INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana General Assembly has begun to advance a number of proposals during the 2013 legislative session. State Senator Richard D. Young, Jr. (D-Milltown) has authored a number of bills concerning veteran education services and agricultural commerce.

Veteran education programs
Senate Bill (SB) 410 would require state universities to establish a “Combat to College” program to assist a veterans’ transition from the military to college. The program would specialize university services to meet veterans’ needs by centralizing admissions and providing financial aid and job search assistance. The program would also be responsible for helping disabled students and those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder to access the necessary resources. Additionally, veterans would earn college credit for some areas of military training.

Health standards for farmers’ markets
SB 411 would place the responsibility for developing health and sanitation guidelines solely with the State Department of Health and not with city, town or county officials. This bill follows a 2010 proposal by the Senate Democrats to create a task force to research local food systems. One of the goals set for the task force was the development of farmers’ markets. SB 411 is an expansion of this previous legislative effort.

Unpasteurized cow’s milk
SB 513 would allow milk producers who meet certain requirements to sell raw cow’s milk. Although the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) believes raw milk distribution may increase risk of certain illnesses, a report compiled by BOAH shows that individuals can obtain raw milk through legal loopholes like cow share agreements. By legalizing the sale of raw milk, SB 513 would require producers to abide by safety and sanitation standards set by BOAH. Raw milk producers would be prohibited to distribute to public care facilities, such as schools, day care and health care facilities. Additionally, milk producers who produce or distribute raw milk that does not comply with state rules may be charged with a Class A infraction.

Water management authority
Water is our most precious resource and would be studied extensively under SB 547. The proposal establishes Water Management Authority and charges the group with overseeing management duties, including the rights and emergency regulation of ground water, potable water, reservoirs, flood control and resource assessment.

Soil productivity and property taxes
In order to avoid property taxes from being significantly raised on agricultural lands with high soil productivity, Sen. Young has co-authored SB 319 to revert the factors that determine soil productivity back to the levels they were at in March of 2011. The bill would also require the Department of Local Government Finance, in cooperation with Purdue University, to submit new soil productivity factors and methodology to be used in future assessments of agricultural lands.

Sen. Young represents Senate District 47 which encompasses portions of Crawford, Dubois, Harrison, Orange, Perry and Washington counties. For more information on Sen. Young, his legislative agenda or other State Senate business, call 1-800-382-9467 or visit www.IN.gov/s47.

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NOTE: A photo of Sen. Richard D. Young, Jr., be downloaded at http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/images/headshots/Young.jpg