Public safety is always a priority for me as a state representative. Two bills headed to the governor's desk for consideration as new laws would make law enforcement officers' jobs safer and help public safety agencies respond to calls faster.
Currently, officers who approach a suspect don't have a quick way to find out if the individual is prohibited from carrying a firearm. There are multiple databases containing this information and officers may have to search more than one, which takes critical time officers may not have.
This session, I sponsored Senate Bill 136 that would create a unified database for law enforcement officers to quickly identify individuals who are prohibited from having a firearm. If signed into law, current databases like the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and National Common Intelligence Application could be unified under one management system. Officers should have the ability to identify potential threats faster, which could give them more time to call for help or even make an arrest.
To improve EMS response times in emergency situations, I co-sponsored Senate Bill 316. Currently, there are over 100 public safety answering points across Indiana. Many of them use communication software from different manufacturers that aren't compatible with each other. This can result in calls not being routed to the closest available emergency responder. While some neighboring EMS departments can afford to connect their public safety answering points, smaller ones may lack the means to update their communications.
Sometimes the results can be tragic. One father testified in committee about the death of his son. During a health emergency, the call was not routed to the closest available EMS but instead to one that was already on a call. Had an available responder been dispatched instead, his son may have survived. To prevent similar tragedies, our state needs to establish a common platform all emergency responders can use to communicate. To help, this legislation would enable a feasibility study on connecting the various dispatch systems, so that the nearest agency can respond to the call. With more information, we can find data sharing solutions that improve response times, which could help save lives when second matter.
Having served in law enforcement, I understand the dangers our officers face every day on the job, and how time is of the essence when responding to an emergency. That's why I'll continue working hard to support the men and women who protect and serve our communities, and improve our emergency response systems to ensure we're doing everything we can to connect people to help faster. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about this legislation and other bills moving this session. Reach out to my office with any questions or to share your comments at h74@iga.in.gov or 317-232-9863.
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State Rep. Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) represents House District 74,
which includes Crawford, Perry and Spencer counties, and portions of Dubois and Orange counties.
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