HJR 1 Free Textbooks
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Micon
Requires the general assembly to provide that textbooks be provided to all public school students without charge. THis proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Micon
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Judiciary

HJR 3 Use of the Common School Fund
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Day, Representative Messer
Provides that the principal and interest of the common school fund may be used for kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, and other early childhood education programs . Removes language prohibiting diminishment of the principal of the common school fund.

1/05/06 Authored by Representative Day
1/05/06 Coauthored by Representative Messer
1/05/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Judiciary
1/25/06 Representative Messer added as author
1/25/06 Representative Day removed as author
1/25/06 Representative Day added as coauthor
1/25/06 Reassigned to the Committee on Ways and Means
1/26/06 Committee report: do pass, adopted
1/31/06 Amendment 1 (Day): prevailed; Voice Vote
1/31/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/01/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 212: Yeas 92, Nays 2
2/01/06 Referred to the Senate
2/01/06 First Senate sponsor: Senator Kenley
2/01/06 Second Senate sponsor: Senator Lubbers
2/01/06 Cosponsors: Senator R Meeks and Senator Rogers
2/07/06 First reading: referred to Committee on Appropriations

HB 1005 Autism Scholarships
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Behning
Provides scholarships to the parents of eligible autistic children who attend a school of choice. Makes an appropriation.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Noe
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1034 Defense to Controlled Substance Offences
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Davis
Repeals defenses for a person charged with a felony drug offence that is elevated because the person was within 1,000 feet of school property, a public park, a family housing complex, or a youth program center.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Davis
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

HB 1046 Penalties from Failed Tax Sales
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Austin
Requires that penalties recovered from a tax sale bidder who fails to pay the bid be deposited in the county general fund rather than the common school fund.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Austin
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1047 Financial Literacy Curriculum
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Bell
Requires public schools (including charter schools) and accredited nonpublic schools to provide instruction in personal financial responsibility to students in grades 9 though 12.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Bell
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/12/06 Representative Welch added as coauthor

HB 1059 Transfer of Money Between School Funds
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Heim
Allows money to be transferred between the funds maintained by a school corporation. Repeals various provisions authorizing transfers of money from certain funds only to specific funds or under specific circumstances.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Heim
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1062 School Corporation Police Department
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Hinkle, Representative Buell, Representative Crawford, Representative Porter
Provides that the governing body of a school corporation (including a school city) may establish a school corporation police department that is staffed with police officers who have full police powers and whose survivors are eligible for death benefits. Requires school corporation police officers to have law enforcement academy education and pre- basic and basic training and to participate in local continuing education programs. Requires a school corporation police officer who was appointed before July 1, 2006, to complete the law enforcement academy education and basic training requirements not later than July 1, 2009. Imposes deadlines for school corporation police officers to begin law enforcement academy education and basic training requirements. Provides that a school corporation police department established before July 1, 2006, is considered a school corporation police department established under this legislation.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Bell
1/04/06 Coauthored by Representative Buell, Representative Crawford
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/23/06 Committee report: do pass, adopted
1/23/06 Representative Porter added as coauthor
1/30/06 Second reading: ordered engrossed
2/01/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 137: Yeas 94, Nays 4
2/01/06 Referred to the Senate
2/01/06 First Senate sponsor: Senator Lawson
2/06/06 First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security, Utilities, and Public Policy
2/09/06 Senator Breaux added as cosponsor
2/23/06 Committee report withdrawn

