Amends the duties of state educational institutions' diversity committees. Provides that certain offices or individuals established or employed by a state educational institution (institution) regarding diversity programming must include within the mission of the office or position programming that substantially promotes both cultural and intellectual diversity. Establishes various requirements and restrictions for institutions regarding free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity that does the following: (1) Requires the establishment of certain policies regarding: (A) disciplinary actions for certain persons that materially and substantially disrupt protected expressive activity; (B) limiting or restricting the granting of tenure or a promotion if certain conditions related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity are not met; and (C) disciplinary actions that will be taken if, after a review, a determination has been made that a tenured faculty member has failed to meet certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (2) Requires the review and consideration, at least every five years, of certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (3) Requires the establishment of a procedure that allows students and employees to submit complaints that a faculty member or contractor is not meeting certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity and establishes requirements regarding the procedure and submitted complaints. (4) Establishes consideration requirements before an institution renews an employment agreement or other contract with, makes a bonus decision regarding, or completes a review or performance assessment of a faculty member or contractor. (5) Prohibits requiring an applicant, employee, or contractor to pledge allegiance to or make a statement of personal support for: (A) certain policies or actions; or (B) political or ideological movements. (6) Establishes restrictions regarding awarding admission, enrollment, employment, benefits, hiring, reappointment, promotion, or granting tenure to an applicant, employee, or contractor on the basis of the viewpoints expressed in a submitted pledge or statement. (7) Requires certain information be included in an institution's programming for new students. (8) Requires the adoption of a statement on neutrality that makes a distinction between the official positions of an institution from the individual viewpoints of the institution's employees, contractors, students, and alumni. (9) Allows the commission for higher education (commission) to establish a survey that attempts to collect information from students regarding the current perceptions of whether free speech and academic freedom are recognized and fostered by an institution in a manner that welcomes expression of different opinions and ideologies and requires an institution to promote and provide the survey to students. (10) Establishes various reporting requirements by institutions or the commission concerning complaints submitted regarding faculty members or contractors who are not meeting certain criteria related to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity. (11) Provides that certain individuals may request the commission to review a final decision by an institution concerning a violation of these provisions. Provides that the commission may enter into an agreement with the office of administrative law proceedings to review violations of certain provisions and issue an opinion on behalf of the commission. Requires each institution to submit certain information by September 1, 2024, and on September 1 of each year thereafter.
Sponsored bills
Defines "candidate" for the purpose of provisions concerning early and late candidate vacancies. Modifies the definition of "chute". Defines "scantron" and provides that a scantron complies with certain absentee ballot endorsement requirements if it is endorsed with the initials of certain individuals. Allows a circuit court clerk, voter registration official, or county election board to make certain filings by fax or electronic mail. Extends the: (1) expiration date of a provision concerning local redistricting; and (2) deadline for a redistricting authority to take specified actions. Requires the county election board of a county that is not designated as a vote center county to establish a plan that specifies the method and timing of providing absentee reports to persons who are entitled to receive the reports. Specifies that a nondiscriminatory uniform policy concerning certain voter registration information must apply to all records maintained in the computerized list, including election administration records and absentee activity reports. Requires the NVRA official to conduct, at least once each calendar year, a review and identification of particular voter registration records. Specifies that a provision concerning the delivery, retention, confidentiality, and disposal of election materials does not prohibit county election officials from performing a duty under statutes concerning provisional voting. Exempts a political party office on a primary ballot from the ballot arrangement requirement that all candidates for the same office appear on the same page or screen. Permits certain persons credentialed by the Indiana protection and advocacy services commission to be in the polls during an election. Allows a county election board that adopted a resolution for a primary election allowing absentee voting at satellite offices to amend the resolution, by unanimous vote, to modify, for the subsequent general or municipal election, the locations and hours of the satellite offices. Requires each member of an absentee voter board to sign and print the member's name on a voter's affidavit after the voter has signed and dated the affidavit. Allows a vote center plan amendment to be filed with the election division by fax or electronic mail. Modifies provisions applicable to the notice that must be sent to a voter when a signature mismatch has occurred. Allows a voter to deliver a signature verification affidavit signed by the voter to an absentee voter board at a circuit court clerk's office or satellite location during the period of early voting. Provides that the county election board or board of elections and registration shall not reject an absentee ballot with a missing security envelope signature in certain circumstances if the voter delivers an affidavit of unsigned ballot that is signed by the voter to an absentee voter board at a circuit court clerk's office or satellite location during the period of early voting. Specifies certain employment provisions that apply when a county election board appoints a member of an absentee voter board, absentee ballot counter team, or courier team. Specifies the deadline that applies to fill certain candidate vacancies when the vacancy is due to the successful challenge of a candidate in a judicial proceeding. Prohibits the appointment of a particular person to fill a vacancy by a political party that differs from the party with which the person affiliated when the person was defeated in a primary election or a town or state convention. Specifies the circumstances that create a late candidate vacancy. Extends certain early candidate vacancy provisions to apply to late candidate vacancies. Requires that action to fill a late candidate vacancy be taken not later than 6 a.m. on election day. Modifies a provision concerning the delivery and retention of affidavits. Permits the bureau of motor vehicles to disclose certain identifying information for voter registration and election purposes under certain laws. Prescribes the ballot language for the proposed constitutional amendment that would remove the state superintendent of public instruction from the line of succession to the governor. Makes conforming amendments.
