Statehouse Update 12
Introduction
This week bills continued to move through the House and Senate Committees and onto the chamber floors. Chamber activity has increased with second reading amendments and third reading votes.
In addition, some bills have begun to receive concurrence votes in their chambers of origin. A concurrence is a procedure by which the chamber of origin agrees with the changes made to the bill by the second chamber. Once the chamber of origin votes to approve the concurrence, the bill will move to the Governor for signature or veto before becoming law. If the author does not agree with the changes made in the second house, the bill may be dissented on, at which time a conference committee with a member from each of the four legislative caucuses would be appointed to resolve the differences between the two versions of the bill. Each chamber must then vote on the bill before it moves to the Governor for signature or veto. If there were no changes to a bill in the second chamber, it will go directly to the Governor without the need for a concurrence or dissent.
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 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 was ordered engrossed and is now eligible for 3rd reading in the Senate.
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 Senate Education and Career Development Committee with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for 2nd reading in 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 ordered engrossed and is now eligible for 3rd reading in the Senate.
HB 1553 - Higher education matters: 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 Senate Education and Career Development Committee with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for 2nd reading in the Senate.
SB 36 - Psychology interjurisdictional compact: The bill establishes the psychology interjurisdictional compact concerning interjurisdictional telepsychology and the temporary authorization to practice psychology in another compact state. Sets forth requirements of a compact state. Sets forth the duties of the psychology interjurisdictional compact commission. The bill was approved by the House Public Health Committee and has been referred to House Ways and Means.
SB 54 - FAFSA awards: The bill was amended to provide that a school corporation may receive a FAFSA completion improvement award and establishes a formula for calculating the award amount. The bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee with a 21-1 vote and is now eligible for 2nd reading in the House.
SB 93 - Tuition charges for qualified nonresident 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 House with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for concurrence or dissent by the Senate.
SB 205 - Teacher training: The bill 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. Also provides an additional avenue for alternative licensure for teachers. The bill received an initial hearing in the House Education Committee and will be considered by the committee again next week for amendments and a final committee vote.
Looking Ahead
Next week will be the last full week before committee report deadlines for the House and Senate, which is April 8 for both chambers. Floor activity will continue to increase with votes on second and third readings, as well as concurrences, on the House and Senate floors.
The General Assembly by statute must finish work by April 29. However, they anticipate an earlier Sine Die, or adjournment, this year. The target date for adjournment is April 21. This means earlier second and third reading deadlines, which are April 12 and 13 for both chambers. Concurrences may be considered as soon as the author has filed the motion. If the author files a dissent, a conference committee will not be assigned until after the third reading deadline. The conference committees must then meet and file their conference committee reports to be voted on by both chambers by April 21. Concurrences may be voted on until the General Assembly adjourns Sine Die.
