Statehouse Update 14
Introduction
This week the House and Senate activity centered around second and third readings, as well as concurrence votes for bills that were amended in the second house. Both chambers concluded their committees for the 2023 legislative session. The House's second reading deadline was Thursday, so all bills that did not receive a second reading in this chamber are no longer eligible for consideration during the 2023 legislative session. Bills that have had concurrence votes in their chambers of origin are sent to the governor for veto or signature.
In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced and passed their amendment to House Bill 1001, the state budget. The accepted amendment included a historic investment of 4% and 6% additional dollars toward higher education in FY 2024 and FY 2025, respectively. In the second year of the biennium, the Senate version officially sunsets the state's legacy funding formula, investing new dollars into a new funding mechanism designed to reward institutions for progress toward state goals. For Ball State, this means increases of more than $4 million in FY 2024 and $7.9 million in FY 2025. Ball State’s capital project, north campus building renovations, was also fully funded at $81.6 million dollars.
Please see below for a sample of bills being tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that are being considered in the 2023 legislative session. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our office at gov@bsu.edu.
Bills that Moved
House Bills
House Bill 1002: EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE MATTERS Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund (CSA program fund); (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) connecting students with careers fund; and (5) intermediary capacity building fund. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the governor's workforce cabinet (cabinet), shall designate and approve a sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study that culminates in an approved credential and is offered by an employer that has partnered with an approved intermediary to offer the sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study. Provides for revocation of the approval if the sequence, course, modern youth apprenticeship, apprenticeship, or program of study fails to achieve an adequate outcome, as determined by the department, in consultation with the governor's workforce cabinet. Includes requirements for students receiving state aid to meet with an employer, intermediary, or labor organization during their first and third years of post-secondary education. HB 1002 was amended passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
House Bill 1449: TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM Provides that the commission for higher education shall do the following: (1) In cooperation with the department of education, identify students who meet the requirements to participate in the twenty-first century scholars program (program). (2) Notify the student and the custodial parent or guardian of the student, if the student is an unemancipated minor, that: (A) the student is eligible to participate in the program; (B) the student must agree to the conditions required to participate in the program; and (C) the student has the right to opt out of the program at any time. HB 1449 was amended and passed out of the Senate and heads back to the House for concurrence or dissent.
House Bill 1511: HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND COST EXEMPTIONS Provides that money in the National Guard tuition supplement program fund and the National Guard scholarship extension fund may not be expended, removed, or transferred from the respective fund except to be used for the purposes of the respective fund. Provides that an eligible applicant for: (1) a scholarship under the National Guard tuition supplement program; or (2) an educational cost exemption or award; may apply for a scholarship, exemption, or award to attend a state educational institution or an approved postsecondary educational institution under certain conditions. HB 1558 was dissented by the House and now awaits to be scheduled for a conference committee.
House Bill 1558: SCIENCE OF READING Defines "science of reading". Requires the state board of education (board) in collaboration with the department of education (department) to prepare a report on the current use of science of reading concepts in IREAD. Establishes the science of reading grant fund (fund) for the purpose of assisting school corporations in placing literacy instructional coaches in elementary schools, obtaining science of reading training for teachers, and complying with science of reading curriculum requirements. Provides an application process for the fund, and creates certain application approval objectives. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, requires the board and the department to adopt academic standards for reading that are based on the science of reading and publish an advisory list of science of reading curricula on the department's website. Requires the department to develop guidelines for science of reading integration into teacher preparation programs. Requires an individual to show proficiency in science of reading instruction and to obtain a science of reading certification in order to be licensed as an elementary school teacher. Provides that money in the science of reading grant fund may be used for teachers to obtain a reading specialist certification. Provides that not later than July 1, 2024, the state board of education shall adopt rules to establish early childhood and elementary school teacher content area licenses and required endorsements that must, at a minimum, include a required literacy endorsement. Establishes requirements necessary to be eligible for the required literacy endorsement. HB 1558 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
Senate Bills
Senate Bill 167: FAFSA Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, in the student's senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA not later than April 15 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 or school counselor of the student's high school waives the requirement for a group of students due to the principal or school counselor being unable to reach the parents or guardians of the students by April 15 after at least two reasonable attempts to contact the parents or guardians. Requires that the: (1) model notice prepared by the commission for higher education; and (2) notice that each school corporation is required to send regarding the FAFSA; include information regarding the requirements and exceptions for completing the FAFSA. Expires certain requirements on June 30, 2033. Makes a conforming change and technical corrections. SB 167 now awaits action by the governor in order for it to be signed into law.
Senate Bill 384: PURPLE STAR DESIGNATION Requires the commission for higher education (CHE) and the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to develop and implement the higher education purple star designation for the following purposes: (1) To recognize postsecondary educational institutions that are supportive and inclusive of veterans and military connected families. (2) To provide veterans and military connected families with enhanced support for pursuing and finishing a degree or postsecondary credential. Provides that the application for a designation must be made available to interested postsecondary educational institutions on the website of the CHE before May 1, 2024. SB 384 now awaits action by the governor in order for it to be signed into law.
Senate Bill 404: ACCESS TO TRANSCRIPTS Provides that a state educational institution or private postsecondary educational institution operated for profit (institution) in Indiana may not: (1) refuse to provide a transcript for a current or former student of the institution on the grounds that the student owes a debt to the institution; (2) charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript or provide less favorable treatment of a request for a transcript of a current or former student who owes a debt to the institution; or (3) withhold from a current or former student's transcript any degrees earned on the grounds that the student owes a debt to the institution; if the student has paid certain amounts in the past year on the debt owed. Provides that a current or former student may bring a civil action against an institution for a violation of these provisions. SB 404 now awaits action by the governor in order for it to be signed into law.
Looking Ahead
Monday will be the third reading deadline for the House and the second reading deadline for the Senate. Tuesday will be the third reading deadline for the Senate. All bills must continue through the process. By these deadlines in order to progress this session. Bills that have been amended in the second house are then returned to their chamber of origin for motions for concurrence or dissent by the bill's author. Bills in which a motion for concurrence are filed must be voted on one more time by their chamber of origin to progress to the governor for his veto or signature. If the bill author files a dissent, the bill heads to a conference committee to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill. Once the conference committee completes their work, the amended bill will be voted on by both legislative chambers. Conference committees will start next week and conclude by adjournment on Sine Die, which is statutorily required to be before April 29.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the State Budget Committee will meet to receive an updated revenue forecast for the biennium. The fiscal leaders will depend on the updated forecast as they craft the final version of the budget, which will reconcile the differences in the House and Senate versions of the budget. The budget will be amended just as the other bills are in the conference committee process before moving to both chamber floors for a final vote.
