HJR 0005 Early Learning Trust Fund
Author/Co-Authors: Bauer, Porter
(Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures)
Establishes the early learning trust fund. Transfers the balance of the common school fund to the early learning trust fund. Allows the principal and income of the early learning trust fund to be used only for educational programs for children before entering primary school, including kindergarten. Repeals provisions requiring the common school fund to be invested for the benefit of the counties, requiring counties to preserve the common school fund, and requiring that all trust funds held by the state remain inviolate and be applied to the purposes for which the trust was created. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

1/20/04 DP 6-2
1/20/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
1/26/04 DP 16-10
1/29/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/02/04 Third reading: failed for lack of constitutional majority; Roll Call 57: Yeas 46 and Nays 49
2/04/04 House reconsidered
2/04/04 Roll Call 89: Yeas 49 and Nays 47
2/04/04 Reread third time: failed for lack of constitutional majority; Roll Call 90: Yeas 50 and Nays 47

HB 1006 Property Tax Deduction Increases
Author/Co-Authors: Welch, Becker, Adams, Reske
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Increases the deduction amount for the following: (1) elderly deduction; (2) blind or disabled deduction; (3) 10% disabled veteran's deduction; (4) 100% disabled or elderly veteran's deduction; (5) WWI surviving spouse deduction; (6) WWI veteran's deduction; (7) one and two family dwelling rehabilitation deduction; (8) 50 year old home rehabilitation deduction; and (9) residentially distressed area deduction. Allows a property owner to determine the year in which a five year residential rehabilitation period begins and allows a property owner to revive a deduction not taken for the assessment date in 2003 or an earlier year. Dedicates revenue generated by a 0.1% increase in the corporate adjusted gross income tax rate to 8.6% and a 0.1% increase in the utility receipts tax rate to 1.5% to freeze the property taxes of resident homeowners who are at least 65 years of age and whose adjusted gross income does not exceed $25,000. Makes an appropriation.

1/12/04 DP 27-0
1/15/04 Second reading: amended; ordered engrossed
1/20/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 26: Yeas 95 and Nays 2
1/20/04 Referred to the Senate
1/20/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Lubbers
1/20/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Simpson
2/03/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Finance

HB 1008 Local Taxation
Author/Co-Authors: Lytle, Goodin, Aguilera
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Authorizes a fiscal body of a city, town, or county to impose an additional income tax. Requires at least 75% of the revenue to be used for property tax relief. Requires the property tax relief to be in addition to local property tax relief provided from other revenue sources.

1/15/04 DPA 18-9
1/20/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
1/22/04 Third reading: recommitted to Committee of One, amendment adopted, passed; Roll Call 28: Yeas 52 and Nays 47
1/22/04 Referred to the Senate
1/22/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Kenley
1/22/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Broden
1/22/04 Cosponsors: Senators Dillon and Lewis
2/03/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Finance

HB 1009 School Tax Levies
Author/Co-Authors: Cheney, Goodin
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Authorizes a school corporation to: (1) file an appeal to impose an additional levy to make up a shortfall in property tax collections in a fund other than the school general fund; and (2) increase the corporation's transportation fund levy by the amount by which the state has reduced its transportation distributions to the corporation. Provides that the increase in the transportation fund levy and the shortfall levy are not eligible for property tax replacement credits or homestead credits. Extends the sunset date for issuance of school corporation bonds for retirement or severance liability from December 31, 2004, to December 31, 2006. Provides that a school corporation may not issue such bonds after December 31, 2004, unless the corporation submits to the department of local government finance before January 1, 2005, a proposal concerning the issuance of the bonds to implement solutions for the corporation's retirement or severance liability. Allows a school corporation to issue bonds for that purpose a second time if the first bond issue has been retired and the average annual debt service on the second bond issue does not exceed the average annual debt service on the first bond issue.

