SB 11 Student Discipline
Author/Co-Authors: Bowser
(Committee on Education and Career Development)
Provides that a school corporation's discipline rules are not required to provide for student suspension or expulsion when there are statutory grounds for those actions, unless the situation involves firearms. Provides that officials may take a variety of disciplinary actions instead of suspension or expulsion. Adds assignment to an extended day program to the list of disciplinary actions that may be taken in addition to or instead of suspension or expulsion.

SB 36 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction for School Suspension
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Education)
Permits the prosecuting attorney or county office of family and children to file a petition alleging that a child suspended or expelled from school is a child in need of services (CHINS) if the: (1) school corporation; (2) prosecuting attorney; (3) county office of family and children; and (4) judge of the court with juvenile jurisdiction; have agreed to the referral of suspended or expelled children to the juvenile court for a CHINS determination. Requires the school corporation to pay the costs of services ordered by the juvenile court if: (1) the child is found to be a CHINS; and (2) there is an agreement to refer suspended or expelled children to the juvenile court for a CHINS determination.

2/13/03 Senator Broden added as coauthor
2/13/03 Senator Bowser added as second author
2/13/03 Senator Drozda added as coauthor
2/19/03 DP 11-0
2/20/03 Senator Rogers added as coauthor
2/25/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/27/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 174: Yeas 49 and Nays 0
2/27/03 Referred to the House
2/27/03 House sponsor: Rep. Moses
2/27/03 Cosponsors: Reps. Thompson, Porter and Buck
2/27/03 Senator Miller added as coauthor
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 45 ISTEP Tests
Author/Co-Authors: Server
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the subject areas of English/language arts and mathematics are the only subject areas to be tested under the Indiana statewide testing for educational progress (ISTEP) program. Provides that each ISTEP subject area test may not be longer than two hours in duration. Allows the department of education during the 2003-2004 school year to administer tests developed under the ISTEP statute before its amendment by this act.

SB 58 Teachers on School Committees
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Education and Career Development)
Limits the number of teachers that the exclusive representative may appoint to serve on statutory or locally created committees of a school corporation.

1/15/03 DP 7-4
1/23/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/27/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 23: Yeas 27 and Nays 23
1/27/03 Referred to the House
1/27/03 House sponsor: Rep. Torr
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education
3/31/03 Representative Noe added as cosponsor

SB 60 Professional Standards Board
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the Professional Standards Board is a part of the Department of Education, instead of a separate body. Allows the State Board of Education to review and amend actions taken by the professional standards board.

SB 61 University of Central Indiana
Author/Co-Authors: Borst
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes a commission to evaluate whether an independent, state supported university to succeed Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) should be established and to investigate and evaluate the delivery of higher education at IUPUI. Requires the commission to submit before July 1, 2004, a report to the governor with the results of the evaluation and investigation and the commission's recommendations.

SB 69 School Bus Driver Certification by a Physician
Author/Co-Authors: Nugent
(Criminal, Civil and Public Policy)
Provides that a physician licensed in any state may certify that a bidder for a transportation contract, a school bus driver, or a prospective school bus driver meets the physical requirements established by law. Allows a person who is being prosecuted for using a controlled substance while operating a school bus to use as a defense that the controlled substance was consumed or possessed in accordance with a medical prescription issued by a physician licensed in any state.

SB 73 Technology Scholarships
Author/Co-Authors: Ford
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes a technology grant program for certain state employees.

SB 78 Academic Honors Diploma Awards
Author/Co-Authors: Meeks, R.
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a school corporation to use money received as an academic honors diploma award for expenditures directly related to the school corporation's academic honors diploma program or programs for high ability students. Requires a school corporation to submit a report to the department of education concerning how the award money was spent.

1/15/03 DPA 11-0
1/21/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/23/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 16: Yeas 47 and Nays 3
1/23/03 Referred to the House
1/23/03 House sponsor: Rep. Cochran
1/23/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Scholer
1/23/03 Senator Long added as second author
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 81 Charter School Budget Review
Author/Co-Authors: Mrvan
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a charter school to submit its budget to the school board for review and approval. Provides that a school board must approve a charter school's budget before the charter school may receive funding. Makes conforming amendments.

SB 82 Regulation of Preschools
Author/Co-Authors: Mrvan
(Health and Provider Services)
Specifies requirements for licensure of preschools. Requires the Division of Family and Children to administer the licensure of preschools.

