Jeffersonville, Ind. (WDRB) — Several new Indiana laws take effect July 1, bringing changes to immigration enforcement, education, homelessness and public health.
Immigration enforcement is also set to ramp up. A new law requires cities, towns and counties to comply with immigration detainer requests and adds state civil penalties for companies that hire people without authorization.
Supporters say the measure reinforces Indiana as a "rule of law" state, "I think immigration is top of mind, we watched some of that has been really really challenging to watch but it is important to Hoosiers" said Seantor Rod Bray (R) - Martsinsville
While opponents argue it pulls schools and universities into federal enforcement roles.
"We are asking our schools our pre-k centers, our universities to step in an serve as an arm of the federal immigration enforcement," said Senator Shelli Yoder (D)-Bloomington
In education, districts will have to adopt rules limiting student cell phone use during instructional time, with exceptions for documented medical monitoring or emergencies. Another law requires anyone 16 and under to have a parent or guardian’s approval to create a social media account.
And starting July 1, camping, sleeping or setting up a long-term shelter—such as a tent—will be illegal on state-owned land or land that is not privately owned.
Before any criminal action is taken, police must give people 48 hours to leave and must determine whether someone is experiencing an emergency mental health crisis.
Both Rep. Clere and Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, D-New Albany, called it "one of the worst bills of the session," and critics say criminalizing homelessness won’t solve the underlying need for services.
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