Statehouse Update 9
Introduction
This week the General Assembly went back to work for the second half of session. Bills have been assigned to committees and committees have begun deliberations. All bills must be voted out by the full chamber on a 3rd reading no later than April 19 in the House or April 20 in the Senate.
In addition, President Mearns visited the Statehouse on Tuesday for visits with members of the Senate’s Appropriations Committee. President Mearns shared information on Ball State’s budget request and expressed his continued gratitude for Indiana’s investment in higher education.
On Thursday, President Mearns was joined by senior leaders from Ball State and Muncie Community Schools to provide an update to state policymakers on the ongoing partnership between BSU and MCS.
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 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 had an initial reading and was referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.
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 had an initial reading and was referred to the Senate Local Government Committee.
SB 2 - Funding for virtual instruction in public schools: The bill establishes a definition of "virtual instruction" for purposes of determining a school corporation's basic tuition support using the 2021 spring count of average daily membership (ADM). The bill advanced through its second reading on Thursday and will be considered for a final House vote next week.
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 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.
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 had an initial reading in the House and was referred to the House Education Committee.
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. 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.
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 had an initial reading in the House and was referred to the House Education Committee.
SB 333 – Per diem rates for governing body members: the bill requires the state board of education 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 had an initial reading in the House and was referred to the House Education Committee.
Looking Ahead
Next week, committee activity will increase as committees continue to consider the bills that were sent over from the opposite chamber. In addition, as bills move through the committee process, we can expect to see a few 2nd and 3rd reading votes for those bills that have already been voted out of committee.
