State Rep. Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse) is pleased to announce the end of the 2013 legislative session. Many pieces of legislation, including a balanced state budget, have been and will be enacted into law to benefit Hoosier families.

“It is hard to believe session has ended,” said Rep. Kubacki. “I am proud of all the work that has been accomplished. Since the first day of session, our focus was on education, job creation and passing a balanced budget. Outside of these critical components to our state’s success, I personally concentrated on bills that would make Indiana a better place for students, children and families.”

Rep. Kubacki worked closely with the Indiana Senate to sponsor three senate bills and co-sponsor another four. One notable bill, SB 207, addresses resident tuition rates.

SB 207 was written as a result of House Enrolled Act 1402, which was passed in 2011. HEA 1402 prohibited individuals who are not lawfully in the United States from being eligible for resident tuition rates for state universities. SB 207 grandfathers those students who were already enrolled in the state’s public colleges to continue receiving in-state tuition. It does not extend eligibility forward to new students.

“After HEA 1402 was passed, a number of students had their tuition raised significantly, sometimes as much as three times what they were paying. This forced hundreds of students to drop out of college because they could no longer afford the tuition. We unfairly changed the rules on these students in the middle of the game, and this fix was needed,” said Rep. Kubacki.

Another notable Senate Bill, SB 125, was co-sponsored by Rep. Kubacki. The bill addresses the subject of improving the status of children by establishing the Commission on Improving the State of Children in Indiana. This commission will be charged with studying and evaluating services, programs, and laws for certain youth.

“SB 125 will establish a Fatality Review Team in each county. These review teams will submit an annual report to the state child fatality review coordinator,” said Rep. Kubacki.

House Bill 1483, co-authored by Rep. Kubacki, requires the office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services to administer a drug testing program for individuals who are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

“This bill seeks to eliminate those who would use money meant for assistance on drugs,” said Rep. Kubacki. “The bill will also help those who would wish to seek help for their addiction get the help they need by the State no longer providing assistance to those who would abuse the system.”

Rep. Kubacki serves as chair of the Family, Children and Human Affairs committee and is a member of the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code, Employment, Labor and Pensions and the Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation.

“In politics, it is important to work together,” said Rep. Kubacki. “The work that was accomplished this past session was a result of all 150 members of the General Assembly working together. Our goal is to make success a possibility for every Hoosier, and we moved closer to that goal this session. I am humbled to represent the citizens of the great state of Indiana and look forward to the future that we build together.”