SB 87 TRF Benefit Payments
Author/Co-Authors: Harrison
(Pensions and Labor)
Eliminates the requirement that the last retirement benefit paid by the teachers' retirement fund be prorated to terminate at the member's death. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the pension management oversight commission.)

1/30/03 DPA 7-0
2/03/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/03/03 Senator Hume added as second author
2/04/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 56: Yeas 49 and Nays 0
2/04/03 Referred to the House
2/04/03 House sponsor: Rep. Kromkowski
2/04/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Buell
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Labor and Employment
4/03/03 DP 9-0
4/03/03 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127

SB 90 Teacher Pension Credit for Military Service
Author/Co-Authors: Craycraft
(Pensions and Labor)
Extends from 18 months to 36 months the period in which a member of the teachers' retirement fund must return to active teaching service or teacher training after completion of active military service in order for the member to be entitled to credit for the member's military service.

SB 93 Faculty Member on State University Boards
Author/Co-Authors: Craycraft
(Rules and Legislative Procedure)
Provides that an elected member of the faculty serves as a nonvoting member of the board of trustees of Indiana's state assisted institutions of higher education. Establishes a procedure for the election of the faculty trustee member at state educational institutions.

SB 98 Vacancies Caused By Death
Author/Co-Authors: Dillon
(Elections and Civil Affairs)
Establishes a procedure for any person to give notice of the death of an elective or a judicial officer to begin the process of filling the vacancy in office. Changes the time limit for holding a meeting or caucus to fill a vacancy.

1/14/03 DPA
1/15/03 Senator Sipes added as coauthor
1/21/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/23/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 18: Yeas 50 and Nays 0
1/23/03 Referred to the House
1/23/03 House sponsor: Rep. Crooks
1/23/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Leonard
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Appointments and Claims

SB 116 Teacher Certification Incentives
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Specifies a goal that by the year 2020 there will be at least one teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (national board) in every public school in Indiana. Establishes the teachers' national board certification incentive fund for purposes of: (1) funding stipends of $200 per day for two days for teachers preparing for national board certification; (2) reimbursing 75% of the national board certification fee; (3) funding stipends for national board certified teachers who serve as mentors to other teachers; (4) reimbursing school corporations for the cost of paying teachers who have attained national board certification as of July 1, 2003, or thereafter an annual salary supplement of $2,000 for the life of the certificate; and (5) reimbursing school corporations for the cost of persons who serve as substitute teachers for national board certification candidates. Requires a school corporation to allow a teacher pursuing national board certification at least five days of released time during the school year.

SB 118 Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes a teacher recruitment and retention grant program, administered by the state student assistance commission, to: (1) attract qualified teachers to those geographical areas of the state where a critical shortage of teachers exists; and (2) retain qualified teachers in teacher shortage areas; by providing scholarships to persons working toward a master's degree in education or an educational specialist degree. Provides that as a condition of participating in the program and receiving a scholarship, a teacher must agree to employment as a licensed teacher in a school district located in a teacher shortage area for a period of at least three years.

SB 119 Teacher Certification Fees and Incentives
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the Department of Education shall each year pay the certification fees for up to 2,000 teachers who participate in the certification process offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Provides a national board certification incentive grant to school corporations of $5,000 for each teacher employed by a school corporation who holds a valid certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and who is a classroom teacher.

SB 132 Smart Start Program and Grants
Author/Co-Authors: Breaux
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes a grant program for school readiness programs beginning in the 2004-2005 school year. Requires school corporations to develop and submit a plan to the Department of Education and State Board of Education for approval before receiving a grant. Appropriates $60,000,000 to the department for its use in awarding grants during the 2003-2005 biennium.

SB 133 Children's Mental Health Task Force
Author/Co-Authors: Breaux
(Health and Provider Services)
Establishes the children's mental health services collaboration task force. Requires the task force to submit to the legislative council before July 1, 2005, a comprehensive plan for individuals with a mental illness who receive special educational services.

SB 134 Grants for Community Learning Programs
Author/Co-Authors: Breaux
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes grants for community learning programs for adults residing within the boundaries of a school corporation. Makes an appropriation of $5,000,000 for the grants.

SB 135 Full Day Kindergarten Pilot Project
Author/Co-Authors: Breaux
(Education and Career Development)
Requires the Department of Education to establish a full day kindergarten pilot project. Provides that the department shall select school corporations for the full day kindergarten pilot project so that urban, suburban, and rural school corporations are participating in the pilot project. Makes an appropriation to fund the pilot project.

