STATEHOUSE – The 2013 legislative session has come to a close. Over the course of the last four months, freshman legislator State Representative Todd Huston (R-Fishers) has authored and sponsored a variety of bills, three of which have been signed into law by the governor.
“Time really flew by these past months at the Statehouse,” said Rep. Huston. “I have had the opportunity to work with some really fantastic people on issues that will make Indiana a better place to live. We came in with our priorities of jobs, education and passing a balanced budget, and I’m pleased to say that we delivered on those fronts.”
House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1357 was one of three bills to be authored by Rep. Huston. HEA 1357 provides that a school superintendent is not required to hold a teacher's or superintendent's license if he or she holds a master’s degree. The law also repeals a requirement that a county superintendent of schools must have five years of successful teaching experience and hold a superintendent's license. Often, schools end up hiring retired superintendents because the pool of eligible candidates is so limited. This is especially a problem in smaller communities.
“The bill provides flexibility for local school corporations because school boards usually have a limited number of individuals they can recruit from,” said Rep. Huston. “The school boards know what type of leader is needed for their school system, so they should have greater flexibility in determining who’s the best fit.”
HEA 1159 was also authored by Rep. Huston. The bill limits the liability of a public school or an accredited nonpublic school that provides a community the use of its facilities for physical fitness activities to the general public.
“Basically HB 1159 was needed because schools were letting groups use their facilities for physical fitness activities, and they were starting to get concerned with who would be liable if someone where to get hurt,” said Rep. Huston. “This bill protects the schools, but it will also make the facilities more accessible to the public.”
Another bill authored by Rep. Huston is HEA 1359, which allows a redevelopment commission to establish a program for age-restricted housing.
“As a state, it is important to provide a prosperous environment for our senior citizens,” said Rep. Huston. “This bill gives local governments the opportunity to provide age-restricted housing which satisfies the provisions of the federal Housing for Older Persons Act. This will also provide an extra tool in the toolbox for local governments.”
In the coming months Rep. Huston will continue to work for the people of Indiana in his home district and around the state. During the legislative session, Rep. Huston served on the Committee on Education and the prestigious House Ways and Means committee.
“It is an honor to serve our community and represent Hoosiers at the Statehouse. I will continue to focus on the issues that matter most to our district,” said Rep. Huston. “I am optimistic of Indiana’s future as we work together to realize our boundless potential.”
