Statehouse Update 1
Introduction
Welcome to the first Statehouse update of the 2022 legislative session. During the session, the Ball State Governmental Relations team will provide weekly reports summarizing some of the key activities of the Indiana General Assembly.
The General Assembly began its work on Tuesday, January 4 and, by statute, must conclude its business by March 14. During this “short session,” the General Assembly will consider legislation on a range of public policy issues. Budgetary matters are discussed during the long session and are typically not considered in a short legislative session.
To date, the Ball State Governmental Relations team is tracking roughly 130 pieces of introduced legislation, and we expect that number to grow as bills continue to be introduced and assigned to committee. In order to continue their progress toward becoming law, bills must pass their chamber of origin by the third reading deadline (February 28 for the House and March 1 for the Senate).
Below is a sampling of bills that are being tracked by the Office of Governmental Relations. If you have questions about the bills listed below (or any other pieces of legislation), please reach out to our office at gov@bsu.edu.
Introduced Bills
SB 82 - FAFSA requirement: Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, in their senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA unless: (1) a parent of a student or a student, if the student is an emancipated minor, signs a waiver that the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it; or (2) the principal or school counselor of the student's high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances. Requires that the: (1) model notice prepared by the commission for higher education; and (2) notice that each school corporation is required to send regarding the FAFSA; include information regarding the requirements and exceptions for completing the FAFSA.
SB 91 - Accreditation of teacher preparation programs: Allows a teacher preparation program to report the program's admission practices, in accordance with the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) standards, for teacher preparation programs accredited by the AAQEP. Requires the department of education to approve at least two accreditors that: (1) accredit teacher preparation programs; and (2) are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; to accredit teacher preparation programs for use in Indiana.
SB 138 - Eligibility for resident tuition: Provides that an individual who meets certain conditions is eligible for the resident tuition rate as determined by the state educational institution. Requires such an individual to verify that the individual meets the criteria to receive the resident tuition rate.
SB 167 - Education matters: Contains provisions related to k-12 curriculum. Also includes provisions prohibiting a teacher prep program from including or promoting certain concepts as part of a course of instruction. Concepts related to sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Heard by Senate Education and Career Development and is scheduled for another hearing January 12.
SB 202 - Reservist tuition supplement program: Establishes the armed forces reservist tuition supplement program fund (fund). Provides that the fund shall be used to provide annual scholarships to members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, not including the Army or Air National Guard, under certain conditions. Provides that scholarships issued under the fund may be renewed under certain criteria.
SB 225 - Disclosure of foreign gifts to educational entities: Requires a school corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or postsecondary educational institution (school entity or institution) to file a disclosure report with the auditor of state and the attorney general whenever any school entity or institution is owned or controlled by a foreign source or receives a gift from or enters into a contract with a foreign source, the value of which is $50,000 or more. Provides that whenever it appears that a school entity or institution has failed to comply with gift disclosure requirements, a civil action may be brought by the attorney general or at the request of: (1) a member of the general assembly; (2) the governor; (3) a member of the commission for higher education; (4) a member of the state board of education; or (5) an Indiana taxpayer; to compel compliance with the gift disclosure requirements.
SB 338 - Graduate retention incentives: Provides for an exemption from the adjusted gross income tax for up to five years for an individual who graduates from a public or private four year college or university if the individual accepts a full-time position of employment in Indiana after graduation. Provides that if an individual leaves a full-time position in Indiana and subsequently accepts another full-time position in Indiana, the exemption carries over for the balance of the five year period. Provides that the department of state revenue shall prescribe a form requiring the Indiana employer to notify the department if the individual leaves employment with the Indiana employer before the end of the five year exemption.
HB 1041 - Participation in school sports: Requires, for purposes of interscholastic athletic events, school corporations, public schools, nonpublic schools, state educational institutions, private postsecondary educational institutions, and certain athletic associations to expressly designate an athletic team or sport as one of the following: (1) A male, men's, or boys' team or sport. (2) A female, women's, or girls' team or sport. (3) A coeducational or mixed team or sport. Prohibits a male, based on the student's biological sex at birth in accordance with the student's genetics and reproductive biology, from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a female, women's, or girls' athletic team or sport. Requires school corporations, public schools, certain nonpublic schools, state educational institutions, certain private postsecondary educational institutions, and certain athletic associations to establish grievance procedures for a violation of these provisions. Establishes a civil action for a violation of these provisions. Provides that school corporations, public schools, certain nonpublic schools, state educational institutions, certain private postsecondary educational institutions, and certain athletic associations are not subject to liability in a civil, administrative, disciplinary, or criminal action for acting in compliance with these provisions.
HB 1044 - Tuition caps: Provides that the commission for higher education shall determine a tuition rate and mandatory fee cost of living adjustment for specified postsecondary educational institutions. Requires that, except for cost of living adjustments, the tuition rate and mandatory fees at specified postsecondary educational institutions may not increase from the time the student initially enrolls until the student graduates for an undergraduate student who is an Indiana resident.
HB 1076 - Reservist tuition supplement program: Establishes the reservist tuition supplement program (program) and reservist tuition supplement program fund (fund). Requires the commission for higher education to administer the program and fund. Provides that money in the fund is continually appropriated.
HB 1088 - Health workforce student loan repayment program: Establishes the following: (1) The health workforce student loan repayment program (program). (2) The health workforce advisory council (council). (3) The health workforce student loan repayment program fund (fund); for the purpose of providing funds to repay outstanding student loans of certain health providers who meet the program requirements. Provides that the state department of health (state department) shall administer the program and fund. Establishes: (1) the imposition of fees at the time a license is issued or renewed for certain health profession licenses; and (2) qualifications to receive a student loan repayment award under the program. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2023, the state department and each board included in the program may award loan repayment to an eligible applicant who is a provider licensed by the board. Requires, not later than July 1, 2024, and not later than July 1 every two years thereafter, the state department to submit a report concerning the program and fund to the governor and the general assembly. Provides that money in the fund is continuously appropriated. Repeals provisions concerning the following: (1) The primary care physician loan forgiveness program. (2) The mental health services development programs. (3) The dental underserved area and minority recruitment program.
HB 1098 - Reduction of educational costs: Provides that certain eligible applicants for higher education cost exemptions are entitled to a 100% reduction in educational costs.
HB 1134 - Education matters: Contains provisions related to k-12 curriculum. Also includes provisions prohibiting a teacher prep program from including or promoting certain concepts as part of a course of instruction.
HB 1190 - Free speech at state educational institutions: Provides that a state educational institution may not: (1) designate an area on campus as an area where protected expressive activities are prohibited; (2) deny any benefit or privilege to, or discriminate against, a religious, political, or ideological student organization for its free expression; and (3) deny a benefit to or discriminate against a religious, political, or ideological student organization based on the expression or a requirement of the student organization. Allows a state educational institution to enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that comply with certain requirements. Requires a state educational institution to: (1) create and publish free expression policies; (2) submit certain reports to the governor and general assembly; and (3) make certain reports accessible on its Internet web site. Provides that a student or student organization may bring a cause of action for a violation of free speech rights. Allows a court to award compensatory damages, reasonable court costs, and attorney's fees to an aggrieved student or student organization if the court finds that a violation occurred. Provides that a state educational institution is not immune from certain liability. Requires the commission for higher education to create a form for a state educational institution to submit information on an alleged violation of this chapter. Makes conforming changes.
