Rep. Michelle Davis

Congratulating the Center Grove Trojans Football program.

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and St. Patrick's Day.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring Indiana High School Athletic Association officials for 120 years of positively impacting young student-athletes.

Provides that the commission for higher education may administer a program to support JobSource, Inc., for the management of the Heartland/Anderson Scholar House. Provides that the purposes of the program include: (1) the expansion of program participant services; (2) residential and other support facility improvements and a one time debt reduction of $250,000; (3) outreach to impoverished single mothers in minority communities; and (4) the provision of a scholarship gap fund for graduates staying in Indiana. Provides that administration costs incurred in the management of the Heartland/Anderson Scholar House may not exceed two percent 2% of the total program costs

Provides that a candidate for a school board office may not be an employee or agent of that school corporation. Establishes a process for a school board or the voters in a school corporation to change the method by which the members of the school board are nominated and elected. Provides that the members of a school board may be nominated and elected by one of the following processes: (1) Through nonpartisan election (as is the case under current law). (2) Through nonpartisan nomination (under the current process) and designation of a candidate's political affiliation or independent status on the general election ballot. (3) Through nomination and election in a partisan process as other candidates for elected office are nominated and elected. Provides that a school board may adopt a resolution to initiate a change or the voters of the school corporation may initiate a change through petition. Provides that, in either case, the voters of the school corporation must approve any change by public question. Provides that the method of election of members of a school board may not be changed until after 10 years after the most recent change was made. Makes conforming changes.

Establishes the digital literacy pilot program (pilot program) and fund. Provides that the department of education (department) shall administer the pilot program. Provides that the department may approve: (1) one or more program providers to participate in the pilot program; and (2) a school corporation or charter school to participate in the program; if the school corporation, charter school, and program provider meet certain requirements. Appropriates $500,000 to the digital literacy pilot program fund for each of the following: (1) 2024 state fiscal year. (2) 2025 state fiscal year. (3) 2026 state fiscal year.

Provides that an applicant who has previously received a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree may be eligible for a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant if the applicant: (1) received a diploma of graduation, high school equivalency certificate, or state of Indiana general educational development diploma five or more years before the applicant applies for a grant; and (2) is not working in the subject matter field in which the applicant received the baccalaureate degree or associate degree. (Current law provides that an applicant for a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant may not have previously received a baccalaureate degree, an associate degree, or an eligible certificate.)

Establishes the behavioral health fund (fund) for the purpose of improving funding for individualized educational programs that have a behavioral intervention plan component for certain schools. Provides that the department of education, in coordination with the Indiana behavioral health commission, shall administer the fund. Creates an application and review process for the disbursement of a grant from the fund. Defines certain terms. Provides a procedure for a principal to place an aggressive student, who has been removed from a class, into the aggressive student's original class, another appropriate class or placement, or inschool suspension.

Establishes the skilled trades pilot program (pilot program) and fund. Provides that the department of education (department) shall administer the pilot program. Provides that the department may approve one or more school corporations to participate in the pilot program.

Makes certain amendments to the juvenile diversion grant program, the juvenile community alternatives grant program, and the juvenile behavioral health competitive grant pilot program (programs). Appropriates specified amounts for the state budget biennium to the juvenile diversion and community alternatives grant program fund and juvenile behavioral health competitive grant pilot program fund for purposes of those programs to be administered by the Indiana criminal justice institute in consultation with the juvenile justice oversight committee (oversight committee) and the grant process workgroup created by that oversight committee, taking into considering the grant program report prepared and submitted to the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana by the oversight committee.