HB 1064 School Levy Freeze
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Buck
Imposes a freeze on the total amount of ad valorem property taxes that may be imposed by a school corporation for all funds beginning in 2007. Provides that another school fund must be used if for any reason there is a debt service obligation that is guaranteed from property taxes and constitutes an increased debt burden over 2006 levels. Allows the department of local government finance to increase the limit to allow a school corporation or tax increment financing area to meet its obligations if insufficient money is available after the taxing unit has eliminated all discretionary spending and sold all surplus property. Permits a school corporation to exceed the limit if a referendum is passed. Limits the referendum increase to 1% over the limited amount and to the period approved in the referendum. Permits the referendum tax levy to be allocated to any fund. Establishes a local income for education surtax at a rate of 0.25% for individuals, at a rate of 0.63% for corporations and financial institutions, and at a rate of 0.1% for utilities and insurance companies electing to pay the insurance premium tax. Deposits the surtax revenue into a dedicated state fund named the local income for education (LIFE) fund. Modifies the school funding formula to provide that the amount that would have been contributed in a year from general fund property taxes above the freeze limit is instead replaced with distributions distributed from the LIFE fund. Provides for a supplement LIFE distribution of not more than: (1) the assessed value growth quotient times the prior year LIFE distribution; minus (2) the current year general fund property tax replacement amount. Permits the supplemental distribution to be allocated to any fund.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Buck
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1072 Holocaust Study
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Kersey
Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, requires each school corporation to include a study of the Holocaust as a part of its curriculum.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Kersey
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1078 Collective Bargaining for Public Employees
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Kersey
Permits certain governmental employees and noncertificated employees of school corporations to form and join unions. Establishes a five member public employees relations board. Establishes a procedure for the selection and decertification of an exclusive bargaining representative. Establishes employer and employee rights. Specifies prohibited practices. Requires the employer to bargain collectively when an exclusive representative has been certified. Establishes negotiation, mediation, fact finding, and binding arbitration procedures. Establishes mandatory subjects of negotiation. Provides that all decisions, opinions, or awards made by an arbitrator are subject to public inspection and copying. Provides that a proposed bargaining agreement subject to ratification by the parties is confidential. Requires a grievance procedure to be included in each collective bargaining agreement. Makes strikes by certain public employees unlawful, and establishes penalties for strikes.

1/05/06 Authored by Representative Kersey
1/05/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Employment and Labor

HB 1084 Property Tax Deduction for Free Golf for Students
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Bischoff
Provides a property tax deduction for an owner of a commercial golf course who allows elementary or secondary school students to use the golf course without charge.

1/05/06 Authored by Representative Bischoff
1/05/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1127 DOE Use of Funds for Mentor Teacher Stipends
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Davis, Representative Behning, Representative Woodruff, Representative J. Smith
Allows the division of professional standards of the department of education to use part of the appropriations made to the division for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 fiscal years for stipends for mentor teachers.

1/04/06 Authored by Representative Davis
1/04/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/12/06 Representative Behning, Representative Woodruff, and Representative J. Smith added as coauthors
1/17/06 Committee report: do pass, adopted
1/23/06 Second reading: ordered engrossed
1/26/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 69: Yeas 93, Nays 0
1/26/06 Referred to the Senate
1/26/06 First Senate sponsor: Senator Lubbers
2/01/06 First reading: referred to Committee on Appropriations

HB 1132 Lifetime Parole for Child Molesters
Author/Co-Authors: Representative J. Smith
Provides that a person convicted of child molesting: (1) must be placed on lifetime parole when the person's term of imprisonment is completed; and (2) must be required to wear a GPS monitoring device. Prohibits a person convicted of child molesting from residing within 1,000 feet of a school, public park, or youth program center, or from working at an attraction designed to appeal to children. Allows the parole board to require a sex and violent offender to wear a GPS monitoring device while on parole. Provides that a person who violates a condition of lifetime parole after the person's lifetime parole has been revoked two or more times or after completing the person's sentence (including any credit time) commits a Class D felony, that the offense is a Class C felony if the person has a prior unrelated lifetime parole violation conviction or if the violation involves contact with a child or a victim of the child molesting offense for which the person was convicted, and that the offense is a Class B felony if the person has a prior unrelated lifetime parole violation conviction that involved contact with a child or a victim of the child molesting offense for which the person was convicted. Specifies that a person convicted of child molesting in another state whose parole is transferred to Indiana is required to be placed on lifetime parole. Provides that, if a person being supervised on lifetime parole is also required to be supervised by a probation department or similar agency, the probation department or similar agency may have sole supervision of the person if the parole board finds that supervision by the probation department or other agency will be at least as stringent and effective as supervision by the parole board.

1/05/06 Authored by Representative J. Smith
1/05/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

HB 1137 Full-Day Kindergarten Funding from Tax Amnesty
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Orentlicher, Representative Bardon
Uses money received under the tax amnesty program to provide full-day kindergarten grants. Makes an appropriation.

1/05/06 Authored by Representative Orentlicher
1/05/06 Co-authored by Representative Bardon
1/05/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Judiciary

HB 1167 Student Nutrition and Physical Activity
Author/Co-Authors: Representative C. Brown
Requires school boards to establish a coordinated school health advisory council to develop a local wellness policy that complies with certain federal requirements. Requires the department of education to provide information concerning health, nutrition, and physical activity. Establishes requirements applying to food and beverage items that are available for sale to students outside the federal school meal programs, including a requirement that a certain percentage of the food and beverage items qualify as better choices. Provides that the requirements do not apply after school hours or to fundraisers. Requires daily physical activity for elementary school students in public schools, with certain exceptions. Allows a school to continue a vending machine contract in existence before the passage of this bill. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the health finance commission.)