Makes various changes to the education law concerning the following: (1) Indiana diploma requirements and designations and satisfying certain course requirements by obtaining a diploma. (2) The criteria to receive a waiver from postsecondary readiness competency requirements. (3) The minimum number of alternate diplomas that may be counted in determining a school's or school corporation's graduation rate. (4) Use of the terms "statewide assessment program" and "statewide summative assessment". (5) The responsibilities of the state advisory council on the education of children with disabilities. (6) The criteria an individual must meet to participate in the Indiana high school equivalency diploma program. Establishes notice and posting requirements regarding school corporations that fail to meet: (1) certain expenditure requirements regarding full-time teacher salaries; or (2) the percentage of state tuition support that must be expended on teacher compensation. Provides that the amount a school corporation expends on teacher compensation shall also include amounts the school corporation expends on certain dropout recovery education services. Provides that state tuition support for certain virtual students is not included in determining the amount a school corporation expends on teacher compensation. Requires the following: (1) Each public high school to offer, after June 30, 2028, at least once each school year at least one computer science course as a separate subject in the public high school's curriculum. (2) The department of education (department), in revising and updating academic standards, to consider integrating: (A) computer science; and (B) data literacy and data science; standards into a subject area being revised. (3) Beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school or a state accredited nonpublic school in 2029, a student to successfully complete instruction on computer science as a separate subject before the student may graduate. (4) Each public school to participate in an annual statewide survey concerning school fees charged to students or parents to be eligible to receive a distribution from the curricular materials fund. (5) The department to develop proposals to align diploma waiver statutes with new diploma requirements. (6) Charter schools to post certain information. Provides that the state board of education (state board) may allow a computer science course to satisfy one or more diploma course requirements. Removes provisions regarding the application and waiver of requirements concerning: (1) certain expenditure requirements regarding full-time teacher salaries; and (2) the percentage of state tuition support that must be used for teacher compensation. Removes provisions that have expired concerning high school graduation requirements and graduation waivers. Removes language concerning the disqualification of certain students for state scholarships, grants, or assistance administered by the commission for higher education and provides that a student may not receive or use any state scholarships, grants, or assistance administered by the commission for certain noncredit-bearing, nondegree seeking courses. Amends the expiration date for the high school equivalency pilot program to June 30, 2026. (The current expiration date is June 30, 2024.) Allows school corporations to provide certain notices regarding expulsion meetings by electronic mail. Provides each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic school shall include in its curriculum for students enrolled in grade 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 (instead of all high school students) instruction concerning personal financial responsibility. Provides that a literacy achievement grant is not subject to collective bargaining. Provides that a school corporation may include instruction regarding Internet safety in the school corporation's curriculum. Requires the department to approve previously developed age appropriate curricula concerning Internet safety not later than July 1, 2025. 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 the legislative council. Requires, not later than July 1, 2024, the 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 certain restrictions and requirements regarding visiting teacher licenses. Requires the department and the commission for higher education, in conjunction with the 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. Requires the governing body of each school corporation to have a policy regarding the participation of habitually truant students in extracurricular and co-curricular activities.
Amends the duties of an attendance officer and the state attendance officer. Requires, not later than November 1 of each year, the state attendance officer to submit a report to the legislative council containing recommended legislation based on the state attendance officer's discussions with attendance officers. Requires each governing authority of a school corporation and charter school to establish a truancy prevention policy regarding certain students in kindergarten through grade 6. Provides that a prosecuting attorney shall notify each parent of a child when an affidavit is filed regarding the child's compulsory attendance violations or if the child is a habitual truant.
