Statehouse Update 5
Introduction
This week, the General Assembly broke for a brief halftime break, with 3rd reading deadlines passing on Monday and Tuesday for the House and Senate, respectively. Any legislation that failed to pass its chamber of origin by the 3rd reading deadline is now considered dead for the session. This has reduced considerably the number of bills that can be considered by the General Assembly for the remainder of session.
Bills Still Eligible for Consideration
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 had its first reading in the Senate on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.
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 had its first reading in the Senate on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.
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 had its first reading in the Senate on Wednesday and was referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.
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 passed the House with a 92-1 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
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 had its first reading in the House on Tuesday and was referred to the House Education Committee.
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 passed the Senate with a 40-9 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the second half of the legislative session begins. Committees will begin to meet again to consider bills that came over from their original chambers. Committees will have until February 27 to complete their work.
