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Panel advances broad Veterans Affairs and Public Safety bill after lengthy debate over Guard powers and veteran-benefit rules
Summary
House Bill 1343 would update Indiana National Guard code, create an Indiana Civilian Cyber Corps, grant limited law-enforcement authority to trained Guardsmen on state active duty, and revise the Military Family Relief Fund; testimony praised cyber and readiness steps while some veterans groups warned proposed veteran-definition changes and income limits could exclude eligible veterans.
Representative Steve Bartels presented House Bill 1343, a multipart bill that updates Indiana National Guard code, establishes the Indiana Civilian Cyber Corps, clarifies law-enforcement authority for trained military police when on state active duty, modernizes several military-benefit provisions and updates natural-resources language to align with U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
Major General Larry Munich, Indiana’s adjutant general, told the committee the bill focuses on three National Guard priorities: expediting authorities for a small subset of Guardsmen who are trained as military police so they can support civilian law enforcement when ordered to state active duty; creating the Indiana Civilian Cyber Corps to harness volunteer cyber talent to protect critical infrastructure; and updating outdated portions of the Guard code around appointments and property management.
"This bill expedi…
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