SB 140 TRF Fund Membership and Contributions
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Pensions and Labor)
Requires the board of trustees of the teachers' retirement fund (TRF) to assign certain members to TRF's pre-1996 and 1996 accounts. Specifies the member and employer contributions the TRF board must credit to the pre-1996 and the 1996 accounts. Requires participants in the pre-1996 account who, after June 30, 1995, were hired by another school corporation or institution covered by TRF (or rehired by a prior employer) to become participants in the 1996 account, but provides that: (1) the member's contributions to the pre-1996 annuity savings account; (2) employer contributions, if any, to the pre-1996 retirement allowance account; and (3) liability for employer contributions based on service credit earned; before the member was hired by another school corporation or institution covered by TRF (or rehired by a prior employer) remain in the pre-1996 account.

SB 146 Student Members on State Board of Education
Author/Co-Authors: Bowser
(Rules and Legislative Procedure)
Provides for the appointment of two high school students as nonvoting members of the State Board of Education. Establishes a recommendation committee to recommend students for appointment by the governor.

SB 147 Child Immunization Registry
Author/Co-Authors: Bowser
(Health and Provider Services)
Requires the State Department of Health to develop a children's immunization data registry. Allows a patient or patient's parent access to the patient's immunization data. Requires that immunization data automatically be removed when the patient becomes an adult.

SB 148 Textbook Funding
Author/Co-Authors: Bowser
(Education and Career Development)
Abolishes the textbook rental program for public school students. Expands the definition of textbook to include materials used in the instruction of students. Requires school corporations to establish and appropriate money from a textbook fund to purchase all needed textbooks for loan without charge to students of the corporation. Provides an annual state textbook grant equal to $83 multiplied by the average daily membership (ADM) of a school corporation and requires the deposit of grant funds in the textbook fund. Makes transitional provisions.

SB 159 Timing of ISTEP Examination
Author/Co-Authors: Riegsecker
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the date on which the ISTEP statewide testing is administered must be during the spring semester.

1/09/03 Senator Lubbers added as second author
1/13/03 Senators Wyss and Hershman added as coauthors

SB 165 Restriction on School Levy
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Finance)
Prohibits a school corporation from levying taxes to offset a reduction in revenue resulting from a statutory amendment reducing the amount of state property tax replacement payable to the school corporation.

SB167 School Bonds for Retirement or Severance Liability
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Finance)
Extends the sunset date for issuance of school corporation bonds for retirement or severance liability from December 31, 2003, to December 31, 2004. Provides that the total amount of bonds issued for this purpose may not exceed 2% of the total true tax value of property in the school corporation. Specifies that the school bus replacement fund is one of the funds that the school corporation may reduce in order to satisfy the requirement to reduce its total property tax levy in an amount equal to the levy for debt service on the bonds.

1/23/03 DP 12-1
1/27/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
1/28/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 35: Yeas 42 and Nays 1
1/28/03 House sponsor: Rep. Austin
1/28/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Buell
1/28/03 Referred to the House
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 168 Reimbursement of Teacher Continuing Education
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the Department of Education shall reimburse 50% of the tuition paid by certain teachers for continuing education courses that will improve the teachers' knowledge or skill in the teachers' teaching areas. Provides that a teacher who accepts tuition reimbursement must continue teaching for one year for every six credits for which the teacher received reimbursement.

SB 174 Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Author/Co-Authors: Young, M.
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a United States flag to be displayed in each classroom of a school corporation. Requires a school corporation to provide a daily opportunity for students to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Provides an exemption for students who choose (or whose parents choose for them) not to participate in the pledge. Requires a school corporation to establish the daily observance of a one minute period of silence in each classroom. Provides for enforcement by the classroom teacher. Repeals a law allowing an optional brief period of silent prayer or meditation.

1/07/03 Reassigned to Committee on Criminal and Civil and Public Policy

SB 184 Kindergarten Enrollment Date
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that a child must be at least five years of age on the following dates to officially enroll for a school year in a school corporation's kindergarten program: (1) August 1 of the 2004-2005 school year. (2) September 1 of the 2005-2006 school year or any subsequent school year. (Current law provides that a child must be at least five years of age on July 1.) Instead of requiring an appeals procedure, allows a school corporation to adopt an appeals procedure for a parent who wishes to enroll a child who is not at least five years of age on the statutory date in kindergarten.

