2019 Legislative Session
Indiana University Office of Government Relations
Statehouse Report 13
Introduction
Legislative activity continued to pick up both in committee and on the floor this week. The IU Government Relations team was busy monitoring legislation that impacts the university. About two dozen bills have now passed third reading without amendments or have been concurred on and are making their way to the Governor’s Office for his consideration.
Bills that Moved
HB 1002 – Career & Technical Education Matters: This bill would, among other provisions, allow workforce ready grants to be used for programs approved by the Commission for Higher Education, including programs offered by IU. The bill was amended in the Senate committee to require the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet to conduct a systematic and comprehensive review, analysis, and evaluation of whether Indiana's primary, secondary, and postsecondary education systems are aligned with employer needs and whether Indiana's students and workforce are prepared for success in the twenty-first century economy. The bill also now requires the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet to create a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure alignment between Indiana's primary, secondary, and postsecondary education systems with Indiana's workforce training programs and employer needs. The bill passed the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development on Wednesday and was reassigned to the Senate Committee on Appropriations to consider its fiscal impact.
Looking Ahead
Next week is the last full week for committees to meet, so legislators will be busy trying to get their bills through this step in the process. A number of bills have also been reassigned to the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Appropriations and Tax and Fiscal Policy Committees to review their fiscal impacts, so those committees in particular have a large number of bills to potentially work through in the next week. The House and Senate will also be busy considering bills on second and third reading.