Statehouse Update 6
Introduction
This week was a busy week at the Indiana Statehouse. Committees continued to increase activity as they work to get all of their priority bills heard and voted out of committee in time for committee report deadlines later this month. Floor activity also increased as the bills passed out of committee and moved on to second and third readings.
In addition, the House majority released its version of the biennial budget bill, HB 1001. The budget includes $36.3 billion in funding for state priorities over the two years of the biennium. Higher education makes up 11% of that number, with a total of $4.1 billion going to institutions for operating, line items, repair and restoration, state student aid programs, etc. The House version of the budget reinstates a previously set-aside 7% of the operating appropriation for public colleges and universities in the first year of the biennium. For Ball State, this means an appropriation in FY 2022 equal to that of FY 2021 at $134.4 million. For FY 2023, the House budget provides for a 2% increase in appropriations for general operating funds in the second year of the biennium. The 2% increase goes towards a 7% pool of funding for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s performance funding formula. In order to get a 7% pool, 5% of each institution’s FY 2021 base is reallocated to the pool and they must compete against the other public institutions in order to receive an increase in funding. For Ball State, this means a 1% decrease in funding for FY 2023 at $133 million. The bill would not include any state funding for new capital projects, but does fund higher education line items at the FY 2021 level, restoring the 7% reserve.
The budget bill includes other changes to the Governor’s proposal, including different rates of increase in K-12 funding in each year of the biennium (the Governor’s proposal included a 2% increase in year 1 and a 1% increase in year 2; the House version is 1.25% increase in year 1 and a 2.5% increase in year 2).
This was the week that we had planned to hold BSU Day at the Statehouse. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we did not have that opportunity. In lieu of the visit, President Mearns recorded a video to thank the members of the General Assembly for their work and to emphasize the value of their investment in Ball State and higher education. Click here to view the message on our website.
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
HB 1073 - Nonaccredited nonpublic secondary schools: The bill provides that a high school diploma or credential issued by a nonaccredited nonpublic secondary school that employs less than one employee is legally sufficient to demonstrate that the recipient of the diploma or credential has met the requirements to complete high school. Provides that a state or local agency or institution of higher education in Indiana may not reject or otherwise treat a person differently based solely on the source of a diploma or credential. The bill was pulled from further consideration by the House Education Committee by its author on Thursday and will not advance this session.
HB 1387 - Prohibited expenditures and investments: The bill prohibits: the use of public funds to subsidize or otherwise incentivize direct flights from international and regional airports in Indiana to or from China; the Indiana public retirement system from investing in Chinese companies; and the Indiana economic development corporation from maintaining a foreign office in China. The bill was approved by the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform and has been recommitted to Ways and Means.
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 Education Committee with a 13-0 vote and is now eligible for a second reading in the House.
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 Government and Regulatory Reform Committee and is now eligible for a second reading in the House.
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 Education Committee and is now eligible for a second reading in the House.
SB 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 approved by the House with a 72-21 vote and is now eligible for concurrence or dissent by the Senate.
SB 54 - FAFSA requirement: The bill 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 of the student's high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances. The bill was approved by the Senate with a 27-20 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
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 ordered engrossed and is now eligible for 3rd reading in the Senate.
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 Education and Career Development Committee and is now eligible for a second reading in the Senate.
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 has been referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee and is scheduled for a hearing.
Looking Ahead
Next week will be the final full week of committee meetings during the first half of the legislative session. Deadlines for final committee action are February 16 in the House and February 18 in the Senate. All bills will need to be passed out of committee in time for the House and Senate third reading deadlines, February 22nd and 23rd, respectively. Bills that are not passed out of committee or do not pass through both a second and third reading will be considered “dead” and will no longer be eligible to move through the legislative process. Once bills pass a third reading vote, they move to the opposite chamber for consideration.