HOUSE BILL No. 1611
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 14-9-8-17; IC 14-19-1-4.
Synopsis: Natural resources issues. Prohibits a conservation officer
from issuing a ticket, summons, or citation for a traffic offense, except
for a felony committed in a conservation officer's presence, on property
other than property owned or managed by the department of natural
resources. Allows a person to possess an alcoholic beverage at a beach
while the person is moving or transferring the alcoholic beverage to an
area where a person is allowed to possess the alcoholic beverage.
Transfers $6,000,000 from the department of natural resources law
enforcement appropriation to the division of state parks and reservoirs
for capital improvements at certain facilities.
Effective: July 1, 2015.
McMillin
January 22, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

HOUSE BILL No. 1611
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
natural and cultural resources and to make an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 14-9-8-17, AS AMENDED BY P.L.114-2012,
2 SECTION 35, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2015]: Sec. 17. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a
4 conservation officer:
5 (1) is a law enforcement officer under IC 9-13-2-92 and
6 IC 35-31.5-2-185 and has the power to enforce Indiana laws and
7 without warrant to arrest for the violation of any of those laws
8 when committed in the officer's presence;
9 (2) is a police officer under IC 9-13-2-127;
10 (3) has the power of law enforcement officers to arrest under
11 IC 35-33-1-1; and
12 (4) has the power to enforce Indiana laws and may exercise all
13 powers granted by law to state police officers, sheriffs, and
14 members of police departments.
15 (b) Except for a felony committed in a conservation officer's
2015 IN 1611—LS 6980/DI 77
2
1 presence, a conservation officer may not issue a ticket, summons,
2 or citation for:
3 (1) a moving traffic offense (as defined in IC 9-13-2-110); or
4 (2) a nonmoving traffic offense (as defined in IC 9-13-2-112);
5 unless the offense occurs on property owned or managed by the
6 department.
7 SECTION 2. IC 14-19-1-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
8 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
9 1, 2015]: Sec. 4. (a) A person may not possess or consume an
10 alcoholic beverage at any of the following locations:
11 (1) Indiana Dunes State Park, except on the licensed premises
12 of a pavilion authorized by IC 14-18-2-3.
13 (2) Redbird State Recreation Area.
14 (3) Interlake State Recreation Area.
15 (4) A swimming beach or pool.
16 (5) A shooting range.
17 (6) A designated youth tent area.
18 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(4), a person is not prohibited
19 from possessing an alcoholic beverage at a beach if the person is in
20 the process of moving or transferring the alcoholic beverage to an
21 area where a person is allowed to possess the alcoholic beverage.
22 SECTION 3. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2015] (a) Notwithstanding
23 any other law, on July 1, 2015, the budget director shall transfer
24 money from the department of natural resources appropriations
25 for:
26 (1) law enforcement division - personal services, five million
27 dollars ($5,000,000); and
28 (2) law enforcement division - other operating expense, one
29 million dollars ($1,000,000);
30 to the department of natural resources division of state parks and
31 reservoirs. Money transferred under this SECTION must be used
32 for capital improvements at Brookville reservoir and Whitewater
33 Memorial state park.
34 (b) Money transferred under subsection (a) is appropriated for
35 the purposes of this SECTION.
36 (c) This SECTION expires July 1, 2016.

Judd McMillin is the new floor leader from the Brookville Indiana area who has a problem with the DNR. He is an attorney who has defended clients in Boating While Intoxicated and other alcohol cases so he wants to send a message to the DNR to not arrest people. He is part of several Republican legislators here in the state that are pro gun but anti DNR and Law enforcement. They have no appreciation for State agencies. If you read the bill the 6 million would only go to Whitewater State Park and Brookville Lake which is his district. I would think that says volumes about the kind of legislator he is and he has a history of several questionable ethical incidents as an attorney as well as his short time as a legislator. Google him.

Thanks DNA, I noticed this earlier and read about it online. Very big change statewide for big benefits received at a very localized area. I don't get the logic.

They are about 30 conservation officers short. There are areas that have no conservation officer in the county. I was told of a landowner calling to complain about illegal hunting and the nearest conservation officer was 50 mile away. 6 million would probably pay for 85 officers. Of course it would actually be leas than that with training and equipment etc. Not good for the resource or the landowner but that did not seem to matter to the author of the bill. I hope the county Sheriff departments are ready to step up and fill the need for water rescue and recovery in Rep McMillian's area and around the State. It's funny in that Union County and Franklin County are struggling to keep afloat financially and Rep. McMillin's bill would further hurt the presence of Law enforcement in the area. That LE presence does not cost the county as it's funded through the state.

What a complete tool!

How do such idiots get elected!

Easy... Idiot voters...

Tools like that get elected because the run against democrats. Everyone is so sick of liberals that they vote for "The lesser of two evils"
In my opinion, voting for the lesser of two evils is ALSO driving this country off a cliff.

I HATE IT! But don't know the answer