A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator Richard Bray
upon his retirement from the Indiana Senate.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
MADAM PRESIDENT:
I offer the following resolution and move its adoption:
A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator Richard Bray
upon his retirement from the Indiana Senate.
Whereas, Senator Richard Bray was first elected to the
Indiana Senate to represent Senate District 37 in 1992.
Before serving in the Senate, Senator Bray served eighteen
years in the Indiana House of Representatives;
Whereas, During his 38 year tenure with the Indiana
Legislature, Senator Bray has established himself as an
expert in matters pertaining to courts and the criminal code.
He has served on various legislative standing committees,
including his current appointment as chair of the Senate
Judiciary Committee and ranking member of both the Senate
Ethics Committee and the Commission on Courts. Senator
Bray has also served in Senate Leadership as the Assistant
Majority Caucus Chair;
Whereas, During his tenure, Senator Bray has authored many bills that sought to improve judicial policies. Those enacted include: a 2011 law that improved the contingency fee procedure, a 2009 law that modernized corporation law,
a 2008 law that increased a court's ability to impose
sanctions on probationers who violate conditions of
probation; a law that increased the penalty for battery by
bodily waste if it was infected with hepatitis C, and a law that
established re-entry courts. He also ushered into law new
guidelines for victim's compensation funds and a provision
that permits a judge to interview a child in-chambers before
establishing visitation rights. Senator Bray's expertise as a
legal professional, has allowed him to author and advocate
on the behalf of bills that improve the overall efficiency and
effectiveness of the judicial process. It is because of his
experience as a legal practitioner, that he has been able to
identify gaps in the court system and offer legislation to
address these issues;
Whereas, Prior to being elected to political office,
Senator Bray served in both the United States Army and later
as a major in the Indiana National Guard. This notable
commitment to his country has placed Senator Bray in the
unique position of appreciating and advocating for the
interests that he pledged to protect during his term of
service;
Whereas, Senator Bray earned his bachelor's degree and
his Juris Doctorate from Indiana University. In the interest
of protecting the innocent and punishing those who violate
our state's laws, Senator Bray accepted an elected position
as prosecuting attorney of Morgan County. At the
conclusion of his services as prosecutor, he returned to
private practice in Martinsville, where he continues to
practice law today when he is not busy representing the
citizens of District 37 in the Indiana Senate;
Whereas, Senator Bray's family includes his wife,
Maureen, and three wonderful children;