In what marks a continued effort to bolster both education and public safety in Indiana, State Rep. Vernon G. Smith of District 14 has filed a suite of legislative proposals kicking off the new year. The Indiana legislator, who's spent over three decades in service, has introduced nine pieces of legislation, as reported by Indiana House Democrats. Among the proposed bills, efforts to study and remediate student absenteeism stand out.
Rep. Smith's initiative, named House Bill (HB) 1540, is poised to require the Department of Education to delve into the causes of student absences, and subsequently recommend strategies, best practices and set targets to bolster attendance. "Since the pandemic, we have seen an alarming increase in student absences," Smith was quoted in the statement obtained by Indiana House Democrats. When it comes to absences, it's clear that the one-size does not fit all, given the multiplicity of reasons students may miss school, from illness to lack of a support system; HB 1540 promises a multifaceted approach to this issue.
Rep. Smith is also addressing public safety concerns through two bills, HB 1317 and HB 1318. HB 1317 attempts to disarm individuals convicted of domestic violence by requiring them to surrender firearms and carry permits to the court upon conviction – a failure to comply being a Class A misdemeanor. Meanwhile, HB 1318 would pave the way for the Hoosier Scam Prevention Board's establishment, in response to the increasing prevalence of potentially credible scams targetting residents' personal information. Another proposed bill, HB 1539, targets the perpetuation of safe school environments by mandating timely bullying incident reports.
Additionally, in a nod to historical recognition and the affirmation of African American heritage, Smith has proposed HB 1315, seeking to codify Juneteenth as a state holiday. "June 19, 1865, marked the end of slavery in the United States which was years after the Emancipation Proclamation," Smith told Indiana House Democrats, emphasizing the significance of this date not only federally, but now, potentially within the state of Indiana with the passage of HB 1315, a profoundly meaningful affirmation of the promise of equality that underpins the very fabric of the nation.