1/15/04 Representatives Thompson and Ayres added as coauthors
1/29/04 DPA 27-0
2/04/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/05/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 121: Yeas 78 and Nays 14
2/05/04 Referred to the Senate
2/05/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Kenley
2/05/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Waterman
2/05/04 Cosponsors: Senators Sipes and Hume
2/10/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Finance

HB 1014 Childhood Obesity
Author/Co-Authors: Brown C., Becker, Welch
(Committee on Education)
Requires the department of education to develop: (1) recommendations for school corporation nutritional policies and curricula; and (2) model policies for the measurement of student body mass indexes. Prohibits vending machines at elementary schools from being accessible to students. Requires that healthy foods and beverages account for 50% of the food and beverage sales in middle and high schools. Requires school corporations to adopt nutritional integrity policies. Requires 30 minutes of daily physical activity for elementary school students in public schools. Allows a school to continue a vending machine contract in existence before April 1, 2004. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the commission on excellence in health care.)

1/15/04 Recommitted to the Committee on Public Health
1/26/04 DPA 11-2
1/26/04 Representative Ruppel added as coauthor
1/26/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
1/29/04 DP 20-3
2/02/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/04/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 84: Yeas 54 and Nays 41
2/04/04 Referred to the Senate
2/04/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Miller
2/04/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Rogers
2/04/04 Cosponsors: Senators Dillon and Breaux
2/09/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development

HB 1016 Presumption Concerning Child Sexual Abuse
Author/Co-Authors: Brown C., Becker, Welch
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a child is a child in need of services (CHINS) if the child: (1) lives in the same household as another child who is the victim of certain sex offenses; and (2) needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that the child is not receiving and that is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a child is a CHINS if: (1) another child in the same household has been the victim of a sex offense; (2) the offense was committed by an adult living in the household; and (3) the offense resulted in the conviction of the adult or a CHINS adjudication concerning the child victim. Provides that a child presumed to be a CHINS may not be taken into custody or emergency custody unless a court finds cause following a hearing.

1/15/04 Withdrawn

HB 1043 Division of Interscholastic Athletics
Author/Co-Authors: Buell
(Committee on Education)
Creates the division of interscholastic athletics within the department of education to administer all interscholastic athletic programs. Allows the division to enter into agreements with nonpublic schools for participation in interscholastic athletic programs. Provides that a school corporation may participate only in interscholastic athletics that are governed by the division. Repeals the law concerning interscholastic athletic association case review panels.

HB 1049 TRF COLA and "Thirteenth Check"
Author/Co-Authors: Herrell, Scholer
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Provides for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) and a supplemental "thirteenth check" for members of the teachers retirement fund (TRF) (or their survivors or beneficiaries) for 2005.

HB 1052 ISTEP Waiver for Children with Disabilities
Author/Co-Authors: Stilwell
(Committee on Education)
Changes certain requirements for a student with a disability to receive a waiver to graduate from high school without passing the graduation examination. Requires a student who seeks a waiver to: (1) attain the goals established by the student's individualized education program (IEP) rather than to attain the academic standard in a subject area; and (2) maintain a passing grade rather than a "C" average.

HB 1063 Employment Certificates for Minors
Author/Co-Authors: Yount
(Committee on Labor and Employment)
Provides that an officer may issue two employment certificates to a student if: (1) the total number of hours per week that the student works does not exceed the maximum allowed by law; and (2) each employment certificate states the maximum number of hours per week the student may work at the location for which the employment certificate is issued.

HB 1088 Children's Coordinated Services Commission
Author/Co-Authors: Day, Budak, Porter, Scholer
(Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures)
Establishes the children's coordinated services commission to coordinate and oversee children's services.

HB 1095 Teachers' Retirement Fund Benefit
Author/Co-Authors: Dvorak
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Authorizes payment in certain circumstances of the amount resulting from the inclusion of military service credit in the calculation of a member's benefit from the teachers' retirement fund.

HB 1099 High School Diplomas
Author/Co-Authors: GiaQuinta
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a veteran of the Korean Conflict or the Vietnam Conflict who left high school without graduating in order to perform military service may receive a high school diploma.

HB 1110 Immunity of Firearm Owners
Author/Co-Authors: Ulmer
(Committee on Judiciary)
Provides immunity to a person based on an act or omission related to the storage or monitoring of a firearm that is used by a third party in the commission of a crime.

