Hendricks County legislators receive summer study committee appointments

STATEHOUSE (July 21, 2022) –Hendricks County legislators recently received appointments to serve on interim study committees.

State lawmakers serve on interim committees throughout the summer and fall, and examine top policy issues, gather public input and recommend legislation for the regular session beginning in January.

State Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) will serve as chair of the Interim Study Committee on Education, which will conduct a multi-year study to eliminate, reduce or streamline the number of education mandates placed on schools, and update fiscal and compliance reporting to the General Assembly.

“Schools need to be able to focus the majority of their time on preparing our students for future success,” Behning said. “As part of the committee, we’re going to look for ways to lessen the administrative burden placed on schools and educators.”

Behning will also serve on the Education Commission of the States, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and the Midwestern Higher Education Commission.

State Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) will serve on the Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code, and the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary.

“Both of these committees play important roles in taking closer looks at our state’s criminal code laws and court system to make sure Hoosiers and our communities are protected,” Steuerwald said. “We will be very busy in the coming months as we review any needed changes to our judicial branch, which faces a heavy workload, as well as state laws related to HIV. With crimes connected to mental health, we also want to identify programs providing care to non-violent offenders in need of additional support services and resources.”

Steuerwald will also serve on the Administrative Rules Review Task Force, the Legislative State of Emergency Advisory Group, the Legislative Continuity Committee and the Legislative Council. As a member of the Legislative Council, he will chair the Legislative Council Technology Oversight Subcommittee and serve on the Legislative Council Space Utilization Subcommittee.

State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) will serve as chair of the Interim Study Committee on Pension Management Oversight and as a member of the Interim Study Committee on Fiscal Policy.

“We routinely review the Indiana Public Retirement System, and this year we’re looking at investments and assets from other countries, and the impact of divesting from any Russian-linked funding,” Thompson said. “For the state’s fiscal policy, we’ll evaluate our tax incentives and workforce-related programs to determine if we’re getting the intended outcomes.”

Thompson will also serve on the Distressed Unit Appeal Board, and the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority.

Members of the public are welcomed to attend and testify at committee hearings, which typically occur at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Hearings are also livestreamed and archived online at iga.in.gov, where committee calendars and meeting agendas are posted.

Click here to learn more about the topics state legislators will be examining in the coming months.