SB 185 Graduation Rate
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Adds a definition of "graduation rate" to the statute concerning accountability for school performance and improvement.

SB 187 School Corporation Performance Report
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Changes certain components of school corporation annual performance reports. Specifies additional groups of students who are not included in determining a school's graduation rate.

1/15/03 DP 10-0
1/16/03 Senators Breaux and Rogers added as coauthors
1/16/03 Senator Alting added as coauthor
1/21/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/23/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 21: Yeas 49 and Nays 0
1/23/03 Referred to the House
1/23/03 House sponsor: Rep. Porter
1/23/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Scholer
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education
3/26/03 DPA 14-0
4/02/03 Reassigned to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures
4/07/03 DPA 6-4
4/10/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
4/14/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 551: Yeas 59 and Nays 41
4/14/03 Returned to the Senate with amendments
4/16/03 Senate dissented from House amendments
4/16/03 Senate conferees appointed: Lubbers and Breaux
4/16/03 Senate advisors appointed: Alting and Rogers
4/17/03 House conferees appointed: Porter and Pond
4/17/03 House advisors appointed: V. Smith and Behning and Scholer
4/23/03 Conference committee report 1 : filed in the House
4/24/03 Conference committee report 1 : adopted by the Senate Roll Call 508: Yeas 47 and Nays 2

SB 196 Child Solicitation
Author/Co-Authors: Drozda
(Criminal, Civil and Public Policy)
Increases the age of a victim of child solicitation from 14 to 16 years of age.

SB 198 School Employees and Children
Author/Co-Authors: Clark, Lubbers
(Criminal, Civil and Public Policy)
Enables school corporations to obtain limited and national criminal history checks for all employees rather than only for new employees. Enables the Professional Standards Board to suspend a teacher's license for certain noncriminal behaviors. Requires certain officials to report when a teacher is arrested for or convicted of a crime or is dismissed or resigns because of certain behaviors and provides civil immunity for making the reports. Provides uniformity in the grounds for which licenses may be revoked and the contracts of permanent and semipermanent teachers may be canceled concerning sexual misconduct with a minor. Enables teachers charged with certain crimes to be suspended without salary. Requires certain persons to report to authorities when they believe that a child is the victim of certain crimes. Changes the law concerning seduction of a child at least 16 years of age to add behaviors that constitute the offense and to expand coverage to all employees of a child's school.

SB 199 Possession of Firearms by Minors
Author/Co-Authors: Clark
(Criminal, Civil and Public Policy)
Makes dangerous possession of a firearm by a child who is less than 16 years of age a delinquent act. Makes the offense, in certain cases, a nonsuspendible offense and requires a minimum period of confinement in a juvenile secure facility if the offense is committed in a public safety improvement area. Prohibits certain adult offenders convicted of dangerous possession of a firearm from being placed on home detention or in a community corrections program.

SB 221 School Corporation Capital Projects Funds
Author/Co-Authors: Gard
(Education and Career Development)
Allows a school corporation to use a capital projects fund to pay for services of certain employees: (1) whose total annual salary and benefits are at least $25,000; and (2) whose positions existed on July 1, 2003.

SB 234 Education Reports
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Changes the required publication date and some components of school corporation annual performance reports. Removes language concerning the obsolete performance based accreditation program. Provides for the transition in publication dates by moving the September 2003 publication date to January 2004.

SB 248 University Bonding Authority for Energy Savings
Author/Co-Authors: Alting
(Finance)
Permits state universities and colleges to issue bonds for up to $20,000,000 per campus for qualified energy savings projects. (Current law limits each university or college to $10,000,000 for all campuses of the university or college.)

SB 256 Public School Transfer Program
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley, Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes a public elementary and secondary school transfer program, allowing the parent of a public school student to request a transfer for the student to enroll in: (1) a different public school in the student's base school corporation; or (2) a public school in a different school corporation. Provides an allocation of public funds for transfer students between the base school corporation and the receiving school corporation and provides that the parent is responsible for transportation and any additional costs. Allows adjoining school corporations to enter into an interlocal agreement under which students may attend school in the adjoining school corporations.

