INDIANAPOLIS

Sex offender Internet lockdown advances

The House voted 90-0 Wednesday to crack down on sex offenders who attempt to use Facebook, MySpace and other online social networking sites to contact children.

Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, is sponsoring House Bill 1134, which would require sex offenders to provide law enforcement with their e-mail addresses and user names for instant messaging programs, chat rooms and networking sites. They also would have to sign a consent form allowing police to search their computer and handheld Internet devices.

"What's happened now is a lot of sexual predators go online and post as a young person," VanDenburgh said. "Times are changing. We need to protect our young people."

The legislation would make it a Class D felony, punishable by two to eight years in prison, for a sex offender to use the online programs to contact a child. The measure moves to the Senate.

INDIANAPOLIS

House OKs BMV fee for brain injury research

The House voted 91-5 Wednesday to repeal a contentious $10 motorcycle registration fee and replace it with a 50-cent charge on all vehicles. The legislation, House Bill 1318, would generate $2.8 million a year for spinal cord and brain injury research.

"It's a very important bill," said Rep. Carolene Mays, D-Indianapolis. "It will increase the quality of life for people with spinal cord and brain injuries."

Mays created the current motorcycle fee last year as a way of funding the research. But the move drew a backlash from ABATE Indiana, a biker lobbying group that focused its initial anger at Gov. Mitch Daniels, who rides a Harley.

Several dozen members of ABATE -- American Bikers Aimed Toward Education -- rode to the Statehouse last week in support of HB 1318, which now moves to the Senate.

INDIANAPOLIS

Munster lawmaker seeks second term

State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, plans to seek a second two-year term, she announced Wednesday.

First elected in 2006, Candelaria Reardon was appointed to the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee last year. She is the lone region legislator on the powerful panel.

"I will continue to seek solutions to the property tax problems that have plagued the region," Candelaria Reardon said in a statement. "My colleagues and I have worked diligently this session, and I'm confident we'll reach a solution to help homeowners very soon."

Candelaria Reardon represents House District 12, which covers all of Whiting and portions of Dyer, East Chicago, Hammond and Munster.

Filing for state offices opened last week. Candelaria Reardon has yet to draw an opponent for either the May primary or the November general election.