Statehouse Update 10
Introduction
This week, the General Assembly completed its work, with the Senate adjourning late Wednesday evening and the House adjourning early Thursday morning. The House also installed their new Speaker of the House, Rep. Todd Huston of Fishers. The former Speaker, Rep. Brian Bosma, announced earlier in the session that he would be retiring, and Speaker Huston spent much of the session as the Speaker-Elect, working closely with Speaker Bosma to ensure a smooth transition.
A total of 168 bills passed both Chambers and were sent on to the Governor for signature or veto. We began the session tracking 221 of the total 903 introduced bills, 38 of which passed both houses and will become law upon the Governor’s signature. We have included a sampling of the bills we were tracking that passed both chambers below.
To track which bills have been signed by Governor Holcomb, please visit https://www.in.gov/gov/2020billwatch.htm. Below, we include a sampling of bills tracked by our office that were enacted by the General Assembly and which will become law upon the governor’s signature. As always, if you have questions about these or any other bills, please let us know.
Bills that Passed
House Bills
HB 1003: Education matters – The bill provides that the state board of education shall determine the timing, frequency, and method of certain teacher training requirements, including whether the training should be required for purposes of obtaining or renewing a license or as part of the completion requirements for a teacher preparation program. The bill also makes changes to accreditation policies for K-12 schools and allows the state board to provide schools/corporations with waivers of certain rules. Repeals a provision that requires the state board to implement a system of recognizing certain education programs of nonpublic schools, a provision relating to performance based school accreditation, a provision pertaining to school improvement plans and a provision pertaining to the recognition of educational programs of nonpublic schools.
HB 1007: Fiscal matters – The bill adds several standard provisions to the sports wagering fund. Repeals a provision requiring review by the budget committee of certain agreements or extensions of agreements entered into by the Indiana finance authority or the state. It also appropriates money from the state general fund for various projects of Indiana's state educational institutions.
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.
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.
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.
HB 1283: Teacher preparation program curriculum - The bill requires a teacher preparation program to include content within the curriculum that: (1) prepares teacher candidates to use evidenced based trauma informed classroom instruction and recognition of social, emotional, and behavioral reactions to trauma that may interfere with a student's academic functioning; and (2) provides information on certain applicable Indiana laws. Requires a teacher preparation program to consider using certain curricula pertaining to student trauma.
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.
Senate Bills
SB 295: Various education matters – The bill extends the date by which public schools, including charter schools, and accredited nonpublic schools must provide age appropriate research and evidence based or research or evidence based instruction on child abuse and child sexual abuse to students. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2021, the department of workforce development must implement a new Indiana career explorer program (program). Establishes requirements for the program. Requires the department of workforce development to issue, not later than December 31, 2020, a request for proposals regarding the part of the program that includes educational and career assessments or tools. Amends grade levels to which certain career exploration models and career preparation models apply. Removes provisions regarding a pilot program for instruction in and use of the Indiana career explorer program and standards. Requires the department of education (department) to prepare and submit an annual report to the state board of education, general assembly, and commission for higher education regarding certain computer science metrics. Requires the department to post the report on its Internet web site.
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.
Looking Ahead
The Governmental Relations team will now turn our attention to preparation for next year’s budget session. Ball State receives a significant portion of our general operating revenues, as well as funding for priority capital projects, from the General Assembly. The months leading up to the session are important for us to use to build the case for investment in Ball State University and for public higher education. Our team will be meeting with students, faculty, and staff across campus to learn about our successes and challenges to create a narrative about the positive impact our institution has on both our students and the State of Indiana.
The Governmental Relations team would like to thank our on-campus colleagues for their expertise, assistance, and support during the 2020 legislative session. It is a pleasure to represent Ball State University at the Statehouse and to share the great work being done at our institution with policymakers. The efforts made by our students, staff, and faculty are recognized at the Statehouse.
