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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana House voted 89-8 Tuesday evening to pass legislation that includes a provision to put out of business a legal charitable casino in Fort Wayne.
There was no discussion on that provision of House Bill 1286, which now moves to the Senate.
The Parnell Poker Palace, 4608 Parnell Ave., is sponsored by White’s School of the Arts, a decades-old organization run by Ralph White that has 24-hour day care, with numerous educational programs, for about 90 children.
It opened in December and operates from noon to 3 a.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – for a total of about 45 hours. Current law allows fraternal, veteran, civic and charitable non-profits to run similar casinos under an annual charity game night license, holding three events each week.
But an amendment to the legislation would limit that license to fraternal and veteran groups and specify that the casino can be open only three calendar days each week.
The provision means groups such as White’s could no longer operate charitable casinos. Only six organizations in the state would be affected.
Libraries could reorganize under a bill passed 36-13 by the Indiana Senate on Tuesday.
The legislation would require counties to establish a library services planning committee, which would choose from a number of models for library service. Options include consolidating into countywide library systems, expanding service or staying the same.
After a plan has been submitted to the state, citizens can petition for a referendum on the plan in an effort to defeat it. If there is no referendum, the plan would take effect in 2012.
There are exemptions in the bill for several library districts in Marion County.
Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, author of Senate Bill 348, said 38 counties have areas not served by public libraries while 54 counties are fully served. Of the latter, 23 have countywide library systems.
There was no discussion on the bill, one of several pieces of legislation resulting from a bipartisan commission on local government.
All area senators voted for the bill except Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn. The legislation now moves to the House.
Hoosiers would receive an automatic tax break if the state amasses excess revenue under a bill passed 34-16 by the Indiana Senate on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 470 calls for a refund on a person’s income tax liability when the state’s general fund balance exceeds 10 percent of the fiscal year’s annual budget.
That would mean the state general fund would have to hold more than $1.4 billion in the upcoming budget year to hit the mark.
The bill protects dollars in the state’s rainy day, tuition reserve and Medicaid reserve funds.
Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Wheatfield, conceded that Indiana is taking in less revenue than needed and that the refund won’t be used often. But if it had been in place in the 1990s – when state revenues skyrocketed – taxpayers would have been refunded about $500 million.
All area senators voted for the bill, which now goes to the House.
The Indiana Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation that would allow judges to fine government employees who violate the state’s open records law.
The maximum fine for the first violation would be $100 and $500 for subsequent violations.
Senate Bill 232 now moves to the House.
The Indiana Senate has approved a bill that would revoke the business licenses of companies that repeatedly hire illegal immigrants.
The “three-strikes” proposal would revoke business licenses from companies that knowingly hire illegal workers three times. The bill passed 37-13.
Opponents of the legislation say immigration is a federal issue and that the bill could cause families to be separated or cost the state millions of dollars. Supporters say the federal government is not dealing with the issue, so the state should step in.
The proposal now heads to the Democratic-led House. House Speaker Patrick Bauer of South Bend has said he believes immigration is a federal issue and that he prefers the House not deal with the topic this session.
A state home and school for troubled or needy youths could not be closed without legislative approval under a bill passed by the Indiana House on Tuesday.
The bill, approved 81-17 and sent to the Senate for consideration, also would prohibit staffing levels at the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home from being reduced without a nod from the General Assembly.
The Indiana State Department of Health said last month it would close the Knightstown home and school in May. The agency said it costs too much to run and its 53-building campus needs repairs that could cost between $65 million and $200 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
