Establishes the Indiana broadband connectivity program (program) for the purpose of expanding availability of broadband Internet connectivity throughout Indiana. Provides that as part of the program, the office must establish a public broadband portal through which an individual may report that minimum broadband Internet (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 25 megabits per second downstream and at least three megabits per second upstream) is unavailable at the individual's residential or business address. Provides that a broadband Internet provider may: (1) register with the program; (2) receive, at least every three months, listings of addresses submitted to the office as addresses at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable; (3) report to the office any listed address at which the provider's minimum broadband Internet service is already available; and (4) bid for an award of a grant for purposes of extending connectivity to broadband Internet service (defined as a connection to the Internet at an actual speed of at least 50 megabits per second downstream and at least five megabits per second upstream) to an address at which minimum broadband Internet is unavailable. Provides that in evaluating any bids received under the program, the office shall select the provider whose bid presents the lowest cost to the state. Provides that a grant awarded to a provider under the program may not exceed the following: (1) A per-line extension amount that exceeds $25,000, regardless of the number of addresses served by the line extension. (2) A per-passing amount that exceeds the state's cost per passing for all rural broadband grants awarded from the fund as of the last day of the immediately preceding state fiscal year. Requires the office to provide to the general assembly an annual report containing specified data regarding the program. Provides that the office may maintain a geographic information system (GIS) or similar data base that contains spatial data regarding the availability of broadband Internet service in Indiana. Provides that the office may evaluate the broadband Internet coverage map created by the Federal Communications Commission under the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (FCC map) and: (1) if the office finds that the FCC map: (A) provides address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provides a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; use the FCC map to update the office's broadband Internet coverage map; or (2) if the office finds that the FCC map does not: (A) provide address level broadband Internet coverage information; or (B) provide a greater level of detail than the office's broadband Internet coverage map; report that finding to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications during the 2022 legislative interim.
Sponsored bills
Allows the priority enrollment period for the prekindergarten pilot program to begin later than April 1, 2021, in calendar year 2021. Provides that a school corporation may not enter into or renew a contract with an outside vendor to operate or manage a dedicated virtual education school of the school corporation unless the school corporation submits the most recent contract or proposed contract with the vendor to the department of education (department). Amends limits on the percentage of appropriated funds that may be used for grants to limited eligibility children under the prekindergarten pilot program. Provides that the department of education (department) shall make informational material that is evidenced based available on the department's Internet web site that may help teachers and other school employees identify a student who may have been impacted by trauma. Requires the department to provide a notice to each school corporation and charter school on how to access the informational material. Provides that a charter school may give enrollment preference to children who attend another charter school that is closed because of action by the state board of education (state board). Establishes the Cambridge International program (program). Requires the department to: (1) administer the program; and (2) submit a report regarding the program to the state board each year. Establishes the Indiana postsecondary prior learning assessment clearinghouse (clearinghouse). Requires the governor to direct the commission, department, and governor's workforce cabinet (cabinet), in collaboration with state educational institutions, to: (1) develop and regularly update the clearinghouse; and (2) collect information concerning prior learning assessments used by state educational institutions to award advanced standing or postsecondary credit. Requires each state educational institution to report prior learning assessment information. Requires the commission, department, and the cabinet to publish the clearinghouse information on its respective Internet web site. Requires the governor to direct the commission, department, and cabinet, in consultation with state educational institutions, to prepare model guidance and informational resources concerning postsecondary enrollment opportunities that incorporate work based learning experiences. Requires the governor to direct the commission, department, and cabinet to publish model guidance and information resources on its respective Internet web site. Prohibits a charter school organizer from entering into contracts under which an officer or employee of the organizer or a relative of an officer or employee of the organizer will receive compensation or proceeds. Provides an exception for de minimis contracts valued at $1,000 or less. Repeals a provision regarding high school credit for Cambridge International courses.
Requires the state board of education (state board) to: (1) establish a compilation of longitudinal data indicating school performance success in various selected and enumerated program areas; and (2) present the data for each school in a manner that is commonly known as an Internet dashboard. Requires each school to post on a web page maintained on the school's Internet web site the exact same data and in a similar format as the data presented for the school on the state board's Internet web site. Allows a school to include custom indicators on the school's web page. Provides that the performance of a school's students on the statewide assessment program test and other criterion referenced benchmark assessments recommended by the department of education (department) and approved by the state board are the primary and majority means of assessing a school's improvement. (Current law provides that the performance of a school's students on the statewide assessment program test and other assessments recommended by the department and approved by the state board are the primary and majority means of assessing a school's improvement.) Provides that the state board may assign each domain, indicator, or measure used to assess school performance a separate and distinct category or designation. Provides that the state board shall assign to a school or school corporation (including adult high schools) a "null" or "no letter grade" for the 2020-2021 school year. Requires each governing body of a school corporation and the equivalent for each charter school to submit to the department a report that includes certain information regarding instruction during the 2020-2021 school year and the 2021-2022 school year. Requires the department to do the following: (1) Conduct, in collaboration with the state board, a learning loss study regarding students in kindergarten through grade 10. (2) Prepare a report regarding the 2020-2021 school year and a report regarding the 2021-2022 school year that includes the submitted information and the study by the department. (3) Not later than December 1, 2021, and not later than December 1, 2022, submit the applicable reports to the governor, state board, and legislative council. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee for the 2022 interim and the 2023 interim the task of studying the information in the reports. Amends requirements that a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment must meet for approval by the state board. Provides that before the state board may approve a benchmark, formative, interim, or similar assessment, the assessment vendor must enter into a data share agreement with the department. Repeals provisions that: (1) provide consequences for failing schools; (2) provide consequences for failing charter schools or choice scholarship schools; and (3) authorize the establishment of turnaround academies.
