Rep. Bob Behning

Establishes the special service review team to review denied applications and applications for which a determination has not been made for the community integration and habilitation waiver. Limits the geographical area of review. Establishes reporting requirements. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services to obtain consent from a waiver applicant in order to share the application and information accompanying the application with the review team. Provides immunity for an employee who obtains consent and provides the information in good faith. Provides that the review team expires December 31, 2026. Makes changes to the situations in which an emergency placement priority may be provided for individuals under a Medicaid waiver. Amends the membership of and provisions concerning: (1) the Indiana state commission on aging; and (2) the community and home options to institutional care for the elderly and disabled board. Requires the services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities task force (task force) to establish, not later than May 1, 2024, a subcommittee to make recommendations to the task force regarding the Medicaid buy-in program and benefit related barriers to employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Requires the subcommittee to prepare and submit recommendations to the task force. Changes the expiration date of the task force. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services to provide quarterly updates to the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council regarding the implementation of recommendations made by the task force. Authorizes the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to implement a risk based managed care program for certain Medicaid recipients. Requires the office of Medicaid policy and planning to convene a workgroup and, with managed care organizations, to conduct a claims submission testing period before the risk based managed care program is established. Provides that, during the first 210 days after the risk based managed care program is implemented, a provider that experiences a financial emergency due to claims payment issues shall receive temporary emergency assistance from the managed care organizations with which the provider is contracted. Requires the office of the secretary and the division of mental health and addiction to include each community mental health center that meets certain requirements in the community mental health services demonstration program (program), if Indiana is approved to participate in the program and as a state plan amendment for specified reimbursement after the program. Allows the office of the secretary and the division of mental health and addiction to apply for a Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver to allow for Medicaid reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services by certain Medicaid providers, if Indiana is not approved to participate in the program.

Provides that the Indiana school for the blind and visually impaired board shall give preference to a candidate for the chief executive officer position who meets the qualifications for an Indiana teacher's certificate in the area of visual impairment disabilities, but shall not require a candidate for the chief executive officer position to meet the qualifications for an Indiana teacher's certificate in the area of visual impairment disabilities. Provides that, subject to approval by the Indiana school for the deaf board, the Indiana school for the deaf may partner with an existing nonprofit corporation to benefit the purposes of the school. Provides that the public meeting that must be held before a contract for employment is entered into by a governing body and a school superintendent may take place at a regular or special meeting of the governing body and does not have to happen at least seven days before the contract is entered into. Prohibits a teacher preparation program from using curriculum or content that is based on the three-cueing model. Provides that if only one new member is elected to the board of the governing body, a governing body may enter into a contract with a superintendent after the election. Repeals the primetime program. Amends the Indiana student enrichment grant program. Repeals provisions regarding the primetime program.

Amends the definition of "eligible student" to include a sibling of a student with a disability with regards to the education scholarship account program (ESA). Provides that the sibling may not use the ESA account for certain ESA qualified expenses. Provides that an annual grant amount awarded under the career scholarship account (CSA) program may be used for costs related to obtaining a driver's license if certain conditions are met. Establishes conditions regarding the amount of funds that may be used from CSA annual grant amounts for transportation costs. Amends certain requirements regarding ESA and CSA participating entities regarding providing evidence of unencumbered assets. Changes certain CSA application time frames from seven days to 30 days. Requires each state educational institution to provide to the commission for higher education (commission) certain information regarding degrees, degree completion, faculty members, administrative support staff, costs, compensation, and debt loads. Requires the commission to prepare longitudinal analysis regarding certain data. Requires each private postsecondary educational institution and each out-of-state public and nonprofit degree granting institution that offers instructional or educational services or training in Indiana to provide to the department of education information to carry out certain reporting requirements and requirements related to the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed dashboard. Allows for the revocation of an out-of-state public or nonprofit degree granting institution's authorization if the institution fails to provide the information. Adds teaching to the employment sectors eligible for the next level jobs employer training grant program. Amends requirements regarding: (1) eligibility for career coaching grants; and (2) instruction on career awareness.

Provides that a state employee may affirmatively elect to enroll in the deferred compensation plan prior to the auto enroll date on day 31 of the state employee's employment. Removes a provision that sets a maximum employer surcharge for the legislators' defined benefit plan, state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan, public employees' retirement fund, and Indiana state teachers' retirement fund (fund). Requires the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system (board) to develop the technological and administrative capabilities sufficient to categorize fund members into separate groups in which: (1) certain members receive a service based thirteenth check; and (2) certain members receive a cost of living adjustment. Requires the board to set the surcharge rates at a level to actuarially prefund: (1) annual indexed thirteenth checks for all current retired members and beneficiaries retired before July 1, 2025; and (2) 1% annual cost of living adjustments to future in-payment members and beneficiaries retired on or after July 1, 2025. Provides that the board shall not reduce the surcharge rates from the prior year. Allows the board to increase the surcharge rates by not more than 0.1% of payroll from the prior year. Requires certain political subdivisions to present to the interim study committee on pension management oversight regarding a delinquent employee retirement plan offered by the political subdivision. Requires, effective July 1, 2025, the trustee of the state police pension trust to maintain two supplemental allowance reserve accounts for the purpose of paying postretirement benefit adjustments. Increases the maximum date that a member or participant of certain retirement funds can participate in the deferred retirement option plan from 36 to 60 months. Requires the member or participant to notify their employer if the member or participant elects to enter or extend the deferred retirement option plan. Provides for a thirteenth check in 2024 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.

