Statehouse Update 7
Introduction
The Ball State Governmental Relations team had another busy week of committee hearings and legislative action. The House and Senate faced committee report deadlines on Tuesday, and Thursday, respectively. The second reading deadline for the House was also on Thursday. Legislation that moved prior to the committee report or second reading deadlines will continue to move through the legislative process. Those bills which failed to receive a committee hearing or did not get through a second reading by the deadline are not ineligible for passage and can be considered “dead” for this session.
Please see below for a list of bills being tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that have moved during the last week. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our office at gov@bsu.edu.
Bills That Moved
SEA 1 - Civil immunity related to COVID-19: The bill provides civil immunity for damages resulting from exposure of an individual to COVID-19 on the premises owned or operated by a person, on any premises on which the person or an employee or agent of the person provided property or services to the individual, or during an activity managed, organized, or sponsored by the person. The bill was signed into law by Governor Holcomb on Thursday.
Bills That Moved
HB 1169 - Cybersecurity incidents: The bill provides that the office of technology shall maintain a repository of cybersecurity incidents. Provides that a state agency and a political subdivision shall report any cybersecurity incident to the office without unreasonable delay and not later than two business days after discovery of the cybersecurity incident in a format prescribed by the chief information officer. Allows the office of technology to assist a state agency with certain issues concerning information technology. The bill received an initial hearing in the Senate and has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation committee.
HB 1397 - Technical trainings and workforce development: The bill provides that the governor's workforce cabinet may establish a course catalog that shall list all: work based learning, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship opportunities in Indiana; and providers that are eligible to receive high value workforce ready grants. The bill was approved by the House with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
HB 1437 - Electronic communication at public meetings: The bill allows, with certain exceptions, a governing body of a political subdivision (except for an airport authority or a local department of aviation) to allow its members to participate in a meeting of the governing body by any means of electronic communication if: the public agency adopts a written policy establishing the procedures for electronic participation; and the means of communication permits simultaneous communication between the members and allows the public to attend and observe the meeting. The bill was approved by the House with a 87-7 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
HB 1553 - Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship: The bill changes the eligibility requirements for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship and provides that a student may qualify for the scholarship by achieving a cumulative grade point average upon graduation of at least a 3.75 on a 4.0 grading scale during grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. The bill was approved by the House with a 93-1 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
SB 93 - Tuition charges for veterans: The bill provides that a qualified nonresident veteran; or spouse or dependent of a qualified nonresident veteran; who enrolls in a state educational institution not later than three years after the date of the qualified nonresident veteran's discharge or separation from the armed forces of the United States or the Indiana National Guard is eligible to pay the resident tuition rate at a state educational institution. Establishes requirements for eligibility. The bill was approved by the Senate with a 46-0 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
SB 101 - Education and higher education matters: The bill amends requirements regarding the development of a student's graduation plan. Provides that a student who is at least 17 years of age has full legal capacity to enter into a contract for a next generation Hoosier educators scholarship. Provides that the requirement that a postsecondary credit bearing proprietary educational institution that ceases operation submit student records to the Indiana archives and records administration applies regardless of any outstanding debts owed to the institution. Repeals a provision that requires a student to develop an initial graduation plan in grade 6. The bill was approved by the Senate with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
SB 205 - Teacher training: Requires applicants for an initial teacher's license to provide evidence that the applicant has successfully completed education and training in trauma informed instruction and the recognition of signs that a student may be reacting to trauma. Defines "social emotional learning" as developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, and evidence based universal practices focused on: self-awareness; self-management; social awareness; relationship skills; and responsible decision making. Requires a teacher preparation program to include curriculum that instructs teachers about social emotional learning practices that are helpful in supporting students who have experienced trauma. The bill was approved by the Senate Education and Career Development Committee and is now eligible for second reading in the Senate.
SB 333 - Education matters: The bill amends the membership of the state board of education (state board). Requires the state board to establish a maximum per diem rate for meetings of members of governing bodies of school corporations, including Indianapolis Public Schools. Removes a provision that provides that, if the members of a governing body is totally comprised of appointed members, the appointive authority must approve the per diem rate before the governing body may make payments to the members. The bill was approved by the Senate Education and Career Development Committee with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for second reading in the Senate.
Looking Ahead
The Senate will have a second reading deadline on Monday and both the House and Senate will have third reading deadlines next Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The chambers will then have a few extra days back in their districts before they come back the following week to consider bills passed out of the opposite chamber before the deadlines.