Provides that a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor: (1) that applies to the entire state may not continue for more than 60 days unless a renewal is authorized by the general assembly; and (2) that only applies to part of the state may not continue for more than 30 days unless renewed by the governor. Provides that the renewal of a statewide disaster emergency authorized by the general assembly may continue for not more than 60 days. Specifies that if a state of disaster emergency that applies to the entire state has ended, the governor may not call a new state of disaster emergency that applies to the entire state unless the new disaster is wholly unrelated to the earlier disaster. Defines "wholly unrelated".
Reduces the membership of the board of directors of the Indiana stadium and convention building authority (board) from seven members to three members. Provides that the director of the budget agency or the director's designee serves as chair of the board. Authorizes the solid waste management district of Vanderburgh County to make grants and loans for certain purposes. Provides that with certain exceptions a governmental entity is prohibited from requiring that a Class 2 structure or a residential onsite sewage system be inspected when a property is sold or transferred. Allows a governmental entity to require certain inspections of properties located in that part of St. Joseph County containing a designated sole source aquifer only if it has been more than 15 years since: (1) the property was last sold or transferred; or (2) the Class 2 structure or system was constructed or installed. Provides, for purposes of posting a license bond, that a political subdivision may not impose any requirement for the political subdivision to be identified as an obligee on the license bond other than the requirement in statute. Provides that certain obligors may initiate a civil action against a political subdivision that does not recognize or does not allow an obligor to post a license bond that satisfies certain requirements. Provides that, if the obligor prevails in the action, the obligor shall be awarded an amount equal to: (1) 300% of the cost of obtaining the license bond; (2) compensatory damages; and (3) reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that if a contractor: (1) has posted a license bond to obtain one license from a political subdivision; and (2) is required to obtain another license from the political subdivision to perform work that the contractor intends to perform; the contractor may not be required to post a second license bond as a condition of obtaining the second license if the type of work that the first license authorizes the contractor to perform is so closely related to the type of work that the second license will authorize the contractor to perform that both types of work are typically involved in a single residential construction project. Provides that a city, town, or county that requires a building permit for the construction of a Class 2 structure may provide for the inspection to be conducted by: (1) an individual employed by the city, town, or county, or by another city, town, or county, as a building inspector; (2) a registered architect; (3) a registered professional engineer; (4) a certified building official; or (5) a licensed home inspector.
Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services (division), beginning 12 months after the direct support professional registry is implemented, to post monthly on the division's website the total number of individuals registered under the registry. Requires the division to present information concerning the total number of individuals registered to the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council at least quarterly. Requires reports of newly hired employees to be filed electronically. Requires employers to provide an employee's current primary standardized occupational classification code and starting compensation on a report of a newly hired employee. Provides that each workforce focused agency shall deliver a workforce related program report to the management performance hub. Requires the management performance hub to: (1) compile the workforce related program reports into an annual data product; and (2) make the data product available to each workforce focused agency. Makes conforming amendments.
Makes changes to the permissible uses for the state disaster relief fund (fund). Makes changes to the requirements for an eligible entity to receive financial assistance from the fund. Makes changes to the calculations used to determine the amount of financial assistance an eligible entity may receive from the fund. Increases, from $10,000 to $25,000, the amount of loss that may be compensated for damages to an individual's property. Repeals provisions that: (1) provide a definition of "public facility"; (2) provide limitations for an entity suffering multiple disaster emergencies; and (3) provide requirements for an application of an eligible entity that is an individual to obtain financial assistance from the fund.
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.
Provides certain exemptions from the employment of minors law. Repeals a provision concerning conditions for the employment of a minor as a performer. Provides exemptions from certain hour and time restrictions for the employment of a minor who is at least 14 years of age and less than 16 years of age. Removes language providing that a minor who is at least 14 years of age and less than 16 years of age may only work until 7 p.m. on a day that precedes a school day from June 1 through Labor Day. Repeals provisions concerning hour and time restrictions for the employment of a minor who is at least 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age. Specifies that the prohibition on a minor from working in a hazardous occupation does not apply to a minor who is at least 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age who is employed in agriculture. Repeals a provision concerning restrictions on an employer who employs a minor to work after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m. Makes corresponding changes.