Putnam County Prosecutor discusses proposed changes to Lifeline Law

Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 9:18 AM

By Paul Gable

As state lawmakers prepare to return to the Indiana Statehouse for the upcoming session, one issue they will look to tackle is expansion of Indiana's Lifeline Law.

The measure, authored by former Indiana State Senator Jim Merritt, gives protection from prosecution to an individual who calls for emergency assistance and those who stay at the scene.

Under the current law, those who call 911 to seek medical help for someone, are the victim of a sex offense and witness and report what they believe to be a crime are protected from arrest and prosecution for certain alcohol related offenses. In order to be protected, the person must provide their name and info to law enforcement, remain on the scene with the person until emergency officials arrive and cooperate with authorities.

Merritt would like to see the law expanded to protect underage individuals who face a medical emergency from drinking too much alcohol. Merritt has been pushing the General Assembly to take up the measure, as well as utilizing a media campaign called, "Good decisions."

He has found an ally in Lafayette Republican Ron Alting, who filed a bill earlier this month to expand the Lifeline Law.

Putnam County Prosecutor Anthony Malayer said he understands what he calls a "tough situation," but notes he is not a legislator.

"I would think in passing laws you want to encourage certain behavior and discourage certain behavior," he told GIANT fm WREB and The Putnam County Post.

Malayer said he understands the point of the bill is to encourage people who may be involved in a life or death situation to be encouraged to call for help to save someone's life.

"We don't want it to be a consideration of do they save their friend or themselves from prosecution. I fully understand that, and I support that. I would not want to prosecute someone who called and did the right thing in the situation, even if they made some bad decisions up to that point. I fully understand it," Malayer said.

With DePauw University and four high schools in the county, Malayer said parties still take place across Putnam County.

"With DePauw, and there are high school parties still, it is important to our community to make sure that we, as a community, are looking out for each other and doing the right thing to protect each other," Malayer said.