Charter School Bills
Prepared by: Keith Clock
Phone: 317-407-7885
E-mail: kclock@ista-in.org
Report created on May 8, 2024
 
HB1380VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (BEHNING R) Requires the secretary of education to prepare and submit to the general assembly the following: (1) A plan to establish a pilot program concerning the use, operation, and management of school facilities to promote student learning and outcomes. (2) A plan to establish a pilot program concerning student transportation. Provides that the commission on seclusion and restraint in schools (commission) must include eliminating or minimizing the need for use of time-out in its model restraint and seclusion plan. Requires the commission to meet biannually (instead of annually, under current law), and requires the commission to submit a biannual report to the state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities. Makes various changes to innovation network school and participating innovation network charter school provisions regarding the following: (1) The terms that must be included in an agreement entered into between: (A) an innovation network team and the governing body of a school corporation; and (B) an organizer and the governing body of a school corporation. (2) Restrictions on altering an agreement. (3) Restrictions on a school corporation charging a participating innovation network charter school for goods and services. (4) Required distribution of state tuition support to participating innovation network charter schools. (5) Restrictions regarding altering the use of a facility occupied by an innovation network school or participating innovation network charter school. Provides that a school corporation may use the school corporation's operations fund for transportation of school children to certain: (1) apprenticeship programs; (2) career and technical education programs; (3) modern youth apprenticeships; and (4) work based learning courses. Makes changes to the student learning recovery grant program concerning the following: (1) The establishment of the program is subject to available funding. (2) The purpose for which the program was established with regard to disruption in education caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic and insufficient alternatives. (3) The limitation of the program to only certain state fiscal years. (4) Allowing the department of education (department) to require matching grant amounts. Provides that a student's Indiana enrichment scholarship account terminates under conditions established by the department (instead of October 1, 2024). Provides that the governing body of a school corporation, the organizer of a charter school, or the chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school system shall authorize the absence and excuse of each secondary school student who is not a habitual truant and is ordered to active duty with the armed forces of the United States, including their reserve components or the Indiana National Guard for at least 15 days in a school year. Provides that the office of administrative law proceedings (office) has jurisdiction over hearing officers authorized to conduct hearings required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Requires the office to: (1) determine the cost of conducting hearings; and (2) after July 1, 2025, assess a fee, based on the weighted ADM count, for each school corporation and charter school that is sufficient to cover the costs. Amends the date by which a student has to be a certain age to be eligible to participate in a school scholarship program and the Indiana education scholarship account program. Removes a condition with regard to requiring certain school corporations to accept transferring students who do not have legal settlement in the school corporation. Provides that a transferee corporation may not require a parent or student requesting transfer to the school corporation to pay transfer tuition or any other fee associated with the transfer of the student. Removes a provision that requires use of certain federal funds under the Indiana student enrichment grant program. Makes certain changes to the referendum time line. Repeals the following provisions regarding the student learning recovery grant program: (1) The appropriation in the 2021 fiscal year. (2) The expiration of the program. Repeals provisions regarding the expiration of the Indiana student enrichment grant program. Provides that a state educational institution (institution) must implement a policy to publish information concerning any act of hazing committed by a member of a group or organization that is adjudicated by the institution. Requires an institution to publish a public report concerning certain information about an investigation that results in a finding that hazing was committed. Specifies what an institution is required to publish on a website in connection with the public report concerning hazing. Allows an individual who is at least 16 years of age to enroll in and attend a training program for certification as a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, or emergency medical technician.
 Current Status:   3/13/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
 Recent Status:   3/11/2024 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
3/8/2024 - Conference Committee Report Adopted (S) Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 338: yeas 35, nays 12; Rules Suspended
 State Bill Page:   HB1380
 
SB270VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS. (ROGERS L) Establishes limitations regarding the lease of school property. Amends the enrollment threshold regarding when a school building is considered underutilized. Makes changes regarding requiring (instead of allowing) a school building to be closed or made available for lease or purchase. Provides that school corporations that meet certain requirements regarding sharing operating referendum tax levy and school safety referendum tax levy revenue are not subject to the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Provides that no resolution, referenda, or distributed revenue prior to May 10, 2023, are effective to provide exemption from the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Exempts school corporations that have had a designation as a distressed political subdivision within the previous three years from the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Establishes additional requirements regarding notice, determinations, and appeals under the transfer of vacant school building provisions. Amends requirements with regard to: (1) bringing a civil action to enforce a final order to make a covered school building available for purchase or lease; (2) the time frame for which a school building must be used; and (3) transferring a school building back to a school corporation. Provides that, if a school corporation transfers a covered school building in violation of the transfer of vacant school building provisions, the transfer is void and allows for a court action with the award of attorney's fees. Changes certain formulas to reference property tax levies collected (current law references property tax levies imposed). Requires the commission for higher education to: (1) study and make recommendations; and (2) submit a report; regarding allowing Ivy Tech Community College to award bachelor's degrees and Vincennes University to offer additional programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. Makes conforming changes.
 Current Status:   3/11/2024 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
 Recent Status:   3/7/2024 - Signed by the Speaker
3/5/2024 - Signed by the President Pro Tempore
 State Bill Page:   SB270
 
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