08
Senate
Resolution 1113
By:
Senator Harp of the 29th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the Senate Study Committee on Daylight Saving Time; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
for decades, conventional wisdom has held that daylight saving time, which in
2008 begins on March 9, reduces energy use; and
WHEREAS,
there is a unique situation in Indiana that provides evidence that challenges
the view that daylight saving time may actually waste energy; and
WHEREAS,
until two years ago, only 15 of Indiana´s 92 counties participated in
daylight saving time, whereas the rest stayed on standard time all year;
and
WHEREAS,
by utilizing more than 7 million monthly meter readings from an energy
corporation, covering nearly all the households in southern Indiana for three
years, researchers were able to compare energy consumption before and after
counties began observing daylight saving time; and
WHEREAS,
the finding of this study determined that by having the entire state switch to
daylight saving time each year, rather than stay on standard time, costs Indiana
households an additional $8.6 million in electricity bills; and
WHEREAS,
the energy-savings numbers often cited by lawmakers and others are from research
conducted in the 1970´s; and
WHEREAS,
there may be social benefits to daylight saving time that were not covered in
the research; and
WHEREAS,
there is an ongoing debate as to whether daylight saving time´s increased
energy costs can be balanced against less crime, fewer traffic fatalities, more
recreation time, and increased economic activity with the additional sunlight in
the evenings.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on Daylight Saving Time to be composed of five members of the Senate
to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall
designate one of the members of the committee to serve as chairperson of the
committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the
committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees
but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days
are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event
that the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations with
suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or
before December 31, 2008. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31,
2008.