Requires the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) to create a broadband corridor program (dig once program) to manage the location, installation, and maintenance of communications infrastructure that is used for the provision of broadband services and is located within the rights-of-way of limited access highways. Requires INDOT to adopt policies, procedures, and standards under the dig once program for required installation of fiber conduit by a public or private entity that performs an excavation within a limited access highway right-of-way.
Makes various changes to the course access program (program) provisions, including the following: (1) Requires the state board of education (state board) to establish certain requirements regarding the program. (2) Establishes the duties of the state board and the department of education (department) regarding the program. (3) Establishes notification requirements for a school corporation regarding an eligible student who submits a request to enroll in a course access program course. (4) Amends a provision that establishes the reasons for which a school corporation may deny an eligible student's enrollment. (5) Provides that a school corporation may be authorized as a course provider if the school corporation meets the requirements for authorization. (6) Allows a course provider to appeal a denial to the state board. (7) Requires the department to approve a civics course access program course that meets certain requirements. (8) Provides that: (A) a school corporation that is an authorized course provider shall provide to the department and post on the school corporation's Internet web site certain information regarding open slots in an online course access program course; and (B) the department shall post the information for each school corporation on the department's Internet web site.
Requires the office of technology to maintain a repository of cybersecurity incidents. Provides that a state agency and a political subdivision shall: (1) report any cybersecurity incident to the office without unreasonable delay and not later than two business days after discovery of the cybersecurity incident in a format prescribed by the chief information officer; and (2) provide the office with the name and contact information of any individual who will act as the primary reporter of a cybersecurity incident before September 1, 2021, and before September 1 of every year thereafter. Allows the office of technology to assist a state agency with certain issues concerning information technology. Provides that if requested by a political subdivision, the office may develop a list of third party technology providers that work with the office. Requires a state educational institution to submit a quarterly analysis with certain conditions. Makes conforming changes.
Establishes the electric vehicle product commission.
Provides that due to extenuating circumstances, if a child's parent or a person is unable to give up custody of a child under the procedure set forth in Indiana's safe haven law, the child's parent or the person may request that an emergency medical services provider (provider) take custody of the child by: (1) dialing the 911 emergency call number; and (2) staying with the child until a provider arrives to take custody of the child. Provides that the emergency medical dispatch agency or the provider shall inform the child's parent or the person giving up custody of the child of the ability to remain anonymous. Provides that a provider, shall, without a court order, take custody of a child who is, or who appears to be, not more than 30 days of age if the child is voluntarily left: (1) in a newborn safety device that is located at an emergency medical services station; or (2) with medical staff after delivery in a hospital or other medical facility when the child's parent notifies the medical staff that the parent is voluntarily relinquishing the child. Allows a child's parent to remain anonymous if the child is voluntarily relinquished in a hospital or other medical facility after delivery of the child. Provides that an emergency medical services station is immune from civil liability for an act or omission relating to the operation of the newborn safety device.
Allows the Indiana kids first trust fund board (board) to create a nonprofit subsidiary corporation to solicit and accept private funding, gifts, donations, bequests, devises, and contributions. Provides that the members of the board serve terms of four years (rather than two years under current law) and provides for the terms of the appointed members of the board to be staggered. Provides that a majority of the appointed members of the board constitutes a quorum for purposes of board meetings. Provides that an affirmative vote of the majority of the board members participating in a board meeting is required for the board to take action at the meeting. Provides that: (1) the board; and (2) the board of directors of a subsidiary corporation formed by the board; must post meeting minutes to the Internet not later than 10 days after the minutes are approved. Requires the board to study the topic of establishing a nonprofit subsidiary corporation and provide a report to the general assembly with the board's findings.
Prohibits the state and a political subdivision from imposing restrictions on a religious organization that are more restrictive than the restrictions imposed upon other businesses and organizations that provide essential services to the public. Permits the state or a political subdivision to require a religious organization to comply with a neutral and generally applicable health, safety, or occupancy requirement to the same extent as other organizations, if the requirement is otherwise allowable under Indiana's religious freedom law. Provides that the state, a political subdivision, or an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision may not restrict the right of the people to worship or to worship in person during a disaster emergency.