New Indiana laws take effect July 1
INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) – Hundreds of bills were introduced at the Indiana Statehouse this session, and July 1 marks the date where several new laws will go into effect. While many Hoosiers aren’t necessarily aware of all the new laws, there are a few that could directly affect them.
Starting Friday, an amended law will allow farm wineries to refill growlers. Previously, unless the business held a small brewer’s permit, state law prohibited a retailer from refilling containers with alcoholic beverages.
Although liquor and grocery stores still won’t be able to sell alcohol on Sundays, you will now be able to carry-out alcohol at artisan distilleries. Artisan distilleries have not been around too long in Indiana, with permits just becoming available three years ago. There was a call for these distilleries to be permitted to sell their products since wineries and breweries are able to sell on Sundays.
A former law goes back on the books for those involved in a car crash. New legislation will make it a Class C infraction if a vehicle involved in an accident is not moved out of the roadway. The only exception being if the vehicle is inoperable or if an injury or death has occurred.
This re-established law is to prevent a chain reaction of crashes and also keep drivers out of oncoming traffic.
Like sex offenders, persons convicted of child abuse will be put on an electronic child abuse registry. The registry will provide information about the individual convicted of the crime. The Division of State Court Administration will establish the registry.
Another new law will require a criminal background check for home health care workers. The home health agency or personal services agency will be required to obtain a national criminal history background check or an expanded criminal history check. The current law requires only a limited criminal background check unless certain circumstances warrant an expanded background check.
In all, the General Assembly passed 218 bills in the 2016 session out of the 841 originally proposed.