Rep. Vernon G. Smith to serve on four study committees this summer

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) today announced that he has been selected to serve on four interim study committees in preparation for the 2021 legislative session.

The interim committees explore a range of legislative topics. At the hearings, members listen to the testimony of experts and the general public. During the legislative session, permanent committees in both chambers often consider bills based upon the interim committees’ findings.

Smith will serve on the County Redistricting Commission, the Interim Study Committee on Education, the Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM) and remain a nonvoting member of the Distressed Unit Appeal Board (DUAB).

DUAB receives petitions from distressed political subdivisions and school corporations in need of relief. Gary schools have undergone significant changes because of recent legislative action. DUAB’s actions, like the appointment of emergency managers, have a direct impact on the Gary's school boards.

“It's always a privilege to have a seat at the table when Indiana's education system is being discussed,” Smith said. “I look forward to participating in the ever-changing conversation about Hoosier schools and the ways that the General Assembly can assist schools in need.”

The ICSSBM is a year-round commission that reviews a spectrum of issues impacting Black males in Indiana. The commission has offered multiple recommendations during its 25-year history, several of which have become new laws designed to improve the economic, educational, professional and social status of Black males. Smith authored the original bill in 1993 which created the ICSSBM.