The was not a quorum of board members yesterday so our "remonstrance" was moved to February 8th at 1 p.m. We are excited have 4 more weeks to let our 800+ supporters know that attending this meeting will visually show our lack of desire. We will have a RSVP link up in a few days. In the meantime, we are asking everyone who signed the door-to-door petition to sign up here (saying they signed the door-to-door petition in the comment box) AND. . . . . . I wanted to make you aware of a piece of legislation that was just introduced January 7th into the Indiana Legislature to increase the radius for alcohol permits from 200 feet to 1,000 ft near schools and churches. Time is very important as the bill needs to receive a hearing in the next 4 weeks, or it will be dead for this session. (Here is how a bill becomes a law in Indiana: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/BillintoLaw.pdf). As part of the legislative process, amendments can be offered to change/improve the bill, but it is important that it gets an initial hearing. It has already been assigned to the Public Policy Committee. Bill Summary: House Bill 1128. Alcoholic beverage permits near schools or churches. Prohibits the alcohol and tobacco commission from issuing, renewing, or transferring an alcoholic beverage permit after June 30, 2016, if a wall of the permit premises is within 1,000 feet from a wall of a school or church. Exempts the following: (1) Premises that were issued a permit under previous law. (2) Certain types of premises, if the school or church does not object to the permit. Makes a stylistic change. You can view the full bill language here: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1128#document-dcc19533 Action Items: 1. Contact Tom Dermody, Chair of the Public Policy Committee and ask him to give House Bill 1128 a hearing. http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/legislators/legislator_thomas_dermody_872/ During a hearing, the public can come and provide testimony in favor/opposition to the bill. Representatives will also be able to offer amendments to change the bill. 2. Contact Tim Wesco, the bill author, thanking him for introducing House Bill 1128 & send any suggestions, statistics, etc that would help him make the case that this bill is necessary. http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/legislators/legislator_timothy_wesco_1025/ 3. Contact your representative asking them to support House Bill 1128. For most people in our area it will be: Woody Burton 317-232-9648 or by email at h58@iga.in.gov Greg Walker 317-232-9984 Senator.Walker@iga.in.gov