Senators agreed to hold Senate Bill 144 while its sponsor prepares an amendment to narrow its scope after committee testimony described concerns at Vanderburgh County over the sheriff retirement fund.

Senator Becker told the committee the bill originated with the Vanderburgh County Council and the county sheriff's office after the council discovered the sheriff retirement fund was several million dollars short despite a strong stock market. The council considered an outside audit but declined because of the estimated $15,000–$20,000 cost, Becker said. "We should at least require that they bring that information to the county council for review," Becker said, describing the bill's intent.

Becker said the sponsors plan to amend the bill to apply specifically to counties rather than to other local units such as school corporations. "I want it written so it applies to this group," Becker said. A senator asked whether the reporting would be binding; Becker said the requirement would be nonbinding and intended only to provide information to the county council.

Becker said Vanderburgh County had recently set aside $350,000 to shore up the pension. She and other senators described the change as oversight to let elected county officials and the public "see what's going on with their pension." No outside witnesses testified; the sponsor said members of the county council could have attended but could not because of a weather event.

The committee did not vote on SB 144 at this hearing. The chair said he would hold the bill to allow Becker to prepare the amendment before the measure is advanced to the floor. The hearing record notes that the bill will be held rather than sent forward at this time.