With session over and the legislation finalized we can now take a look back at all of the important bills passed to benefit Hoosiers. This week I wanted to focus on a few bills in particular that I authored. One bill that I believe will have the most impact on job creation is the bill that sets up a one-stop-shop within the Secretary of State's Office to make it easier for Hoosiers to conduct business in Indiana. It helps reduce much of the red tape involved in establishing a business and provides them with the opportunity to register with state agencies and obtain all the necessary permits and licenses required for the business in one convenient place online. This bill also requires the Indiana Department of Education, in conjunction with the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, to develop curriculum guides for high school entrepreneurship classes based on successful entrepreneurship practices. The CHE would also inventory entrepreneurship programs in state universities and post them on the commission's website for use by students. If we promote and instill an entrepreneurial spirit in children now we can help provide the necessary skills to build businesses and allow Indiana and our economy to thrive. We want to foster that spirit and create jobs not only for today but for the future, as well. Another bill I authored is meant to help out Hoosier homebuilders in the difficult housing market. It gives a 50 percent property tax deduction to a homebuilder for up to three newly-built and unoccupied homes. Current law taxes these vacant homes just like any other occupied home and can create a significant financial burden on our homebuilders. These vacant homes are the primary source of income for our homebuilders. Auto dealers have tax deductions on cars for sale in their lots because they are their source of income, farmers have tax deductions on their crops, and this bill simply applies the same principle to Hoosier homebuilders. This will help relieve the financial burden on them and hopefully allow them to afford to hire more workers as a result. The third bill that I wrote and had passed was one that sets up a summer study committee of human trafficking, child solicitation and other sex crimes against children. The study will see if Indiana's laws regarding child solicitation need to be revised and if laws need to be created to address this growing crime. The results of the study will be provided to the 2012 General Assembly to determine the need for new legislation. The bill also includes protections for children against cybercrimes such as bullying from school computers and using technology to send explicit materials. In this age of the Internet creeping more and more into our everyday lives it is important that we do everything we can to protect our children and keep our laws up-to-date with current times. As new trends emerge we need to ensure that our laws are updated accordingly to prevent loopholes from forming that criminals can exploit. A fourth bill I wrote is meant to help streamline a government agency. It requires the Family and Social Services Administration's Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services to do a survey to find a way to streamline their auditing processes. Currently, multiple audits are conducted every year to the entities providing services to the disabled. HB 1047 would help them find a way to reduce the number of government regulations and evaluate certain providers. I wrote that bill out of my commitment to reduce government and am glad to see it proceed to the Governor's desk. I have been involved in a variety of issues during the 2011 session and am encouraged to have so many meaningful pieces of legislation proceed to the Governor's desk. Over the course of the next few weeks I intend to provide you with updates on more of the great legislation that was passed. -30- State Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) |
