Statehouse Update 6
Introduction
This week, the General Assembly returned from its break to consider bills that were sent from the opposite chamber. Committee hearings began, but relatively few bills have advanced to floor action at this point.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ball State joined with other institutions to host members of the Senate’s Appropriations Committee for a lunch. There, we were able to discuss key higher education issues with some of the state’s fiscal leaders.
Tuesday also saw the annual State of Higher Education Address and the public roll-out of the Commission for Higher Education’s new strategic plan, Reaching Higher in a State of Change. Students from the Miller College of Business, under the direction of Bill Kimes, provided catering for the post-address reception. Their efforts were well received by those in attendance!
President Mearns attended the State of Higher Education Address, conducted meetings with legislators, and hosted legislators at the annual Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Day Dinner.
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. Ball State provide testimony on behalf of all of the public institutions in support of the bill, which was heard in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee and is eligible for amendments and a committee vote next week.
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 state supported universities provided testimony on the bill, which was heard in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee and is eligible for amendments and a committee vote next week.
Senate Bills
SB 266: Teacher training – The bill requires the department of education to do the following: (1) Evaluate teacher training requirements in Indiana. (2) Prepare a report that includes recommendations for: (A) streamlining, combining, and reducing, as applicable, the teacher training requirements in Indiana; (B) the possibility of including teacher training requirements in teacher preparation programs; and (C) requiring, as appropriate, the completion of teacher training requirements in conjunction with the renewal of teacher licenses. (3) Not later than October 1, 2020, submit the report to the general assembly. Ball State provided testimony on behalf of the public universities on the bill, which was heard in the House Education Committee and is eligible for amendments and a committee vote next week.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the General Assembly will continue to hear bills in committee and we will likely see greater floor activity as bills move through 2nd and 3rd readings.