Amends the robotics competition program (program) definition of "allowable expenses" to allow a robotics competition team to use grant funds on expenses associated with a robotics competition. (Current law allows expenditures for expenses associated with attendance at a robotics competition.) Amends the program definition of "eligible school" to include a nonpublic school accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the state board of education. Amends the program definition of "eligible team" to include a community based robotics competition team. Requires the department of education (department) to consider the number of participants when developing a guideline to award grants. Requires the department to award grants for each school year not later than August 1 of the applicable school year. Specifies that the program and any participation by a team mentor and team coach in the program is not subject to collective bargaining.

Requires a state educational institution to prominently display hyperlinks to certain college scorecard information on the state educational institution's website and degree web pages.

Requires the department of education (department) to develop a method to identify students in grade 4 through grade 8 who: (1) did not pass the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board of education; and (2) are at risk of not being proficient in reading as determined by Lexile scores on the statewide summative assessment. Requires the department to develop guidance for schools regarding how to support students who are at risk of not being proficient in reading.

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.

Provides that the department of education (department) may grant certain individuals a waiver that provides an exception to the literacy endorsement requirements if the department submits a report to the legislative council by a specified date. Requires certain schools, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, to offer summer school courses for students who are not reading proficient or are at risk of not being reading proficient as indicated on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board of education (evaluation). Expands eligibility for funding for summer school courses. Requires certain summer school courses to be taught by a teacher, instructor, or tutor who is trained in the science of reading. Provides that if a student does not achieve a 90% attendance rate in a summer reading course, the student is required to participate in an individual reading plan in the following school year. Requires the department of education to procure a universal screening assessment (assessment) that meets certain criteria. Requires certain schools to administer the assessment to students in kindergarten through grade 2 who are not on track for reading proficiency by grade 3 as determined by the department. Requires the state board of education to establish a method for virtual administration of the ILEARN statewide assessment. Provides that a vendor must supply a student's assessment results to the student and the student's parents. Applies the reading deficiency remediation plan (plan) to public schools, charter schools, state accredited nonpublic schools, and eligible schools. Makes the following changes to the plan: (1) Beginning with evaluations administered in the 2024-2025 school year, requires retention of a student in grade 3 in addition to remediation if the student has not achieved a passing score on the evaluation. (2) Requires schools to notify a student's parent of certain assessment results, interventions, or remedial actions provided to the student. (3) Requires schools to monitor the progress of students who have failed to achieve a passing score on the evaluation or the statewide assessment program test. (4) Requires schools to provide reading instruction aligned with the science of reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. (5) Requires schools to administer the evaluation to students who are in grade 2. (6) Requires a student to take the evaluation until certain conditions are met. (7) Requires school reporting on interventions for certain students at risk of not being reading proficient and for certain students who do not a achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills. Creates exceptions to the grade 3 retention requirement for a student who meets certain criteria. Requires the governing body of a school to establish a procedure allowing a parent or guardian of a student to appeal the student's retention under the plan. Requires the department to notify the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in kindergarten of the retention requirements under the plan.

Requires the office of management and budget to establish a kindergarten through grade 12 data governance team. Establishes the duties of the data governance team, including the submission of a report to legislative council. Requires, not later than July 1, 2024, the department of education (department) to: (1) establish an online, self-paced professional development module with regard to mathematics; (2) develop math descriptions correlated to proficiency level descriptors to track proficiency at the student level; (3) create and identify dedicated math resources to assist with intervention and enrichment opportunities and instructional strategies; and (4) post the resources on the department's website. Requires, not later than December 1, 2024, the department to submit a plan to the legislative council that includes: (1) strategies for the early identification of students who are at risk of not meeting grade level proficiency in mathematics; and (2) recommendations for high quality intervention policies for mathematics. Defines "literacy coach" and requires literacy coaches to prioritize certain duties. Provides for the availability of certain grants for literacy coaches. Establishes a mastery based education program (program) administered by the department. Provides that school corporations and charter schools may apply to participate in the program. Requires the budget committee to review the program, and the department to make a presentation to the budget committee regarding the progress and results of the program. Provides for the expiration of the program. Establishes certain restrictions and requirements regarding visiting teacher licenses. Requires the department and the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the state board of education (state board), to partner with teacher preparation programs to receive an outside evaluation of teacher preparation reading instruction programs. Requires the department to develop guidelines regarding the use of curriculum or content that prepares elementary school teacher candidates in math instruction. Provides that a student's latest statewide assessment program test results are included on the student's transcript upon request of the student. Provides that successful completion of an International Baccalaureate diploma program course (course) shall count for high school credit. Provides that any rule adopted by the state board or the department concerning certain diplomas must provide that successful completion of a course is credited toward fulfilling the requirements of certain diplomas. Provides that high school students who have taken a course examination and received a score of four or higher on the examination are entitled to postsecondary academic credit at state educational institutions under certain conditions. Amends the requirements to receive a literacy endorsement.