The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus says it will focus on improving child safety and fostering economic development in the current session. Its members say the impact of their initiatives goes beyond the state’s minority communities.
The 13-member caucus is proposing the complete restoration of funding cuts to K-through-12 education made during the recession, efforts to increase the number of minority students and faculty in higher education and solving issues within the Department of Child Services. Indianapolis Representative John Bartlett said the caucus’ focus on child safety goes beyond problems in the embattled state agency.
"If you don’t have a seatbelt on in your automobile, it’s against the law and you send your six-year-old child or six-year-old grandchild to school and they do not have that option on the school bus," Barlett said. "We think in the great state of Indiana, it’s time we did that."
Caucus members also said they’ll look into gun control efforts in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting, though they offered no specific details.