1/09/03 Senator R. Meeks added as coauthor
2/12/03 DPA 7-3
2/18/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/20/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 139: Yeas 29 and Nays 20
2/20/03 Referred to the House
2/20/03 House sponsor: Rep. Porter
2/20/03 Cosponsors: Reps. Pond and Scholer
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 283 Beginning Teacher Assessment Program
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes the beginning teacher assessment program. Provides that a teacher who holds an initial standard license must complete a performance assessment before receiving a proficient practitioner license.

SB 306 Collective Bargaining for Education Personnel
Author/Co-Authors: Craycraft
(Pensions and Labor)
Repeals provisions concerning mediation, factfinding, and collective bargaining between a school corporation and an exclusive representative and strikes by education personnel. Adds provisions concerning final offer mediation-arbitration. Includes state educational institutions (colleges and universities) among the school units required to bargain collectively with employees. Includes noncertificated education employees under the collective bargaining provisions. Requires school employers to bargain collectively on certain issues. Authorizes the education employment relations board to issue certain orders and impose certain requirements on a person who commits an unfair practice.

SB 315 Criminal History Information
Author/Co-Authors: Bray
(Criminal, Civil, and Public Policy)
Removes the definition of "limited criminal history" from the law concerning criminal history information. Changes references in the Indiana Code from "limited criminal history" to "criminal history data". Repeals and replaces a provision concerning release of criminal history data to noncriminal justice organizations to: (1) make a technical correction; and (2) allow release of the data if the subject of a release request is employed by an entity that seeks to enter into a contract with a public school or a nonpublic school and the subject is expected to have direct, ongoing contact with school children. Repeals provisions that require: (1) the Indiana central repository for criminal history information to process requests from certain persons for a limited criminal history check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center; and (2) the state police department to limit access to the limited criminal history of certain persons.

1/30/03 DPA 8-0
2/03/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed

SB 333 School Discipline
Author/Co-Authors: Howard
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a school corporation to provide in its disciplinary rules for a meeting between the school principal and the person having care of a dependent student if the student is physically or verbally abusive to another individual on school grounds or in a school related setting.

SB 350 Debt Service and Capital Projects Funds
Author/Co-Authors: Bowser
(Education and Career Development)
Provides a state distribution to the capital projects and debt service funds of each school corporation. Requires a school corporation to reduce its capital project and debt service fund levies by the amount of the state distribution. Makes an appropriation.

SB 366 Expelled Students
Author/Co-Authors: Miller
(Education and Career Development)
Allows a school corporation that determines it cannot serve a student because of the student's disruptive behavior or frequent unexcused absences to place the student in another setting. Provides that if the other setting is in another school corporation or a nonpublic school, the school corporation in which the student has legal settlement is responsible for tuition. Requires the school alternative program study committee to study and report to the legislative council concerning students who are excluded from school without being formally expelled and alternatives to excluding students from school.

SB 385 School Students and Employees
Author/Co-Authors: Bray
(Criminal Civil and Public Policy)
Makes conforming changes relating to the policies a school may adopt concerning criminal history checks. Requires a prosecuting attorney to notify the state superintendent of public instruction and the employer when a licensed school employee is convicted of certain offenses. Makes changes in the grounds for which teachers' licenses may be revoked and contracts may be canceled. Requires a governmental entity to pay a judgment (except for punitive damages) of a claim or suit against an employee when the act or omission causing the loss is within the scope of the employee's employment and the governmental entity has the opportunity to defend the employee. Requires a governmental entity to pay a judgment for punitive damages, compromise, or settlement against an employee when: (1) the act or omission causing the loss is within the scope of the employee's employment; (2) the governmental entity has the opportunity to defend the employee; and (3) the compromise or settlement is in the best interest of the governmental entity. Provides that a governmental entity or employee acting in the scope of employment is not liable if a loss results from an injury to a person assigned to a pretrial conditional release program. Provides civil immunity for making certain reports concerning a teacher. Changes the law concerning seduction of a child at least 16 years of age to add certain actions that constitute the offense and to expand coverage to all employees of a child's school.

2/25/03 DPA 10-0
3/03/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
3/04/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 211: Yeas 48 and Nays 0
3/04/03 Referred to the House
3/04/03 House sponsor: Rep. Robertson
3/04/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Torr
3/13/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 392 Teaching Recruitment Incentives
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Requires the Department of Education to establish a teacher signing bonus program to encourage high achieving candidates to teach in Indiana public schools. Provides a $20,000 bonus paid over at least three years. Specifies that the department may target signing bonuses to attract teachers for those subject matter areas most in need of teachers.