1/10/06 Authored by Representative C. Brown
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Public Health

HB 1175 Sales Tax Holiday
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Crooks
Provides a sales tax exemption for bags, books, clothing, wallets, and school supplies that are purchased during the seven day period from July 25th through July 31st.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Crooks
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1184 Four Day School Week Option
Author/Co-Authors: Representative McClain
Authorizes a school corporation to operate one or more schools on a four day school week if instructional time and certain other requirements are met.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative McClain
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1187 Smoking in Enclosed Public Places
Author/Co-Authors: Representative V. Smith
Prohibits a person from smoking in: (1) an indoor enclosed area where the general public is invited or permitted; (2) a public building; or (3) a school bus or public means of mass transit when passengers are present. Provides exceptions to the prohibition of smoking in an indoor enclosed area. Repeals the definition of "retail area" and "school bus" in the clean indoor area law.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative V. Smith
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Public Health

HB 1191 In-Class Spending Requirements
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Stutzman
Provides for the reporting of a school corporation's expenditures for current operating expenses. Requires a school corporation to receive prior approval from the department of local government finance before making certain expenditures if: (1) the school corporation's total expenditures for instruction are less than 65% of the school corporation's total current operating expenditures; and (2) the school corporation is not operating on an approved plan that increases the school corporation's in-class spending percentage by at least two percentage points each year.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Stutzman
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1195 Sales Tax Holiday
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Ulmer
Provides a sales tax exemption for school supplies, school art supplies, school computer supplies, computers, articles of clothing, and certain household items that are purchased during the four day period beginning on the first Thursday in August.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Ulmer
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1204 Limitation on School Starting Date
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Lehe
Prohibits schools from beginning student instructional days for the school year more than one week before the first Monday in September, starting in 2007.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Lehe
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1211 School Property Taxes
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Klinker, Representative Ayres, Representative Thompson, Representative Micon
Increases the property tax rate the board of school trustees in a third class city may impose for the establishment and maintenance of certain facilities, and provides that the state property tax replacement credit does not apply to that rate. Requires reduction of the school capital projects fund rate in an amount corresponding to that rate increase.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Klinker
1/10/06 Co-Authored by Representative Ayres, Representative Thompson, Representative Micon
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
1/17/06 Representative Klinker removed as author
1/17/06 Representative Ayres removed as coauthor
1/17/06 Representative Ayres added as author
1/17/06 Representative Klinker added as coauthor

HB 1213 Study of Teacher Incentives
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Noe, Representative Behning
Requires the education roundtable to study financial and career incentives for teachers and to report, not later than May 1, 2007 to the governor, the superintendent of public instruction, the legislative council, and the state board of education.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Noe
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/25/06 Committee report: do pass, adopted
1/30/06 Amendment 1 (Turner), failed; Roll Call 99: Yeas 27, Nays 71
1/30/06 Amendment 2 (Noe), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
1/31/06 Representative Behning added as coauthor
2/01/06 Third reading: defeated; Roll Call 164: Yeas 41, Nays 56

HB 1230 Transfer of First Steps Program
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Klinker, Representative Woodruff, Representative C. Brown, Representative T. Brown
Creates the bureau of child development services within the division of disability, aging, and rehabilitative services. Places the infants and toddlers with disabilities program (first steps) under the bureau of child development services. Makes conforming amendments, including a repeal of current provisions concerning the infants and toddlers with disabilities program. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the commission on mental retardation and developmental disabilities.)

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Klinker
1/10/06 Co-Authored by Representative Woodruff, Representative C. Brown, and Representative T. Brown
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1244 Mentor Teacher Stipends
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Porter
Allows the division of professional standards of the department of education to use part of the appropriations made to the division for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 fiscal years for stipends for mentor teachers.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Porter
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1245 Advanced Placement Programs
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Porter
Encourages the department of education to pursue federal grant opportunities to increase the awareness, availability, and participation in advanced placement programs for low income students.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Porter
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1269 Prohibition on Knives at School
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Cheney, Representative Ayres, Representative Dobis
Makes possessing a knife (with certain exceptions) on school property: (1) a Class C misdemeanor for a person who is less than 21 years of age; and (2) a Class B misdemeanor for a person who is at least 21 years of age if the blade of the knife is more than two inches in length and the overall length of the knife is more than five inches.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Cheney
1/10/06 Co-Authored by Representative Ayres and Representative Dobis
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1278 School Corporation Public Works Project
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Bright Bright, Representative Thompson, Representative Reske
Authorizes the governing body of a school corporation to enter into a public works contract by a competitive sealed bidding process through a multistate cooperative purchasing program.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Bright
1/10/06 Co-Authored by Representative Thompson and Representative Reske
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Local Government

