LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6559 NOTE PREPARED: Dec 23, 2021
BILL NUMBER: SB 144 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: School Board Elections.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Baldwin BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: The bill provides that a candidate for election to the governing body of a school
corporation may not be any of the following: (1) A teacher employed by the school corporation. (2) A
member, an employee, or a contractor of a labor organization with which the school corporation engages in
collective bargaining.
The bill provides that candidates for election to the governing body of a school corporation may request that
the candidate's affiliation with a major political party be indicated with the candidate's name on the general
election ballot. It provides that, beginning with the 2022 general election, all members of the governing body
of a school corporation must be elected, eliminating the appointment of members of the governing body.
It changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census.
Effective Date: Upon passage.
Explanation of State Expenditures: The provisions of the bill would likely require the Election Division
to update some manuals and forms for the 2022 (and later) school board elections which should be able to
be changed as a matter of routine business. However, the petitions of nomination (and its instructions) for
school board candidates for the 2022 election would need to be updated prior to candidates receiving
signatures to allow a candidate to state their affiliation with a major political party, if the candidate chooses.
Petitions for school board candidates for the 2022 election may be filed from July 27, 2022, to August 26,
2022.
Explanation of State Revenues:
SB 144 1 Explanation of Local Expenditures: Starting with the 2022 election, all members of the governing body
of a school corporation must be elected, eliminating the appointment of members of the governing body.
Additionally, the bill provides that a school board member may not be a teacher in that school corporation
or a member, an employee, or a contractor of a labor organization with which the school corporation engages
in collective bargaining. Therefore, there may be additional petitions to be certified by county election
officials as more candidates will run for school board office than currently anticipated for the 2022 general
election, to fill offices which are currently appointed and to fill offices which are currently held by members
that become ineligible to continue in their offices.
County election officials would need to change ballots to include party affiliation for school board candidates
for the 2022 general elections and after which should be able to be accommodated as part of routine election
ballot preparation and programming prior to elections.
The bill provides that in the case of a tie vote, the members of the governing body of the school corporation
shall resolve the tie vote by electing one of the tie candidates.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Indiana Election Division, State Board of Education.
Local Agencies Affected: County election officials, school boards.
Information Sources: 2020 General Election Candidate List, Indiana Election Division;
2020 Indiana Candidate Guide, Indiana Election Division;
https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/voter-information/files/2022-Calendar-Brochure.FINAL-7-21.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Heather Puletz, 317-234-9484.
SB 144 2