Statehouse Update 4
Introduction
This week, the House and the Senate faced committee report deadlines on Tuesday, and Thursday, respectively. The House’s 2nd reading deadline was also this Thursday. Legislation that moved out of committee ahead of committee report deadlines or had a second reading by that deadline will continue to move through the legislative process. Those bills that did not can be considered dead for this session.
Along with our sister institutions, we had the opportunity to host members and staff of the House Ways & Means Committee for two lunches this week. The meetings provided opportunities to thank legislators for their ongoing work and to highlight the positive impacts of higher education on Indiana.
Bills that Moved
House Bills
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. Appropriates money from the state general fund for various projects of Indiana's state educational institutions. The bill was heard and voted out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where Ball State provided testimony supporting the change to cash funding for the partial renovation and partial demolition of Cooper Science Building, which was funded by bonds in the last biennial budget. The bill was signed by Governor Holcomb on Wednesday and is now law.
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 bill passed the House by a unanimous vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
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 bill passed the House with a 96-1 vote and is now eligible for consideration by the Senate.
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 bill was amended on 2nd reading to include seats on the cabinet for a representative of a public research higher education institution and a representative of a comprehensive or private college. The bill is eligible for final passage in the House.
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. The bill passed the Senate with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for consideration by the House.
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 bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee with a unanimous vote and is now eligible for 2nd reading amendments.
Looking Ahead
Next week, the General Assembly will face 3rd reading deadlines and the end of the first half of the legislative session. The House’s 3rd reading deadline is Monday, February 3 and the Senate’s 3rd reading deadline is Tuesday, February 4. The legislature will then break for the remainder of the week as it prepares for bills to move to their second houses.
