Hello Gang
We have news, big news. However we must still be vigilant with the laws currently being put out. Our legislative liason and AAC rep, Melissa, spoke with Senator Miller. Senator Miller is still planning on introducing her bill. It will be much different terminology. I think hers will be better because it will not as confusing as Senator Lubbers’ bill. It looks like that we will have several bills to review. We as a group cannot jump on the bandwagon of any of them until we have all consulted with each other. We make a group decision on it.
Abortion will always be forever intertwined with adoption. I do not know why or do I understand. For many, the reproduction part is already complete. For the older folks like me, even our ability to reproduce is done.
There are several bills that we need to be concerned about,. It seems that we have a battle brewing over abortion in the state Senate in Indiana.
SB 37, which is presented by Senator Lanane, creates an Office of the Child Advocate which could very well apply to the confidential intermediaries. Candy Jones, one of the confidential intermediaries in Indiana, is also qualified as a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Advocate. This is something we need to watch.
SB 90, which is presented by Senator Miller, changes the terminology somewhat to include that adoptive parents would be willing to pay for certain expenses if a woman chooses to place a child for adoption. We all have differing views on abortion. My personal opinion is that this invites more corruption although others have pointed out other ways of looking at it.
SB 103, which is presented by Senator Simpson, defines contraception. This includes the birth control pill as being a contraception.
SB 192, which is presented by Senator Miller, allows for an abandoned embryo to be adopted by other individuals under specific circumstances. It also makes the destruction of such an embryo a class A misdemeanor.
SB 280, which is presented by Senator Lubbers, concerns pre-adoptive siblings, and others to make contact. It further defines the putative father registry. This is one of those bills that we have to watch really good. It clarifies current law which is scary unto itself. I will write more about this one as time moves on.
SB 303, which is presented by Senator Miller, currently states that records must be kept for 99 years. It does not allow for them to be destroyed. It is aimed at all child placing agencies and attorneys. Senator Miller will expand upon that with an adoptee access bill. This is all part of it.
SB 341, which is being presented by Senator Becker and Senator Steele, further defines that abortion is not considered wrongful death or injury to a child.
SB 360, which is being presented by Senator Stuzman, concerns the neglect of an unborn child. Some of these bills are almost contradictory to each other. They all make sure that abortion laws are not attached to these.
Lets look at these legislators themselves.
Most of us know Senator Patricia Miller is a grandparent by adoption. She is Republican but very very prolife. She is a tough lady. I personally do respect her. She is on the Health and Provider Services Committee.
Senator Teresa Lubber is also a Republican. She also writes a majority of the laws concerning adoption. She is on the Judiciary committee. Our bill will go to that committee. She is also in District 30.
Senator Tim Lanane is Democrat out of District 25. He is also on the Judiciary committee where our bill will end up. He is also an attorney and lives in Anderson. He might be a key person to work with on our bill as well too.
Senator Vi Simpson is a Democrat out of District 40. She is also on the Health and Provider Services. She would definitely be a key person for Senator Miller to work with because they are on many of the same committees. She out of the Brown and Monroe counties.
Senator Vaneta Becker is out of Evansville. The thing with this senator is that she is probably in contact with Families Through Internatiional Adoption. She is a Republican which she is on these committees, Health and Provider Services and the chair of the Public Health Committee. This woman will have a big say in our bill.
Senator Brent Steele is a Republican for the following counties :Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, Orange, Washington. He is on the following committees which will eventually affect us:Corrections, Criminal & Civil Matters, Chair ,Civil Matters Subcommittee, Judiciary, Probate Code & Trusts Subcommittee,Ethics, Insurance & Financial Institutions, Financial Institutions Subcommittee, and Rules & Legislative Procedures
Senator Stutzman is out of District 13 which serves the following committees:Commerce, Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation, Pensions & Labor,Utilities & Technology, and Natural Resources. He is responsible for the following counties :Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and DeKalb counties. He is also a Republican out of Howe Indiana.
Senator Richard Bray is out of District 37. He is a Republican and the chair of the Judiciary committee. He is now cosponsoring the bill with Senator Lubbers. He is also an attorney. The counties that he serves are the following:Morgan, Owen, Putnam, Clay, Johnson, Monroe.
I apologize for the length of this, but I wanted Indiana folks to understand what we are up against. How it is so important for us to handle our selves accordingly,
Amy
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