Statehouse Update 9
Introduction
This week, the General Assembly completed work on bills in their second chambers with 2nd reading deadlines on Monday and 3rd reading deadlines on Tuesday for both chambers. On Wednesday, the legislature began their conference committee process. As a reminder from last week’s update, 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 for the bill to continue to move to the Governor’s desk for signature. After the Governor has signed the bill, it becomes 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.
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 House concurred with the Senate’s amendments, and the bill now heads to the Governor for his consideration.
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. The House concurred with the Senate’s amendments, and the bill now heads to the Governor for his consideration.
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 House dissented from Senate amendments, and the bill will now head to conference 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 House dissented from Senate amendments, and the bill will now head to conference committee. The bill had its initial conference committee hearing on Thursday and work continues on the bill.
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 Senate dissented from House amendments, and the bill will now head to conference committee.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the General Assembly will wrap up its work, with the end of the legislative session tentatively scheduled for March 11 (three days ahead of the statutory deadline of March 14). In addition, on Monday the House will elect a new Speaker, with current Speaker Brian Bosma stepping down for his presumptive successor, Rep. Todd Huston.