1/20/04 Representative Goodin added as coauthor

HB 1118 Reemployment of Retired TRF and PERF Members
Author/Co-Authors: Klinker, Hinkle
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Removes the limit on the amount that a retired teachers' retirement fund (TRF) member who is reemployed in a covered position may earn each year before the member's retirement benefits stop. Provides that if a retired member of TRF or the public employees retirement fund (PERF) is reemployed in a covered position not more than 30 days after the member retired, the member's retirement benefits stop and the member must resume making contributions. (Under current law, the period is 90 days.)

HB 1131 Preschool Registration
Author/Co-Authors: Budak, Crawford
(Committee on Human Affairs)
Amends the definition of "preschool". Revises the licensure exemption for preschools. Requires a preschool to register with the division of family and children. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the board for coordination of child care regulation.)

2/02/04 DP 11-2
2/04/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed

HB 1134 Parental Leave for School Conferences
Author/Co-Authors: Cheney
(Committee on Labor and Employment)
Requires an employer to provide paid leave to parents for school conferences when the conferences are scheduled only during the parents' work hours.

1/15/04 Representative Hasler added as coauthor
1/22/04 DPA 8-6
1/26/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/29/04 Third reading: call withdrawn
2/05/04 Reread third time: call withdrawn

HB 1157 School Corporation Insurance
Author/Co-Authors: Fry, Oxley
(Committee on Education)
Requires the state personnel department, in cooperation with the department of insurance (DOI), to implement a pilot project through which active and retired employees of ten school corporations chosen by the DOI participate in the state employee health benefit plan. Sets forth provisions allowing school corporations to enter into interlocal agreements to establish a cooperative risk management program to provide for coverage of certain risks of the school corporations.

1/21/04 DP 10-4
1/26/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
1/29/04 DP 27-0
2/04/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/05/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 173: Yeas 75 and Nays 18
2/05/04 Referred to the Senate
2/05/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Kenley
2/05/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Lanane
2/10/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions

HB 1175 Local Employee Health Insurance and TRF Retirees
Author/Co-Authors: Adams, Kersey
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Removes the two year limitation on a surviving spouse's participation in a local unit's retired employee group health insurance program and reinstates surviving spouses who are eligible for coverage. Permits a retired member of the state teachers' retirement fund (TRF) to assign benefits for paying dues to any association that proves to the TRF board that the association has as members at least 50% of the number of active members of the fund.

HB 1179 Cultural and Performing Arts Development Districts
Author/Co-Authors: Avery
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Authorizes cities and counties that have a redevelopment commission to apply to the department of commerce and the arts commission for designation of a cultural and performing arts development district. Establishes procedures for the allocation of incremental property tax, sales tax, and income tax revenue to the redevelopment commission for use within the district.

HB 1184 State Educational Institution License Plates
Author/Co-Authors: Borror
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Requires the bureau of motor vehicles to issue a state educational institution license plate upon the request of a regional campus comprised of both Indiana University and Purdue University (other than IUPUI, which is eligible for a plate under another statute). Requires the treasurer of state to distribute a fee collected for the plate to the alumni association of the regional campus.

HB 1192 State Employment and Compensation
Author/Co-Authors: Pelath
(Committee on Labor and Employment)
Establishes complaint and arbitration procedures for state employee grievances.

1/21/04 DPA 7-5
1/21/04 Referred to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127

HB 1195 School Instructional Days
Author/Co-Authors: Pflum
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a public school having a longer school day than required by statute may conduct specified activities other than student instruction during up to three full days of each 180 day school year through June 30, 2006.

HB 1205 Mandatory Local and State Government Class
Author/Co-Authors: Lytle
(Committee on Education)
Requires all public high schools to provide instruction in local and state government.

1/21/04 DPA 13-0
1/26/04 Referred to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127

HB 1214 Appeal of School Transportation Fund Maximum Levy
Author/Co-Authors: Ruppel, Oxley, Wolkins, Goodin
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Permits a school corporation to appeal to the department of local government finance one time to increase the school corporation's maximum transportation fund levy for the purpose of offsetting reduced state funding.

