Banks Appointed Chairman
By Erin Reece on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 |
Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today appointed State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) as chairman of the Water Resources Study Committee.
Members of the Water Resources Study Committee will examine the usage, quality and quantity of water resources across the state. Lawmakers will also review appropriate policies governing future water resource allocation and distribution planning.
Banks said Senate District 17 is home to many lakes, rivers and reservoirs and he understands their important environmental, commercial and economic value.
Long also tapped Banks to serve as a member of the Code Revision Commission, Indiana Heritage Trust Committee and the Joint Study Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Assessments and Solutions.
During summer and fall months when the legislature is not in session full-time, lawmakers utilize bipartisan interim study committees and commissions to conduct in-depth research into complex issues facing Hoosiers. Often their work results in solutions and legislation that might otherwise go unaccomplished during the fast pace of the winter- and springtime legislative session, Long said.
“Senator Banks’ knowledge and insight will make him a key member of these panels,” Long said. “Legislative leaders are pleased he is willing to dedicate time during the interim to help craft bipartisan recommendations.”
Banks said he will closely watch developments of other key study committees, review their recommendations and seek public input before the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in January of 2012:
Interim Study Committee on Education Issues: Will study how to improve graduation rates by reviewing best practices of other states and measuring the impact school counselors, teachers, administrators and parents have on achievement. Members will also examine superintendent compensation throughout Indiana and evaluate whether a statewide salary cap based upon the number of students per school district would be beneficial.
Interim Study Committee on Environmental Quality Service: Will gauge water quality in the Great Lakes and review federal funding for water protection and shipping procedures. Members will also evaluate potential air emissions by the distillation of mint and study possible permit licensing requirements for the process.
Interim Study Committee on Natural Resources: Will analyze all matters relating to the Versailles Lake; including public water supply, water volume, recreational features, wildlife habitat and potential funding for changes made to the lake. Members will also look at mineral extraction procedures in Indiana and state park entrance fee guidelines.
Interim Study Committee on Economic Development: Will examine issues related to improving Indiana’s economic climate and tax system as well as the use and effectiveness of tax credits and deductions. Committee members will also discuss specific sectors of the economy for which Indiana might have comparative advantages over other states and possible improvements to state tax law that might encourage business investment. The committee will also study the extent to which Indiana’s education system supports economic development and how the use of stolen information technology by Indiana businesses impacts the economy.
Interim Study Committee on Employment Issues: Will investigate the idea of making Indiana a right-to-work state – where unions and employers would be prohibited from denying employment to a person who does not wish to become a union member or forcing employees to pay union dues. The committee will also discuss project labor agreements, which preemptively place union requirements on projects, potentially curtailing labor competition.
Commission On State Tax and Financing Policy: Will consider how Indiana’s income tax structure may influence a senior citizen’s decision on residency in Indiana after retirement as well as the advantages and disadvantages of phasing out the state inheritance tax. The committee will also explore how each of the local option income taxes affects a facility that employs a significant number of out-of-county residents and those who commute daily to work at that facility.
More information about committee topics, schedules and agendas will be available online at www.in.gov/legislative/interim.
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