HB 1282 Elimination of School Property Taxes
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Murphy
Terminates the authority of a school corporation to impose a property tax for educational purposes other than to repay an obligation that: (1) was entered into before April 1, 2006; and (2) includes a pledge requiring the school corporation to repay the obligation only from property taxes. Permits a school corporation to impose a local income for education tax against adjusted gross income in the taxing unit. Reduces the state adjusted gross income tax imposed on individuals. Eliminates distributions to school corporations from the property tax replacement fund. Provides for an additional state funded ADM flat grant to school corporations and charter schools. Requires school corporations to use the grant to reduce the local income tax for education tax rates imposed for debt service and capital projects. Makes an appropriation. Makes other related changes.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Murphy
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1293 Determination of Graduation Rates
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Aguilera
Requires separate graduation rates to be determined and reported for certain groups of students within a school corporation and the state, in addition to the graduation rate for the school corporation and state as a whole.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Aguilera
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1312 Various Education Matters (See SB 324)
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Behning, Representative T. Harris, Representative Noe
Allows the use of school-owned buses for nonprofit organizations under certain conditions. Allows school corporations to independently contract for school nurses and other certified or licensed personnel to provide student services and health services. Removes the requirement that a school nurse must have a bachelor's degree in nursing. Makes statutes governing nonrenewal of contracts applicable to assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and directors of special education consistent with statutes governing the nonrenewal of a superintendent's contract. Increases the cost of public works projects subject to the bidding process. Allows payment of skilled maintenance personnel salaries and fringe benefits from the capital projects fund for certain school corporations. Allows up to one year or the school corporation's next budget year for school corporations to abate school building inspection violations. Removes the requirement for state and local attendance officers. Extends eligibility for the twenty-first century scholars program to students in grade 7. Repeals superseded compulsory school attendance provisions. Provides that a nonpermanent teacher must be notified by June 1 that the school corporation's governing body will consider the nonrenewal of the teacher's contract. (The notification deadline under current law is May 1.) Provides that an initial school superintendent contract must be for a term of at least 36 months. Allows subsequent contracts to be of any duration. Allows school corporations to declare themselves deregulated and waive certain statutes and rules. Provides that a teacher must be notified on or after May 1 that the salary schedule may be changed by the school corporation. (The notification deadline under current law is May 1.)Allows a school corporation to implement a breakfast program at a school building if at least 15% (rather than 25%) of the students enrolled at that school building during the prior school year qualified for free or reduced price lunches under federal guidelines.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Behning
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/25/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/30/06 Amendment 1 (Day), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Amendment 2 (Hinkle), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Amendment 3 (Pelath), ruled out of order
1/30/06 Amendment 4 (Micon), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Amendment 5 (Cheney), withdrawn
1/30/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
1/31/06 Representative T. Harris and Representative Noe added as coauthor
2/02/06 Third reading:made special order of business for 08:30 2/02/2006
2/02/06 Reread third time: call withdrawn

HB 1330 Military Service Credit for Teachers' Retirement Fund Members
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Hoffman
Provides that a member of the teachers' retirement fund (TRF) is entitled to up to four years of service credit for active duty service in the United States armed forces if the member received an honorable discharge and has at least ten years of creditable service in the fund.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Hoffman
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Employment and Labor

