(STATEHOUSE) – State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) will serve on the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary, which will review requests to improve court procedures.
“Study committees lay the foundation for legislation that could be considered for new laws next year,” May said. “When we’re not in session debating bills, we are taking a critical look at potential new policies and ensuring our current laws continue to meet the needs of Hoosiers.”
The committee has been charged with reviewing requests for new courts, additional magistrates or judges, and changes in existing court jurisdictions. May said lawmakers will also look at whether the number of courts or judicial officers in counties throughout the state should be decreased.
By Sept. 18, the committee will receive reports from the Indiana Supreme Court – Office of Judicial Administration and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute outlining agency plans for handling similar emergency situations like COVID-19 in the future and recommendations for potential legislation. May said his priority will be ensuring the state continues to respond to the pandemic appropriately and that Hoosiers remain safe and healthy moving forward.
According to May, committees will likely meet in person with an option to participate virtually this year to help limit the potential spread of the coronavirus, and details will be released in the coming weeks. He said any new process will remain transparent and open to the public. Committee hearings are live-streamed online and then archived so they can be watched later at iga.in.gov. The full list of topics to be studied can be found at iga.in.gov.