SB 393 Professional Standards Board
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Authorizes the Professional Standards Board to license paraprofessionals.

SB 400 ADM Counts
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Provides for an adjustment in the average daily membership (ADM) count of students enrolled in school corporations.

SB 403 Varicella Immunizations
Author/Co-Authors: Simpson, Miller
(Health and Provider Services)
Requires every child in kindergarten or first grade to receive the chicken pox immunization. Requires a school to report to the state department of health and the local department of health regarding the number of students who have received the chicken pox immunization.

SB 404 Mathematics and Science Teachers
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Education and Career Development)
Authorizes the governing body of a school corporation to pay an annual bonus of up to $10,000 to a teacher who teaches certain secondary mathematics and science courses. Provides that the bonus is not subject to teacher collective bargaining provisions.

SB 407 E-scholars
Author/Co-Authors: Ford
(Education and Career Development)
Establishes the e-scholars program to provide computers and Internet access for certain students.

SB 410 Public Pension Funds
Author/Co-Authors: Ford
(Economic Development and Technology)
Requires the public employees' retirement fund (PERF) and the teachers' retirement fund (TRF) to apply for a grant from a private foundation or other entity to develop a fellowship program to assist PERF and TRF in increasing venture capital investment opportunities in Indiana technology and advanced manufacturing companies. Establishes for a ten year period goals for investment in Indiana for a public pension fund if its board decides to allocate part of the assets to venture capital investments. Allows the board five years to achieve the goals. Does not require the board to achieve the goal percentages if, in the exercise of financial and fiduciary prudence, the board determines that appropriate venture capital investments are not available in Indiana. Provides that a TRF member may assign benefits for paying dues to certain associations for a retired membership.

2/04/03 Committee report: do pass, adopted
2/04/03 Senator Simpson added as coauthor
2/10/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/11/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 93: Yeas 47 and Nays 3
2/11/03 Referred to the House
2/11/03 House sponsor: Rep. Hasler
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Labor and Employment
4/03/03 DPA 9-0
4/09/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
4/14/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 569: Yeas 97 and Nays 1
4/14/03 Returned to the Senate with amendments
4/16/03 Senate dissented from House amendments
4/16/03 Senate conferees appointed: Ford and Simpson
4/16/03 Senate advisors appointed: Harrison and Craycraft
4/17/03 House conferees appointed: Hasler and Turner
4/17/03 House advisors appointed: Kromkowski and Buell
4/24/03 Conference committee report 1 : filed in the House
4/25/03 Conference committee report 1 : adopted by the Senate Roll Call 531: Yeas 36 and Nays 10

SB 414 Core 40 Curriculum
Author/Co-Authors: Lubbers
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that a student is required to complete the Core 40 curriculum in order to graduate from high school, unless the parent of a student requests that the student be exempted or if, in the case of a special education student, the student's individualized education program does not require the Core 40 curriculum.

SB 466 Instructional Days
Author/Co-Authors: Hume, Server
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that a maximum of two school days when students are dismissed for a full day for parent-teacher conferences and two school days when students are dismissed for a full day for staff professional development activities count as student instructional days for purposes of the required 180 day school year. Voids provisions in the Indiana Administrative Code that allow partial school days that are used for parent-teacher conferences to count as partial student instructional days and that do not allow students to be dismissed for full days for parent-teacher conferences and staff professional development activities.

SB 471 Disclosure of Educational Records
Author/Co-Authors: Broden
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a school corporation and certain other entities to release education records to a state or local juvenile justice agency under certain circumstances.

2/13/03 Senator Zakas added as coauthor

SB 472 Juvenile or Probate Court Charter Schools
Author/Co-Authors: Broden
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that a juvenile court or the St. Joseph probate court may sponsor a charter school. Provides that only students over whom a juvenile court or the St. Joseph probate court has jurisdiction may attend a charter school sponsored by the juvenile or probate court.

SB 473 Discipline of Bullies
Author/Co-Authors: Wyss, Sipes
(Education and Career Development)
Defines "bullying" and requires a school corporation to include policies to prevent bullying in the school corporation's written discipline rules.

