Statehouse Update 6
Introduction
The Ball State Governmental Relations team had another busy week of committee hearings and legislative action. Next week, the House and Senate face committee report deadlines on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. The second reading deadline for the House is also on Thursday. Legislation that moves prior to the committee report or second reading deadlines will continue to move through the legislative process. Those bills which failed to receive a committee hearing or did not get through a second reading by the deadline are ineligible for passage and can be considered “dead” for this session.
Please see below for a list of bills being tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that have moved during the last week. 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; (5) intermediary capacity building fund; and (6) credential completion grant. Provides that the department of education (department), in consultation with the governor's workforce cabinet (cabinet), shall: (1) designate and approve course sequences, career courses, modern youth apprenticeships, certain apprenticeship programs, and programs of study leading to industry recognized credentials; and (2) determine the grant amount that a career scholarship student may receive under the CSA program fund for each sequence, course, apprenticeship, or program. HB 1002 passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee and will now move the full House for consideration.
House Bill 1449: TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM Amends the twenty-first century scholars program (program) eligibility requirements for certain students. Requires the commission for higher education to notify an emancipated student, or the custodial parent or guardian of a student if the student is an unemancipated minor, of the student's eligibility to participate in the program and right to opt out of the program. HB 1449 passed the House on third reading, and now moves to the Senate for 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 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 due to extenuating circumstances. 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. Makes a conforming change and technical corrections. SB 167 passed the Senate Education and Career Development Committee. SB 167 now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
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 passed out of the Senate and now moves to the House for consideration.
Senate Bill 435: 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM ENROLLMENT Provides that the commission for higher education and the department of education shall identify income eligible students for automatic enrollment in the twenty-first century scholars program. SB 435 passed the Senate Education and Career Development Committee and has been re-committed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the 123rd Indiana General Assembly will be approaching halftime for the legislative process. Bills will have their last chance to be heard in committee next week as committee report deadlines are met. Ball State Governmental Relations team will continue to monitor and provide feedback to the General Assembly on bills that could impact Ball State.
