2019 Legislative Session

Indiana University Office of Government Relations

 Statehouse Report 4 

Introduction

It was another busy week at the statehouse. A number of bills that IU is tracking were heard in committee, and a few of our tracked bills made it to the floor for second and third reading. The House released more bill lists this week, bringing the total number of bills introduced this session to over 1,300.

This week, the Government Relations team jointly hosted the final regional campus lunch with the Chancellor from IUK. We had a great discussion with legislators and community leaders from the IUK service district about current and future opportunities for partnerships.

Introduced Bills

HB 1642 – Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship: This bill provides that, in awarding a Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, the Commission for Higher Education shall give priority to the following: (1) An eligible applicant who is a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 185% of the federal poverty level and (2) an eligible applicant who intends to teach in the area of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

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 heard and passed unanimously in the House Ways & Means committee on Wednesday.

HB 1009 – Teacher Residency Grant Pilot Program: This bill establishes a teacher residency grant pilot program and fund. Under the program, the Commission for Higher Education may award grants to school corporations and charter schools to partner with postsecondary education institutions to establish a teacher residency program that provides stipends to program participants and teachers who serve as mentors. The grant award may also be used to pay the approved postsecondary educational institution the school corporation or charter school has partnered with for administrative costs incurred in developing and implementing the program. This bill moved through second reading on Thursday.

SB 188 – Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program: This bill establishes the nursing faculty loan repayment grant program with the intent of increasing the number of nursing faculty in Indiana. Dean Hendricks from the IUK School of Nursing testified in support of this bill in her role as the President of the Council of Indiana Nursing Deans and Directors. The bill passed the Senate Health & Provider Services committee unanimously on Wednesday.

Looking Ahead

The House and Senate still have several weeks for committee hearings before the committee report deadline, so committees will keep working through bills next week. The number of bills reaching second and third reading will also increase.