Leaders of the General Assembly have assigned topics to various legislative study committees. The most notable issue will be discussions on civil rights issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation, especially in light of the new White House guidelines concerning transgender bathroom access in schools.
Eighteen study committees are assigned dozens of issues this summer and fall:
Education
The Education study committee has been tasked with studying ways to reduce school sexual misconduct violations and methods of improving reporting requirements of violations in schools.
Lawmakers on the Roads and Transportation study committee will discuss equipping school buses with seat belts or lap and shoulder safety belts.
Indiana Public Broadcasting education reporters Peter Balonon-Rosen and Claire McInerny provide continuing coverage of education issues throughout the state. Follow them on Twitter at @pbalonon_rosen and @clairemcinerny.
Health
The committee on Fiscal Policy will look into new requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services specifically how they impact Indiana waiver services for individuals with disabilities. This issue inspired a lawsuit from the ACLU of Indiana.
The Fiscal Policy committee will also look into the establishment of a food desert grant and loan program, inspired by a failed bill sponsored by Sen. Randy Head, R-Indianapolis this past session.
The Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services committee will look at heroin use, treatment and recovery in the Hoosier state. They'll also study loan forgiveness programs for dentists and dental hygienists who treat Medicaid patients.
Indiana Public Broadcasting health reporters Jill Sheridan and Sarah Fentem provide continuing coverage of health issues throughout the state. Follow them on Twitter at @jillasheridan and @petit_smudge.
Other
The Public Policy committee will study the regulation and taxation of paid fantasy sports, and interception of past due taxes and child support owed by paid fantasy sports game players.
The study committee on Government will look into effects of recent changes to annexation laws and expanding the availability of open data in Indiana.
Indiana Public Broadcasting government reporter Brandon Smith provides continuing coverage of lawmakers throughout the state. Follow him on Twitter at @BrandonJSmith5.