SB 478 Predatory Lending
Author/Co-Authors: Clark, Lanane
(Insurance and Financial Institution)
Restricts certain lending acts and practices. Establishes the mortgage fraud unit under the attorney general to investigate and bring actions against a lender who engages in mortgage fraud. Preempts regulation of covered acts and practices by political subdivisions. Increases mortgage recording fees. Allocates increased revenue to the Indiana housing finance authority, attorney general, and county recorders. Allows the securities commissioner to enter orders of recission, restitution, and disgorgement, including interest at the rate of 8% to loan brokers.

2/06/03 Senator Smith added as coauthor
2/20/03 DPA 9-0
3/03/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
3/04/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 218: Yeas 47 and Nays 0
3/04/03 Referred to the House
3/04/03 House sponsor: Rep. Mahern
3/04/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Whetstone
3/04/03 Senator Howard added as coauthor
3/13/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Financial Institutions

SB 496 ISTEP Test Dates
Author/Co-Authors: Hershman
(Education and Career Development)
Provides that the ISTEP assessments must be administered during the spring semester. Allows a student who did not pass the graduation examination to take the examination during the summer following grade 12, in addition to during each semester following the year in which the student was initially tested, until the student achieves a passing grade.

SB 510 ISTEP Testing
Author/Co-Authors: Waterman
(Education and Career Development)
Replaces the ISTEP test program with an assessment program using the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills or the Iowa Tests of Educational Development, as is appropriate for the grade level being tested.

SB 532 Display of "In God We Trust" Motto in Public School
Author/Co-Authors: Nugent
(Education and Career Development)
Requires a public school corporation to display the motto of the United States, "In God We Trust", in a conspicuous place in the main entrance of each building of the school corporation. Requires the attorney general to defend all suits challenging the constitutionality of IC 20-10.1-2-7.

1/29/03 DPA 7-2
2/03/03 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/04/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 71: Yeas 44 and Nays 6
2/04/03 Referred to the House
2/04/03 House sponsor: Rep. Denbo
2/04/03 Cosponsors: Reps. Pond, Welch and Behning
3/04/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Education

SB 541 Academic Achievement
Author/Co-Authors: Rogers
(Education and Career Development)
Makes various provisions to improve academic achievement and set forth education responsibilities for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. Provides that students whose family income level is up to 300% of the eligibility level for free or reduced price lunch program may be eligible to receive partial scholarships under the twenty-first century scholars program.

SB 542 Educational Research Institute
Author/Co-Authors: Clark
(Education and Career Development)
Creates the educational research institute to conduct and disseminate scientifically valid research concerning education and scientifically valid evaluations of educational programs in Indiana.

SB 547 Required Hepatitis B Vaccinations in College
Author/Co-Authors: Merritt
(Health and Provider Services)
Requires a full-time student who matriculates after July 15, 2003, at a residential campus of a public college or university to show proof that the student has been vaccinated for hepatitis B.

SB 556 Property Taxation
Author/Co-Authors: Kenley
(Finance)
Permits a political subdivision to receive an advance distribution from the property tax replacement fund. Reinstates as rules personal property assessment rules incorporated by reference into statutes. Allows approval of a late filed or incomplete application for an economic revitalization deduction or an enterprise zone inventory credit. Adjusts qualifications for certain civil taxing unit excessive levy appeals. Allows a county assessor to appear as an additional party or represent the township assessor in review proceedings before the Indiana board of tax review. Permits the Indiana board to make a final determination based on a stipulation, and requires the Indiana board to consider a county assessor's comments or objections to a final determination based on a stipulation. If the time for the Indiana board to issue a final determination expires, allows the petitioner to wait for a determination or file for de novo review in the tax court. Expands the rulemaking authority of the Indiana board. Changes the annual deadline for county auditors to provide information to the state, and imposes a penalty for failure to provide the information by the deadline. Provides that the county assessor (instead of the county auditor) is responsible for publishing notice of the annual session of the county property tax assessment board. Directs county auditors to forward sales disclosure form data to the legislative services agency.

2/17/03 DPA 14-0
2/20/03 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/24/03 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 150: Yeas 49 and Nays 0
2/24/03 Referred to the House
2/24/03 House sponsor: Rep. Welch
2/24/03 Cosponsor: Rep. Buell
2/24/03 Senator Hume added as second author
3/13/03 First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means
3/17/03 Representative Welch removed as sponsor
3/17/03 Representative Klinker added as sponsor
3/17/03 Representative Welch added as cosponsor
3/31/03 DP 26-0