HB 1333 Educational Scholarship Programs
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Messer
Establishes: (1) a scholarship tax credit for charitable contributions made to an organization that grants scholarships to pay the tuition and fees that a student would otherwise be obligated to pay to attend a public or private school; and (2) a school readiness scholarship program to pay the tuition and costs that a child determined to be at risk by the division of family resources would otherwise be obligated to pay to enroll in a preschool operated by a public or nonpublic school. Designates up to $35,000,000 of federal money available from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) to be used for school readiness scholarships.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative Messer
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1338 School Improvement Progress and Awards
Author/Co-Authors: Representative T. Harris, Representative Walorski
Establishes additional criteria for determining a school's improvement compared with the school's performance in previous years. Provides a graduated series of awards based on improvement. Requires training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver to obtain an initial license as a teacher. Establishes immunity from liability for an act or omission by a teacher who has obtained a license and been trained in CPR. Allows a person who has failed the teacher licensing examination at least two times to demonstrate proficiency by having the person's teacher education school or department certify to the department of education that the person possesses the content knowledge required by the examination. Requires the department of education to submit to the education roundtable for review and approval certain requirements for initial teacher licensure. Revises the purposes for which a grant may be used. Repeals certain prohibitions on the use of performance based awards granted under IC 20-31-11.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative T. Harris
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/17/06 Representative Walorski added as coauthor
1/25/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/30/06 Amendment 1 (Duncan), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/02/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 195: Yeas 97, Nays 0
2/02/06 Referred to the Senate
2/02/06 First Senate sponsor: Senator Lubbers
2/06/06 First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development
2/23/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
3/01/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
3/01/06 Amendment 3 (Lubbers), prevailed; Voice Vote
3/01/06 Amendment 1 (Landske), prevailed; Voice Vote
3/01/06 Senator Sipes added as cosponsor
3/02/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 307: Yeas 48, Nays 1
3/02/06 Returned to the House with amendments
3/06/06 House dissented from Senate amendments
3/06/06 House conferees appointed: Representative T. Harris and Representative Porter
3/06/06 House advisors appointed: Representative Noe and Representative Stilwell
3/07/06 Senate advisors appointed: Senator Landske and Senator Rogers
3/07/06 Senate conferees appointed: Senator Lubbers and Senator Breaux
3/14/06 Rules suspended
3/14/06 Conference committee report 1: filed in the House
3/14/06 Conference committee report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 487: Yeas 94, Nays 0

HB 1338 School Improvement Progress and Awards
Author/Co-Authors: Representative T. Harris, Representative Walorski
Establishes additional criteria for determining a school's improvement compared with the school's performance in previous years. Provides a graduated series of awards based on improvement. Requires training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver to obtain an initial license as a teacher. Establishes immunity from liability for an act or omission by a teacher who has obtained a license and been trained in CPR. Allows a person who has failed the teacher licensing examination at least two times to demonstrate proficiency by having the person's teacher education school or department certify to the department of education that the person possesses the content knowledge required by the examination. Requires the department of education to submit to the education roundtable for review and approval certain requirements for initial teacher licensure. Revises the purposes for which a grant may be used. Repeals certain prohibitions on the use of performance based awards granted under IC 20-31-11.

1/10/06 Authored by Representative T. Harris
1/10/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/17/06 Representative Walorski added as coauthor
1/25/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/30/06 Amendment 1 (Duncan), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/02/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 195: Yeas 97, Nays 0
2/02/06 Referred to the Senate
2/02/06 First Senate sponsor: Senator Lubbers
2/06/06 First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development
2/23/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
3/01/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
3/01/06 Amendment 3 (Lubbers), prevailed; Voice Vote
3/01/06 Amendment 1 (Landske), prevailed; Voice Vote
3/01/06 Senator Sipes added as cosponsor
3/02/06 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 307: Yeas 48, Nays 1
3/02/06 Returned to the House with amendments
3/06/06 House dissented from Senate amendments
3/06/06 House conferees appointed: Representative T. Harris and Representative Porter
3/06/06 House advisors appointed: Representative Noe and Representative Stilwell
3/07/06 Senate advisors appointed: Senator Landske and Senator Rogers
3/07/06 Senate conferees appointed: Senator Lubbers and Senator Breaux
3/14/06 Rules suspended
3/14/06 Conference committee report 1: filed in the House
3/14/06 Conference committee report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 487: Yeas 94, Nays 0

HB 1355 Selection of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Behning
Provides for the superintendent of public instruction to be appointed by the governor. Repeals a statute relating to the residency of candidates for election for superintendent of public instruction. Deletes a provision describing the term of office of the superintendent of public instruction.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Behning
1/12/06 Coauthored by Representative Friend
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/25/06 Committee report: do pass, adopted
1/30/06 Amendment 1 (V. Smith), failed; Roll Call 108: Yeas 40, Nays 53
1/30/06 Amendment 2 (V. Smith), failed; Roll Call 109: Yeas 43, Nays 50
1/30/06 Amendment 3 (V. Smith), failed; Voice Vote
1/30/06 Amendment 4 (Turner), failed; Division of the House: Yeas 42, Nays 48
1/30/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/02/06 Third reading: passed for the evening