HB 1215 Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence
Author/Co-Authors: Ruppel, Goodin, Koch
(Committee on Education)
Requires the display of a United States flag in each classroom of a school corporation. Allows a school corporation to provide a daily opportunity for students to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance, with an exemption for those students who choose (or whose parents choose for them) not to participate in the pledge. Allows a school corporation to establish the daily observance of a 30 second period of silence in each classroom. Repeals a current law allowing an optional brief period of silent prayer or meditation.

HB 1219 Black History and Heritage Studies
Author/Co-Authors: Summers, Porter, Adams
(Committee on Education)
Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, requires each school corporation to include black history and heritage studies as part of the social studies curriculum.

HB 1227 Selection of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Author/Co-Authors: Behning
(Withdrawn)
Provides for the superintendent of public instruction to be appointed by the governor. Repeals a provision requiring a candidate for the office of state superintendent of public instruction to reside in Indiana for at least two years before the election.

HB 1228 Parental Participation in Student Discipline
Author/Co-Authors: Bardon
(Committee on Judiciary)
Sets forth the procedures that a school corporation must follow before expelling a student, including notice to the student and the student's parent and the conduct of expulsion meetings. Sets forth the grounds for a judicial appeal of an expulsion.

1/20/04 Representative Porter added as coauthor
1/26/04 Representatives L. Lawson and D. Young added as coauthors

HB 1231 Solid Waste Landfill Locations Near Schools
Author/Co-Authors: Lutz
(Committee on Environmental Affairs)
Prohibits the solid waste boundary of a solid waste landfill from being located within 2,640 feet from a public or non-public school building.

HB 1234 Early Learning Study Commission
Author/Co-Authors: Bauer, Porter
(Committee on Education)
Establishes a study commission to develop information needed by the department of education to implement optional full day kindergarten and other early learning programs. Sets forth topics for the commission to consider. Requires the commission to make its report before December 1, 2004.

1/20/04 DP 10-4
1/20/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
1/21/04 DP 17-11
1/26/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
1/29/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 42: Yeas 56 and Nays 40
1/29/04 Referred to the Senate
1/29/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Borst
1/29/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Simpson
1/29/04 Cosponsors: Senators Server and Rogers
2/03/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development
2/10/04 Senator Borst removed as first sponsor
2/10/04 Senator Kenley added as first sponsor
2/12/04 DPA 6-4
2/17/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed.
2/19/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 225: Yeas 44 and Nays 5
2/19/04 Returned to the House with amendments
2/25/04 House dissented from Senate amendments
2/25/04 House conferees appointed: Porter and Robinson
2/25/04 House advisors appointed: Crawford, Goodin, Ayres, and Becker
2/26/04 Senate conferees appointed: Kenley and Lubbers
2/26/04 Senate advisors appointed: Server, Miller, Dillon, Ford, Rogers, Simpson, Sipes, and Breaux
2/27/04 Rep. Robertson removed as conferee
2/27/04 Rep. Ayres removed as House advisor
2/27/04 Rep. Ayres added as conferee
2/27/04 Rep. Robertson appointed as House advisor
3/01/04 Senator Lubbers removed as conferee
3/01/04 Senator Simpson removed as advisor
3/01/04 Senator Lubbers added as advisor
3/01/04 Senator Simpson added as conferee

HB 1246 Board of Education and Public Instruction Superintendent
Author/Co-Authors: Oxley
(Committee on Education)
Requires the department of education to administer and provide staff for the education roundtable. Prohibits the department of education from entering into an agreement under which the commission for higher education would administer or staff the education roundtable. Prohibits the transfer of money that is appropriated to the department of education and intended for use for the education roundtable.

