GPS tracking bill doesn't receive hearing in Indiana Senate

Indiana Senate Bill 22 didn’t receive a hearing, but author Sen. Joseph Zakas (R-Granger) will work with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) to draft a new proposal for next year’s session, said Alternatives Inc. CEO Mary Jo Lee.

“We do support the bill in concept,” said Lee, who is on the board of directors for ICADV. “We’re going to work with Rep. Zakas over the summer and get the language in we know would be best for victims and see if we can get it back in to pass.”

Bill 22 proposed that a court could require a domestic violence perpetrator to wear a GPS tracking device if a protective order is granted to a victim. The bill proposed that a victim could be notified if the GPS device comes within a specified distance.

But Lee, the ICADV and other domestic abuse victim advocates were concerned that the bill didn’t specify how quickly victims would be notified or who would pay for the GPS monitoring.

“It’s a good bill for victims if we can make sure they’re not going to be burdened by the cost and make sure they’re alerted in time to keep them safe,” Lee said.