all defeated this session.
“We have a responsibility to speak up for constituents and protect them from bad legislation, whether the harm was unintended or not,” Shackleford said. “It can be difficult to have those conversations, but we must have them. I'm grateful for the bipartisan effort that went into defeating some of the more harmful pieces of legislation that were presented this year.”
The IBLC will host a town hall in May to share their reactions to the 2021 Legislative Session and to discuss their legislative and advocacy intentions leading into the 2022 Legislative Session.