Rep. Bob Behning

Defines "science of reading". Provides that a school corporation and charter school shall report certain information regarding reading and writing curriula, remedial programs, and administrative contact information on the school corporation's or charter school's website. Provides that the state board of education and the department of education (department): (1) must implement an academic standard for reading based on the science of reading; and (2) may not implement an academic standard for reading based on the three-cueing model. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a superintendent, advisory committee, or governing body or the equivalent for a charter school: (1) must adopt curriculum that is based on the science of reading; and (2) may not adopt curriculum for reading that is based on the three-cueing model. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2024, the department shall review teacher preparation programs for alignment with guidelines requiring the use of curriculum or content that instructs teacher candidates on the science of reading. Provides that, after June 30, 2025, the department may not grant an initial practitioner license as an elementary school teacher to certain individuals unless the individuals successfully pass a foundation of reading examination.

Commemorating the second anniversary of the Indianapolis FedEx shooting on April 15, 2021, in which eight victims were killed.

Memorializing Representative Sally J. Siegrist.

Provides that the amount of the gasoline excise tax and special fuel tax revenue that is derived from the annual 1% inflationary increase during the state budget biennium shall be distributed to recipients under the motor fuel tax fund of the motor vehicle highway account based on the vehicle miles traveled in the unit compared to vehicle miles traveled in the state, but not including interstate vehicle miles traveled. Appropriates money from the state general fund to the Indiana department of transportation in an amount necessary to repay all outstanding debt obligations as of June 30, 2023, that are financed with money in the crossroads 2000 fund. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2023, money in the crossroads 2000 fund must be used for projects only in urban areas, as defined by the United States Census Bureau. Authorizes Marion County to establish a local road funding district (district) to capture 20% of the incremental local income tax (LIT) revenue of the county (not including LIT revenue obligated for debt service). Requires the Marion County treasurer to establish a Marion County roads and bridges fund (fund) if a district is established. Provides that the incremental LIT revenue captured in the district shall be deposited in the fund and used for the preservation and reconstruction of roads and bridges of thoroughfares in Marion County that cross into an adjacent county. Prohibits any additional funding for a professional soccer stadium project until and unless certain conditions are met. Amends the maximum grant amount from the local road and bridge matching grant fund based on annual vehicle miles traveled in the local unit. Provides that, if the city-county council in Marion County adopts a maximum county vehicle excise tax or a maximum county wheel tax, then the transportation infrastructure improvement fees that are attributable to motor vehicles registered in Marion County shall be transferred to the Marion County treasurer for deposit in a separate account to be used for the preservation and reconstruction of roadways in Marion County. Requires the Indiana department of transportation to reacquire certain portions of roadways in Marion County that were previously designated as a state highway for administration in the state highway system, to occur before January 1, 2030. Provides that, for purposes of determining the right of the consolidated city of Indianapolis to receive a distribution of money from the motor vehicle highway account based on population, the population of all the territory of the consolidated city is considered its population. Specifies that the board of directors of an urban mass transportation system may incorporate services of a "transportation network company" or "TNC" that connects riders to individuals for prearranged rides through a digital network exchange as a part of its urban mass transportation system within the taxing district of the corporation. Makes an appropriation.

Provides that a charter school may apply to the state board for approval to be eligible to receive funding for students who are 22 years of age or older. Amends the amount of state funding that approved charter schools are entitled to receive for students who are 22 years of age or older. Removes provisions that: (1) list adult charter high schools; and (2) establish enrollment caps related to state funding for adult charter high schools. Removes and repeals provisions regarding appropriation requirements for adult charter schools.

Provides that when a person who receives Medicaid has a child born after December 31, 2023, the treasurer of state (treasurer) shall open a college choice 529 education savings plan (529 plan) in the child's name and make a deposit of $250 into the account. Provides that if the student completes one or more age appropriate career exploration activities as determined by the state board of education, and if the child's parent makes certain contributions to the 529 plan, the treasurer shall continue to make intermittent deposits into the 529 plan throughout the child's kindergarten through grade 12 education. Provides that contributions made by a parent to a 529 plan are eligible for a credit against a taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Provides that a parent making a contribution to a 529 plan shall report the contribution to the treasurer. Provides that if a parent contributes volunteer hours to the child's school in lieu of making a contribution to a 529 plan, the child's school shall report the contribution of volunteer hours to the treasurer. Provides that a person in attendance at a live birth shall report to the local health officer whether or not the mother is receiving Medicaid and advise the mother that a 529 plan is being established. Provides that the treasurer shall provide all relevant information to a parent receiving Medicaid regarding the 529 plan contribution program available to a parent receiving Medicaid.

Specifies that an educational service center may receive a grant from the Indiana safe schools fund. Increases the secured school safety matched grant amount that may be awarded to a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school. Provides that a school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school that is awarded a secured school safety matching grant may apportion that grant to an educational service center or career and technical education school for certain purposes.

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.

Provides all charter schools access to loans through the Indiana bond bank. Requires a county auditor to distribute a portion of revenue received from a school corporation's operations fund property tax levy to each: (1) charter school in which students who receive not more than 50% virtual instruction and who have legal settlement in the school corporation attend; and (2) transferee school corporation that a transferred student who has legal settlement in the school corporation attends. Phases in the distributions over three years. Provides that, for a resolution to adopt a school operating referendum tax levy adopted after June 30, 2023, a county auditor must distribute a portion of revenue received from the levy or school safety referendum tax levy to each transferee school corporation and charter school in which students who receive not more than 50% virtual instruction and who have legal settlement in the school corporation attend. Provides that if a charter school receives a distribution from a school corporation from a school operating referendum tax levy or a school safety referendum tax levy, the charter school must post certain information on the charter school's website. Provides that a charter school or transferee school corporation that may receive money from a school operating referendum tax levy or a school safety referendum tax levy may not promote a position on a referendum, in the same manner as a school corporation is prohibited from promoting a position on a referendum. Provides that the maximum length of a charter is 15 years. (Current law provides that the maximum length of a charter is seven years.) Amends the definition of "school building construction program" to: (1) include the purchase, lease, or financing of land, the construction and equipping of school buildings, and the remodeling, repairing, or improving of school buildings by a charter school; and (2) replace "adjusted assessed valuation" with "assessed valuation" with regard to school corporation eligibility for an advance from the common school fund. Establishes the public school options program and fund. Provides that a charter school (excluding a virtual charter school or adult high school) may receive an advance from the common school fund if the charter school's authorizer approves the application. Provides that the state board of education shall repay a charter school's advance from proceeds in the public school options fund. Provides that the department of state revenue shall make a distribution from the state retail and use tax that it collects to the public school options fund. Makes conforming amendments. Makes a technical correction.

Provides for a nonrefundable apprenticeship tax credit (credit) for an eligible employer. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to not more than $1,250 for each apprentice employed. Provides that an eligible employer may claim: (1) a credit for not more than 10 apprentices employed for a taxable year; and (2) the credit for an individual apprentice for not more than three taxable years. Provides that the total amount of credits that may be awarded for a state fiscal year may not exceed $10,000,000. Allows the department of state revenue to adopt rules to implement the credit.