The Indiana Senate
Public Policy Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1247--which would force
the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to issue the DNR three-way permits on
behalf of its state parks--after the Senate adjourns its regular session on
Monday, Feb. 22.
A spokesman for
Sen. Ron Alting, R-22nd, who chairs the Public Policy Committee, told the
Chesterton Tribune today that the Senate’s session isn’t scheduled to
end at any particular time on Monday, simply when the day’s business is
concluded. That means the Public Policy Committee probably won’t commence
its hearing on HB 1247 until mid- to late-afternoon or even early evening,
the spokesman said.
HB 1247 was
approved by a 58-38 vote in the House on Feb. 2. The yea votes were
largely party-line: 50 Republicans joined by only eight Democrats. The
nay votes, on the other hand, were almost split evenly between Democrats
and Republicans: 21 of the former, 17 of the latter.
A majority of the
Senate Public Policy Committee must endorse HB 1247 in order to send it to
the Senate floor. The committee is comprised of seven Republicans and three
Democrats. Two of those Republicans are already listed on the bill as
sponsors: Alting himself and Sen. James Merritt. One of the three Democrats
is also listed as a sponsor: Sen. James Arnold, D-7th.
The committee’s
full membership:
* Sen. Ron Alting,
R-22nd. Phone: (317) 232-9517. Email: Senator.Alting@iga.in.gov
* Sen. Mark Messmer,
R-48th. Phone: (317) 234-9441. Email: Senator.Messmer@iga.in.gov
* Sen. Vaneta
Becker, R-50th. Phone: (317) 232-9494. Email: Senator.Becker@iga.in.gov
* Sen. Philip
Boots, R-23rd. Phone: (317) 234-9054. Email: Senator.Boots@iga.in.gov
* Sen. Jon Ford,
R-38th. Phone: (317) 234-9443. Email: Senator.Ford@iga.in.gov
* Sen. James
Merritt, R-31st. Phone: (317) 232-9533. Email: Senator.Merritt@iga.in.gov
* Sen. Rick
Niemeyer, R-6th. Phone: (317) 232-9490. Email: Senator.Niemeyer@iga.in.gov
* Sen. James
Arnold, D-8th. Phone: (800) 382-9467. Email: s8@in.gov
* Sen Timothy
Lanane, D-25th. Phone: (800) 382-9467. Email: s25@in.gov
* Sen. Lonnie
Randolph, D-2nd. Phone: (800) 382-9467. Email: s2@in.gov
HB 1247 would force
IATC to issue three-way permits to the DNR without public notice or
investigation by the local ABCs; without regard to quota provisions; without
a “determination of reputation and character”; and without “consideration of
location,” that is, irrespective of whether there is a need for such
services at the location of the permit, whether there is desire in the
neighborhood or community “to receive such services,” and whether such
services will have an impact either on the community or on other businesses
in the community.