1/27/04 DPA 11-3

HB 1268 Child Advocacy, Child Fatality Review, and CHINS
Author/Co-Authors: Orentlicher, Bardon, Budak, Hinkle
(Committee on Judiciary)
Establishes the child advocate bureau, which shall investigate complaints concerning agencies that provide services to children and shall evaluate services for children. Provides that the child advocate and a person who provides records to the child advocate is immune from civil liability. Makes certain actions that impede the child advocate's investigation a Class A misdemeanor. Establishes the statewide child fatality review committee to review the deaths of children who die suddenly or unexpectedly. Makes the testimony of a committee member inadmissible in certain proceedings. Requires a juvenile court to order a child and the child's parent into counseling if the child is found to have committed a delinquent act that would be one of certain types of sex crimes if committed by an adult. Provides that records of state agencies regarding the death of a child who died as a result of abuse, abandonment, or neglect are not confidential. Provides that a child living in a household with an adult who committed a sex crime against another child living in the household is a child in need of services under certain circumstances. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that a child is a CHINS under certain circumstances. Provides the presumption may not be the reason for taking the child into custody or emergency custody unless a court finds cause following a hearing. Provides that a state employee who falsifies child abuse or neglect information and the child suffers bodily injury as a result of the offense commits a Class D felony.

1/26/04 DPA 13-0
1 /26/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
2/02/04 DP 24-0
2/04/04 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/05/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 130: Yeas 93 and Nays 3
2/05/04 Referred to the Senate
2/05/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Dillon
2/05/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Simpson
2/05/04 Cosponsor: Senator Lanane
2/10/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Criminal and Civil and Public Policy

HB 1287 Various Motor Vehicle Matters
Author/Co-Authors: Goodin
(Committee on Roads and Transportation)
Permits a licensed commercial driver training school to conduct classroom training in a county outside the county in which the school is located. Specifies that a learner's permit holder who: (1) is less than 18 years old and holds a validated permit; or (2) is enrolled in an approved driver's education course; may drive a motor vehicle when the seat beside the driver's seat is occupied by a stepparent of the permit holder who holds a valid operator's license.

1/29/04 DPA 12-0
2/02/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/05/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 186: Yeas 95 and Nays 0
2/05/04 Referred to the Senate
2/05/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Nugent
2/10/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security

HB 1305 Funding for Certain State Programs
Author/Co-Authors: Day
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Imposes graduated individual adjusted gross income tax rates. Increases the state earned income tax credit to 10% of the federal earned income tax credit. Establishes the CHOICE account to provide services under the community and home options to institutional care for the elderly and disabled program (CHOICE). Beginning July 1, 2006, provides that an eligible individual shall not have to wait more than 90 days for CHOICE services. Provides an annual grant to each school corporation that offers a full day kindergarten program. Repeals (1) a provision specifying that the comprehensive program of home and community based long term care services is subject to funding available to the office of the secretary of family and social services; and (2) a provision under which the state earned income tax credit is to expire.

HB 1310 Indiana Education Savings Authority
Author/Co-Authors: Borror, Klinker
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Provides that contributions of up to $2,000 to an Indiana family college savings account may be deducted for state income tax purposes. Reduces the number of appointed directors of the Indiana education savings authority from five to three. Codifies an expired noncode provision that required the treasurer of state and the board for depositories to provide clerical support, office support, and financial support to the Indiana education savings authority.

HB 1340 School Capital Improvement Partnership
Author/Co-Authors: Porter
(Committee on Education)
Establishes a school capital improvement partnership board in Marion County to construct or improve school buildings and facilities. Authorizes the board to: (1) issue bonds; (2) impose either a sales tax or an income tax; and (3) levy a property tax, if necessary, to pay debt service on bonds.

1/27/04 DPA 8-6
2/04/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed

HB 1356 Transfer Tuition
Author/Co-Authors: Scholer
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a student who is placed in a facility, a home, or an institution may attend school in the school corporation in which the facility, home, or institution is located, and that the state is required to pay transfer tuition for the student if no other person or entity is required to pay the student's transfer tuition.

1/29/04 DP 13-0
1/29/04 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127

HB 1357 Academic Honors Diplomas
Author/Co-Authors: Scholer
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a high school student who: (1) achieves a passing score on the graduation examination; and (2) demonstrates subject matter competency in the courses required for an academic honors diploma by either completing the courses or passing approved assessments is entitled to receive an academic honors diploma.

HB 1367 Higher Education Admission Policy
Author/Co-Authors: Messer
(Committee on Education)
Requires state educational institutions to admit first time freshman undergraduate students who meet certain requirements, including graduating from an Indiana secondary school in the top levels of the student's graduating class. Requires state educational institutions to consider socioeconomic factors in determining first time freshman undergraduate admission decisions.

