Statehouse Update 3
Introduction
Due to the observation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the General Assembly faced a shortened work week. Committees continued to hear and advance bills, and we saw more robust floor activity, with a number of bills advancing through second and third readings. Along with our sister institutions, we helped host members of the House Education Committee for lunch, which provided an opportunity for open dialogue on higher education issues coming before the Committee this session.
Bills that Moved
House Bills
HB 1007: Fiscal matters – The bill adds several standard provisions to the sports wagering fund. Repeals a provision requiring review by the budget committee of certain agreements or extensions of agreements entered into by the Indiana finance authority or the state. Appropriates money from the state general fund for various projects of Indiana's state educational institutions. The bill was heard and voted out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where Ball State provided testimony supporting the change to cash funding for the partial renovation and partial demolition of Cooper Science Building, which was funded by bonds in the last biennial budget. The bill was approved by the Senate and is now eligible for the governor’s signature.
HB 1082: Various higher education matters – The bill is the Commission for Higher Education’s legislative agenda bill. It makes changes to the employment aid readiness network (EARN) Indiana program, changes the name of the "return and complete" project to the "You Can. Go Back." project and makes changes to the definitions regarding the project, including repealing definitions regarding the return and complete project. Provides that money in the graduate medical education fund does not revert to any other fund. Repeals provisions that do the following: (1) Require state educational institutions to report annually to the commission regarding return and complete students. (2) Expire the return and complete project provisions. The bill was amended in committee to strike the “You Can. Go Back” project name and to reiterate the need for ICHE to work with institutions on outreach to students. The bill was approved by the House Education Committee and is now eligible for 2nd reading amendments.
HB 1091: Education benefits relating to military service – The bill contains a number of K-12 and higher education provisions. In part, it establishes that the children of military personnel are considered to have established legal residence in Indiana while pending transfer to a post in Indiana. It also contains language that makes changes to provisions concerning resident tuition rate eligibility for active duty armed forces personnel and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel and provides that spouses of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible for the resident tuition rate. The bill passed unanimously in the House and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
HB 1153: Governor’s workforce cabinet – The bill provides that the governor's workforce cabinet shall, on or before December 1, 2020, create a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure alignment of Indiana's primary, secondary, and postsecondary education systems with Indiana's workforce training programs and employer needs. The bill was approved by the House Education Committee and is now eligible for 2nd reading amendments.
HB 1419: Governor’s workforce cabinet – The bill changes the membership of the governor’s workforce cabinet and requires the cabinet to work with stakeholders on alignment and coordination between the early learning advisory committee, state board of education, commission for higher education, and department of workforce development. The bill was approved by the House Education Committee and is now eligible for 2nd reading amendments.
Senate Bills
SB 12: Resident tuition rate for active duty personnel – The bill makes changes to provisions concerning resident tuition rate eligibility for active duty armed forces personnel and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel and provides that spouses of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible for the resident tuition rate. Clarifies that a dependent or spouse of a person who serves on active duty in the armed forces is eligible for the resident tuition rate for the duration of the spouse's or dependent's continuous enrollment at a state educational institution. The bill was amended in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee to change the effective date of residency from the first term attended to acceptance into the program. It was amended again on 2nd reading in the Senate to adjust the definition of dependent. It was approved unanimously in the Senate and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
SB 266: Teacher training – The bill requires the department of education to do the following: (1) Evaluate teacher training requirements in Indiana. (2) Prepare a report that includes recommendations for: (A) streamlining, combining, and reducing, as applicable, the teacher training requirements in Indiana; (B) the possibility of including teacher training requirements in teacher preparation programs; and (C) requiring, as appropriate, the completion of teacher training requirements in conjunction with the renewal of teacher licenses. (3) Not later than October 1, 2020, submit the report to the general assembly. The bill advanced out of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee without amendment and is now eligible for second reading.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the General Assembly will face some of its first substantial deadlines, with legislation needing to be out of House committees by Tuesday, January 28 and Senate committees by Thursday, January 30. The House also faces its 2nd reading deadline on Thursday, January 30.
Additionally, the state-supported universities will be hosting lunches for members of the House Ways & Means Committee on Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28. We look forward to another opportunity to talk with policymakers about the value that Ball State provides to the state.
