Bill Watch, Jan. 25, 2016: Current Environmental Law Legislation of Note

The IndyBar Legislative Committee is currently monitoring the following environmental law related legislation. IndyBar members can request that the Legislative Committee track specific legislation by contacting committee chair Lawren Mills at Lawren.Mills@icemiller.com.

Click here to view the full Bill Watch reports.

SB1    ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. (STEELE B) Replaces administrative law judges and environmental law judges with an administrative court that conducts administrative hearings and other duties formerly conducted by administrative law judges and environmental law judges. Provides that formal judicial reviews of final agency actions or certain other administrative actions taken by the administrative court are conducted by a circuit court or superior court with appropriate jurisdiction. Provides that the administrative court consists of nine judges appointed by the governor for terms of five years. Specifies that a person may serve not more than 10 years on the administrative court. Requires the governor to appoint one of the nine administrative court judges to serve as chief judge of the court. Provides that, when an action is filed with the administrative court, the chief judge assigns a panel of three of the nine judges to hear the action. Specifies that a: (1) decision of the administrative court that is not a judgment requiring or following a judicial review may be initially appealed to the administrative court; and (2) judgment or other decision of the administrative court that requires a formal judicial review may be appealed only to the appropriate circuit court or superior court. Makes conforming amendments. Repeals superseded provisions.