HB 1369 University Capital Projects
Author/Co-Authors: Pierce, Welch
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Expands the dollar value of higher education capital projects that: (1) can be performed using higher education employees; and (2) do not require advertising for bids. Increases from four to twenty years the maximum term of certain leases entered into by higher education institutions. Reduces from three to one the number of appraisers required when a higher education institution sells real property. Removes the requirement that the governor approve the sale of real property. Increases various dollar amount triggers that determine whether certain higher education capital, repair, or lease projects must be approved by the commission for higher education, the governor, the budget agency, or the general assembly. Increases from $10 million to $20 million the amount of bonds that an institution of higher education may issue without the approval of the general assembly to finance a qualified energy savings project. Provides that the higher limit would apply at each academic campus.

HB 1376 Excessive Levy Referendum
Author/Co-Authors: Lehe
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Provides that if a referendum for an excessive school corporation tax levy is defeated at a primary or general election, another referendum may not be held before the next primary or general election that occurs at least 11 months after the referendum.

HB 1382 Elective Study of Bible in Public Schools
Author/Co-Authors: Denbo
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a school corporation may include in its curriculum as an elective a study of world literature, including the Bible and other similar great works of literature. Requires the state board of education and the professional standards board to jointly develop and report to the legislative council by January 1, 2005, a plan to implement the "academic study of religion in secondary schools".

HB 1384 Academic Programs in State Institutions
Author/Co-Authors: Oxley
(Committee on Education)
Requires that educational programs in department of correction facilities and the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home be: (1) consistent with the state's academic standards for primary and secondary students; and (2) offered in a manner that allows a student who successfully completes the state's requirements for graduation to receive a diploma. Requires that certain services provided to clients of the Silvercrest Children's Development Center be provided by personnel who are certified by the professional standards board.

HB 1393 Public Computer Access by Children
Author/Co-Authors: Bosma
(Committee on Education)
Requires a school corporation or a public library that provides Internet or similar computer access to minors to use software to: (1) limit the ability of minors to gain access to inappropriate materials; or (2) purchase Internet service that filters access to these materials. Requires school corporations and public libraries to hold an annual public meeting to determine: (1) how to comply with these requirements; and (2) what materials are considered inappropriate for minors. Provides for grants from the Indiana technology fund to pay for the costs of purchasing software or Internet connectivity to comply with the statute.

HB 1395 Core 40 Curriculum
Author/Co-Authors: Bosma
(Committee on Education)
Requires a student to complete the Core 40 curriculum in order to graduate from high school, unless the individualized education program of a child with a disability does not require the Core 40 curriculum.

HB 1397 Economic Development
Author/Co-Authors: Bosma, Stillwell
(Committee on Ways and Means)
Consolidates various provisions related to the Indiana economic development corporation, community development, and the office of economic development into a single article of the Indiana Code. Establishes the department of tourism. Consolidates tourism functions assigned to the department into one article of the Indiana Code. Establishes the office of energy policy. Consolidates energy-related functions assigned to the office of energy policy into one article of the Indiana Code. Consolidates certain provisions related to the commissioner of agriculture into a one article of the Indiana Code. Repeals provisions related to the department of commerce that are transferred to the Indiana economic development corporation, the department of tourism, or the office of energy policy. Makes conforming changes.

HB 1425 Temporary Teacher Contracts
Author/Co-Authors: Ayres, Thomas, Lawson, Porter
(Committee on Education)
Provides that a temporary teacher's contract must be used under certain circumstances.

1/29/04 DP 11-3
2/04/04 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/05/04 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 112: Yeas 64 and Nays 30
2/05/04 Referred to the Senate
2/05/04 First Senate sponsor: Senator Server
2/05/04 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Skinner
2/09/04 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development

HB 1427 Spring Semester ISTEP Administration
Author/Co-Authors: Stutzman
(Committee on Education)
Provides that the ISTEP test must be administered during the spring semester.

HB 1428 Excused Absence from Schools
Author/Co-Authors: Stutzman, Thompson
(Committee on Education)
Allows a student who is part of the program of a military funeral to have an excused absence from school.