INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mitch Daniels signed 16 bills into law Thursday, including one that regulates dog breeders for the first time and another that bans many teenagers from using cell phones while driving.
The bills have varying effective dates.
•Senate Bill 16 strengthens Indiana’s graduated driver’s license law in an effort to reduce the high traffic fatality rate for teen drivers. Several provisions that take effect July 1 are aimed at reducing distractions in vehicles. They include banning drivers younger than 18 from talking on cell phones or texting while driving; extending the period in which new teen drivers’ passengers are restricted from three months to six months; and expanding nighttime driving restrictions for the first 180 days.
Other parts of the bill go into effect in July 2010, including pushing back when teens can get their license. Currently, teenagers who take driver’s education can get a license at 16 years and 1 month. That will be extended to 16 years and six months. Teens who don’t take driver’s education now can get a license at 16 years and 6 months. The new law will extend that wait to 16 years and 9 months.
•House Bill 1468 regulates commercial dog breeders for the first time while also tightening the state’s animal cruelty laws.
It was filed to crack down on puppy mills in the state that have been accused of neglecting dogs and producing dogs with health problems. Dog breeders strongly objected to the regulations, saying state lawmakers are throwing a net over reputable breeders while trying to catch bad ones.
The final bill requires breeders to register with the state Board of Animal Health and pay annual fees while giving the attorney general more authority to investigate such operations. The law also calls for reasonable exercise for dogs and limits on wire cages, but it does not cap the number of dogs a breeder can have.
The parts of the bill affecting breeding operations go into effect Jan. 1, while the rest of the bill is effective July 1.
•House Bill 1286 will put Parnell Poker Palace, 4608 Parnell Ave., out of business effective July 1. The casino is sponsored by White’s School of the Arts, a decades-old organization, and has been operating legally since December.
Current law allows fraternal, veterans, civic and charitable non-profits to similar casinos three times a week under an annual charity game night license. But the new law limits that license to fraternal and veterans groups.
The measure also clarifies regulations on winner-take-all drawings that taverns are allowed to offer and makes some minor changes to Indiana’s lottery law.
