STATEHOUSE (Jan. 6, 2021) – Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) today announced the Senate Republican Caucus's legislative agenda for the 2021 session.
"My caucus members and I are prioritizing a handful of items that we believe are at the top of the minds of Hoosiers as we continue to evaluate the impact COVID-19 has had on our state," Bray said. "Maintaining a balanced budget; offering liability protections to businesses, health care entities and individuals; and supporting our schools by fully funding students who are virtual due to COVID-19 are a few of the items on our agenda that we believe will be critical to supporting our communities across the state."
First and foremost, Senate Republicans are committed to maintaining their record of fiscal responsibility by passing the state's ninth consecutive balanced budget.
In addition, the Senate Republican Caucus is prioritizing the following policies.
Give businesses, individuals and health care entities liability protections from COVID-19 lawsuits
In order to give businesses and organizations the confidence they need to fully reopen operations, Senate Bill 1, authored by State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper), would help protect businesses and individuals by giving them immunity from civil liability for damages if someone is exposed to COVID-19 on their property or during an activity they organized. This immunity does not apply if the party engages in gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Likewise, Senate Bill 4, authored by State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), would expand the existing civil liability protections that apply to health care services rendered during a disaster emergency.
Fully fund students who are virtual due to COVID-19
To support schools who have had to dramatically change their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic, Senate Bill 2, authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond), would provide full per-student funding for the remainder of the school year to schools who have students learning virtually due to COVID-19.
Codify telehealth expansions enacted during the pandemic
Senate Bill 3, authored by State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso), would permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the pandemic to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.
Improve local government accountability
Senate Bill 5, authored by State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown), would allow anyone who is subject to a public emergency-related enforcement action under a local health department order to appeal their case to the relevant local legislative body. Many local health departments have acted admirably and courageously to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic, but the reality is that appointed health departments – rather than local elected officials – are currently able to make enforcement decisions that have a major impact on members of the community. SB 5 would improve public accountability by giving elected officials greater oversight of these decisions.
In addition, Bray added that transparency and public access will be a priority for his caucus, including as it pertains to redistricting.
"Though this session will be challenging, we pledge to commit ourselves to the same level of transparency that we have sought to achieve in 'normal' years, and that applies to the redistricting process as well," Bray said. "Redistricting is a duty assigned to the legislature by our state constitution, and we are committed to completing that task fairly and transparently."
The legislature reconvened Monday, Jan. 4. For more information on the Senate Republican Caucus, visit www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Bray, click here.
