Statehouse Update 4
Introduction
This week, the General Assembly wrapped up its committee work. All bills must have been heard before Thursday’s committee report deadline. The General Assembly also continued to advance legislation through the 2nd and 3rd reading process.
Once bills receive a 3rd reading, if they are returned to their chamber of origin with changes, the bill’s author must either concur or dissent with the amendments to the bill. If the author concurs, the chamber of origin must vote to accept the concurrence in order to the bill to continue to move to the Governor’s desk for signature in order to become law. If the author does not agree with the changes, he or she will dissent on a bill and a conference committee comprised of a member from each of the four caucuses will meet to work out differences. The conference committee process will likely begin next week after 3rd reading deadlines have passed.
In collaboration with our sister higher education institutions, Ball State hosted staff from the Senate Appropriations Committee for lunch. The lunch provided both an opportunity to discuss the value and state of higher education Indiana, as well as hear insights and questions from the caucus.
Bills that Moved
House Bills
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 passed the Senate and was returned to the House, where the author can dissent or concur with Senate 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. Some of the bill’s K-12 provisions were amended on the floor of the Senate on 2nd reading, and the bill passed its 3rd reading in the Senate. It will be returned to the House, where the author can dissent or concur with the Senate amendments.
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 Senate Education and Career Development Committee and is now eligible for a 2nd reading in the Senate.
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 Senate Commerce and Technology Committee, after it was amended to add non-voting membership for representatives of Indiana’s research, comprehensive, and private higher education institutions. The bill is now eligible for a 2nd reading in the Senate.
Senate Bills
SB 383: Reporting on MBE and WBE contracting goals – The bill requires each state educational institution to submit an annual report to the state budget committee concerning progress in achieving goals for the use of minority and women’s business owned enterprises as contractors. The bill was approved by the House and is returned to the Senate, where the author can dissent or concur with the House amendments.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the General Assembly will face 2nd and 3rd reading deadlines, on March 2 and 3, respectively. After the deadlines, the conference committees will be assigned and also begin work, which must be accomplished before the House and Senate adjourn sine die. Statutorily, the legislature must conclude work by March 14, but the legislative leaders have predicted an earlier, mid-week ending for the General Assembly.
