LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, MARCH 10
03/09/2017
The legislature slowly got back to committee work this week with only a handful of ISTA's top bills being heard.
In case you missed it, check out the top 15 bills we're following.
Wednesday was a Day of Action for ISTA members and advocates. Nearly 150 people attended our briefing and luncheon. Many wrote notecards to their legislators on several bills. We'd like to thank everyone who attended and encourage you to save the date for our next tentative Day of Action on April 12.
Below are the top education-related bills that saw action this week. For updates from the Statehouse, read our posts on Twitter at @ISTAmembers.
HB 1004 (Rep. Behning, R - Indianapolis) Pre-K and Voucher Expansion
HB 1004 would expand access to pre-K education, but would create a pipeline of new students into the state's already costly private school voucher program by allowing them to automatically become eligible for a voucher.
The Senate Education Committee heard the bill Wednesday. Twenty-seven witnesses testified, yet only three voiced support of the voucher language. The Institute for Quality Education, Indiana Non-Public Education Association and the Indiana Catholic Conference expressed support voucher expansion.
Take action - tell Senate Education Committee members to remove vouchers from this bill.
Status: HB 1004 will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday for amendment and vote.
SB 198 (Sen. Eckerty, R - Yorktown; Sen. Mishler, R - Bremen) Career and Technical Education
SB 198 is the Senate's attempt at overhauling career and technical education (CTE). Major changes in how CTE funds would flow are embedded in this bill and it also hands over to the Department of Workforce Development approved program control which would remove meaningful input from educators on curriculum decisions from schools.
Read more about the impact of SB 198 and the House CTE bill on our blog.
On Thursday, Sen. Eckerty (R - Yorktown) briefed House Ways and MeansCommittee members on the bill. He indicated receptivity to changes and understands issues remain in the bill. He conceded that work on the bill started late and that stakeholders had not been given much time to react.
Along with ISTA, representatives from the Indiana Manufacturers Association, the Indiana Vocational Directors Association and the Indiana Association of School Business Officials each articulated concerns.
STATUS: SB 198 was heard in House Ways and Means on Thursday. Future action on the bill remains to be seen.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK
MONDAY
House Education - Tuesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m., House Chamber
SB248 - Consolidation of School Corporations
SB475 - Developmental Delay
WEDNESDAY
Senate Education and Career Development - Wednesday, March 15, 1:30 p.m., Senate Chamber
HB1003 - Student Assessments
HB1004 - Pre-K Education
HB1007 - Education Course Access Program
HB1024 - Prayer in Schools
HB1079 - School Safety
HB1130 - Protections for Student Journalists
HB1136 - Latch Key Programs
HB1281 - Various Higher Education Matters
HB1384 - Various Education Matters
HB1396 - Teacher Licensing for Military Spouses
HB1430 - Staff Training Concerning Youth Suicide