HB 1374 Teacher Licensure
Author/Co-Authors: Representative V. Smith
Allows a person who has failed the teacher licensing examination at least two times to demonstrate proficiency by having the person's teacher education school or department certify to the department of education that the person possesses the content knowledge required by the examination. Requires the department of education to submit to the education roundtable for review and approval certain requirements for initial teacher licensure.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative V. Smith
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1381 Kindergarten Tax Credit
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Behning
Provides a refundable income tax credit for education expenditures for a qualified dependent enrolled in a full day kindergarten at a school of choice (a nonpublic school that is voluntarily accredited or a public school where the child is required to pay transfer tuition) when a full day kindergarten program is not available at the public school where the qualified dependent has legal settlement. Permits a taxpayer to assign the income tax credit to a school of choice in satisfaction of the taxpayer's total educational expenditure obligation. Terminates the credit program in 2010.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Behning
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education
1/25/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/31/06 Amendment 1 (Day), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/31/06 Amendment 3 (Behning), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/31/06 Amendment 4 (V. Smith), failed; Voice Vote
1/31/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/02/06 Third reading: defeated; Roll Call 203: Yeas 46, Nays 52

HB 1383 Restricting Public Assistance for Illegal Aliens
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Turner, Representative J. Smith, Representative Woodruff, Representative Bright
Requires a law enforcement agency to: (1) cooperate with the United States Department of Homeland Security concerning illegal aliens; (2) attempt to verify the legal status of an individual suspected of being an illegal alien; and (3) notify the individual, the attorney general, and the United States Department of Homeland Security that the individual is suspected of being an illegal alien. Provides that an individual may not receive certain categories of public assistance, benefits for publicly funded health care, or certain health care services from publicly funded hospitals or health facilities unless the individual is legally present in the United States. Requires a state educational institution to verify the legal status of each student. Prohibits: (1) a state educational institution from admitting or permitting attendance of an individual who is an illegal alien; and (2) an agency from issuing or renewing a license, permit, or any other official authorization to an illegal alien. Requires each employer in the state to verify to the department of workforce development by October 1, 2006, that each employee of the employer is a legal resident of the United States and establishes an ongoing duty to report the same concerning each new hire. Establishes a civil penalty equal to the total payroll for the employer for the calendar month previous to the violation for the failure to report. Makes immigration forgery a Class C felony.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Turner
1/12/06 Co-authored by Representative Woodruff, Representative Bright, and Representative J.Smith
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
1/24/06 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/31/06 Amendment 1 (Aguilera), prevailed; Roll Call 127: Yeas 55, Nays 43
1/31/06 Amendment 2 (Turner), prevailed; Voice Vote
1/31/06 Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/02/06 Third reading: defeated; Roll Call 204: Yeas 92, Nays 7

HB 1386 Academic Progress Test
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Borders
Replaces the ISTEP test program with the Measures of Academic Progress assessment system. Repeals a definition concerning the ISTEP test program. Makes conforming changes.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Borders
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1388 Accuracy in Textbooks
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Borders
Prohibits the state board from adopting textbooks that the state board knows contain information, descriptions, conclusions, or pictures that are false.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Borders
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1403 Elimination of Textbook Rental Program
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Oxley
Abolishes the textbook rental program for public school students. Expands the definition of "textbook" to include materials used in student instruction. Requires school corporations to establish and appropriate money from a textbook fund to purchase all needed textbooks for loan without charge to corporation students. Provides an annual state textbook grant equal to $95 multiplied by the average daily membership of a school corporation. Requires the deposit of grant funds in the textbook fund.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Oxley
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1404 Securitization of Tobacco Settlement Payments
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Espich
Establishes the tobacco settlement corporation. Permits the corporation to purchase up to 50% of the state's right to receive payments under the tobacco master settlement agreement and to issue bonds payable from those payments. Provides for distribution of the bond proceeds to school corporations, state universities, and local units of government to reverse the effects of reductions of various distributions and appropriations in the 2001 budget. Authorizes the corporation to enter into certain swap agreements with respect to the obligations that it issues.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Espich
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

HB 1406 High School Diploma
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Porter
Allows beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, a student to graduate from high school without passing the graduation examination, subject to certain requirements.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Porter
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education

HB 1410 Bible Study
Author/Co-Authors: Representative Denbo
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 division of professional standards to jointly develop and report to the legislative council before January 1, 2007, a plan to implement the academic study of religion in secondary schools.

1/12/06 Authored by Representative Denbo
1/12/06 First reading: referred to the Committee on Education