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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Ind. Courts - Legislation proposes independent toxicology agency

Updating a long list of earlier toxicology entries, Mark Alesia and Tim Evans report today in the Indianapolis Star in a story headed Some quotes:

Indiana University will not stand in the way of proposed legislation that would remove the troubled State Department of Toxicology from IU's control, a school spokesman said Friday.

The bill, submitted by Sen. Thomas Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, would put a director appointed by the governor in charge of the new, independent agency July 1. * * *

The Toxicology Department, run by IU for more than 50 years, is in the early stages of an audit of every blood test result from 2007 to 2009 -- more than 10,000 cases. The audit began after questions were raised about accuracy and proper procedure.

Former Marion County Prosecutor Scott Newman, hired by IU as a consultant to fix the agency, said a tiny sample of audited cases makes him concerned about what lies ahead. * * *

Wyss' bill will come up for a second reading before the Senate Committee on Appointments and Claims at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 3. The committee chairman, Sen. Joe Zakas, R-Granger, has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill.

Wyss said he expects the bill to win approval, a change he said will be good for all Hoosiers.

ILB: The story is incorrect in that the bill, which is SB 431, may be heard in committee on Feb. 3, but it will not be eligible for Second Reading until it is passed out of committee, placed on the Senate calendar, and voted on for the first time by the entire Senate -- that is Second Reading.

BTW, only two bills have been assigned to the Senate Appointments and Claims Committee.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 22, 2011 01:31 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts