Indiana 2023 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0437 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	SENATE BILL No. 437
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 12-17.2-7.2; IC 21-12; IC 21-13.
7	7	Synopsis: Education funding. Increases the federal poverty level
8	8	threshold for the prekindergarten program from 127% of the federal
9	9	poverty level for an eligible child, or 185% of the federal poverty level
10	10	for a limited eligibility child, to 300% of the federal poverty level
11	11	(removes the limited eligibility child category under the
12	12	prekindergarten program). Increases the federal poverty level threshold
13	13	for the twenty-first century scholars program from 185% of the federal
14	14	poverty level to 300% of the federal poverty level. Requires the
15	15	commission for higher education to: (1) coordinate with the department
16	16	of education to identify each student who qualifies for a twenty-first
17	17	century scholarship each year; (2) automatically enroll those students
18	18	identified in the scholarship program without application; and (3)
19	19	provide written notification of the approval to the student. Removes a
20	20	provision that prohibits the commission for higher education from
21	21	awarding a next generation Hoosier educators scholarship to more than
22	22	200 new applicants each academic year. Appropriates $10,000,000
23	23	from the state general fund to the next generation Hoosier educators
24	24	scholarship fund each state fiscal year of the state budget biennium for
25	25	purposes of the scholarship. Amends certain qualification requirements
26	26	and the award amount for the primary care physician loan forgiveness
27	27	program, and renames the program the physician loan forgiveness
28	28	program. Appropriates $10,000,000 from the state general fund to the
29	29	primary care physician loan forgiveness fund each state fiscal year of
30	30	the state budget biennium for purposes of the loan forgiveness
31	31	program, and renames the fund the physician loan forgiveness fund.
32	32	Appropriates $10,000,000 from the state general fund to the medical
33	33	residency education fund each state fiscal year of the state budget
34	34	biennium for purposes of medical residency education grants.
35	35	Effective: July 1, 2023.
36	36	Qaddoura
37	37	January 19, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
38	38	Development.
39	39	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 Introduced
40	40	First Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2023)
41	41	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
42	42	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
43	43	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
44	44	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
45	45	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
46	46	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
47	47	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
48	48	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
49	49	between statutes enacted by the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
50	50	SENATE BILL No. 437
51	51	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
52	52	higher education and to make an appropriation.
53	53	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
54	54	1 SECTION 1. IC 12-17.2-7.2-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
55	55	2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
56	56	3 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible child" refers
57	57	4 to an individual who:
58	58	5 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
59	59	6 age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant is sought
60	60	7 under the prekindergarten pilot program;
61	61	8 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
62	62	9 Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
63	63	10 (3) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
64	64	11 not exceed one hundred twenty-seven percent (127%) three
65	65	12 hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level;
66	66	13 (4) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
67	67	14 provider, as determined by the office;
68	68	15 (5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
69	69	16 engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
70	70	17 provider;
71	71	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 2
72	72	1 (6) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
73	73	2 meets the attendance requirements determined by the office; and
74	74	3 (7) meets the requirements under section 7.2(a) and 7.2(c) 7.2(b)
75	75	4 of this chapter.
76	76	5 SECTION 2. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
77	77	6 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
78	78	7 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "eligible provider"
79	79	8 refers to a provider that satisfies the following conditions:
80	80	9 (1) The provider is:
81	81	10 (A) a:
82	82	11 (i) public school, including a charter school;
83	83	12 (ii) child care center licensed under IC 12-17.2-4;
84	84	13 (iii) child care home licensed under IC 12-17.2-5; or
85	85	14 (iv) child care ministry registered under IC 12-17.2-6;
86	86	15 that meets the standards of quality recognized by a Level 3 or
87	87	16 Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating;
88	88	17 (B) a school that is accredited by the state board of education
89	89	18 or a national or regional accreditation agency that is
90	90	19 recognized by the state board of education; or
91	91	20 (C) a school that is accredited to provide qualified early
92	92	21 education services by an accrediting agency approved by the
93	93	22 office of the secretary.
94	94	23 (2) The provider:
95	95	24 (A) provides qualified early education services to eligible and
96	96	25 limited eligibility children; and
97	97	26 (B) complies with the agreement with the office concerning
98	98	27 the delivery of qualified education services and the use of a
99	99	28 grant provided under this chapter.
100	100	29 SECTION 3. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2.5 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE
101	101	30 JULY 1, 2023]. Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter, "limited eligibility
102	102	31 child" refers to an individual who:
103	103	32 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
104	104	33 age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant is sought
105	105	34 under the prekindergarten pilot program;
106	106	35 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
107	107	36 Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
108	108	37 (3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
109	109	38 provider, as determined by the office;
110	110	39 (4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
111	111	40 meets the attendance requirements determined by the office;
112	112	41 (5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
113	113	42 engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
114	114	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 3
115	115	1 provider;
116	116	2 (6) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
117	117	3 not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal
118	118	4 poverty level;
119	119	5 (7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) of this
120	120	6 chapter; and
121	121	7 (8) is not an eligible child.
122	122	8 SECTION 4. IC 12-17.2-7.2-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
123	123	9 SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
124	124	10 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "qualified early
125	125	11 education services" refers to a program of early education services that:
126	126	12 (1) is provided by an eligible provider to an eligible or limited
127	127	13 eligibility child;
128	128	14 (2) includes a parental engagement and involvement component
129	129	15 in the delivery of early education services that is based on the
130	130	16 requirements and guidelines established by the office;
131	131	17 (3) administers the kindergarten readiness assessment adopted by
132	132	18 the state board of education;
133	133	19 (4) aligns with the early learning development framework for
134	134	20 prekindergarten approved by the department of education under
135	135	21 IC 20-19-3-16; and
136	136	22 (5) meets the design parameters for inclusion in the longitudinal
137	137	23 study described in section 12 of this chapter, as determined by the
138	138	24 office.
139	139	25 SECTION 5. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
140	140	26 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
141	141	27 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7. (a) The office may establish a prekindergarten
142	142	28 pilot program to provide grants for:
143	143	29 (1) qualified early education services in a manner consistent with
144	144	30 how funds are distributed under the Child Care and Development
145	145	31 Fund (CCDF) grant program; and
146	146	32 (2) expansion plans as described in section 7.4(a)(2) of this
147	147	33 chapter.
148	148	34 (b) The office shall administer the prekindergarten pilot program.
149	149	35 The prekindergarten pilot program may include:
150	150	36 (1) eligible providers in Indiana; and
151	151	37 (2) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers as
152	152	38 described in section 7.4 of this chapter.
153	153	39 (c) Before July 1, 2017, the prekindergarten pilot program includes
154	154	40 eligible providers in the following pilot counties:
155	155	41 (1) Allen.
156	156	42 (2) Jackson.
157	157	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 4
158	158	1 (3) Lake.
159	159	2 (4) Marion.
160	160	3 (5) Vanderburgh.
161	161	4 The total number of grants the office awards to eligible children in a
162	162	5 county listed in this subsection during a state fiscal year may not be
163	163	6 less than the total number of grants the office awarded to eligible
164	164	7 children in that county during the immediately preceding state fiscal
165	165	8 year unless the office determines that there is an insufficient number of
166	166	9 eligible children or eligible providers in the county to justify the total
167	167	10 number of grants for that county. Beginning July 1, 2020, the total
168	168	11 number of grants during the immediately preceding state fiscal year
169	169	12 shall include the number of grants issued under a preschool program
170	170	13 established in March 2015 that operates in a consolidated city.
171	171	14 (d) After June 30, 2017, and before July 1, 2019, in addition to the
172	172	15 counties listed under subsection (c), the prekindergarten pilot program
173	173	16 includes eligible providers in fifteen (15) additional counties. In
174	174	17 determining which counties are designated as pilot counties under this
175	175	18 subsection, the office shall give preference to counties that are
176	176	19 primarily rural. The total number of grants the office awards to eligible
177	177	20 children in a county designated under this subsection during a state
178	178	21 fiscal year may not be less than the total number of grants the office
179	179	22 awarded to eligible children in that county during the immediately
180	180	23 preceding state fiscal year unless the office determines that there is an
181	181	24 insufficient number of eligible children or eligible providers in the
182	182	25 county to justify the total number of grants for that county.
183	183	26 (e) In addition to the counties listed in subsection (c) and counties
184	184	27 designated under subsection (d), the prekindergarten pilot program
185	185	28 includes eligible providers in any county in Indiana.
186	186	29 (f) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall
187	187	30 determine:
188	188	31 (1) the eligibility requirements, application process, and selection
189	189	32 process for awarding grants under the prekindergarten pilot
190	190	33 program;
191	191	34 (2) the administration and reporting requirements for:
192	192	35 (A) eligible providers; and
193	193	36 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;
194	194	37 participating in the prekindergarten pilot program; and
195	195	38 (3) with the assistance of the early learning advisory committee,
196	196	39 an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for:
197	197	40 (A) eligible providers; and
198	198	41 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.
199	199	42 (g) Before implementing the prekindergarten pilot program, the
200	200	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 5
201	201	1 office shall submit the provisions of the prekindergarten pilot program
202	202	2 to the state board of education for the state board of education's review
203	203	3 and comment.
204	204	4 (h) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine
205	205	5 the number of eligible children who will participate in the
206	206	6 prekindergarten pilot program. After December 31, 2019, the office
207	207	7 shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of
208	208	8 limited eligibility children who will participate in the prekindergarten
209	209	9 pilot program.
210	210	10 SECTION 6. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
211	211	11 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
212	212	12 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.2. (a) For an eligible child to qualify for a grant
213	213	13 under this chapter, the eligible child must reside with a parent or
214	214	14 guardian who is:
215	215	15 (1) working or attending a job training or an educational program;
216	216	16 or
217	217	17 (2) actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
218	218	18 United States Department of Health and Human Services as
219	219	19 provided in 45 CFR 98.21.
220	220	20 (b) For a limited eligibility child to qualify for a grant under this
221	221	21 chapter, the limited eligibility child must reside with a parent or
222	222	22 guardian who:
223	223	23 (1) is working or attending a job training or an educational
224	224	24 program;
225	225	25 (2) is actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
226	226	26 United States Department of Health and Human Services as
227	227	27 provided in 45 CFR 98.21; or
228	228	28 (3) receives Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental
229	229	29 Security Income benefits.
230	230	30 (c) (b) Before the office may award a grant to an eligible or limited
231	231	31 eligibility child under this chapter, the office shall require that a parent
232	232	32 or guardian of the eligible or limited eligibility child agree to the
233	233	33 following:
234	234	34 (1) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
235	235	35 prekindergarten program of an eligible provider selected by the
236	236	36 parent or guardian for the full duration of the prekindergarten
237	237	37 program year.
238	238	38 (2) The parent or guardian will not transfer to another
239	239	39 prekindergarten program during the prekindergarten program
240	240	40 year.
241	241	41 (3) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
242	242	42 prekindergarten program at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the
243	243	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 6
244	244	1 days that the prekindergarten program is provided.
245	245	2 (4) The parent or guardian will allow the eligible or limited
246	246	3 eligibility child to participate in an external evaluation conducted
247	247	4 by researchers, including the kindergarten readiness assessment
248	248	5 and measuring of developmental and academic progress.
249	249	6 (5) The parent or guardian will participate in family engagement
250	250	7 and involvement activities offered by the selected prekindergarten
251	251	8 program, including meetings with the eligible or limited eligibility
252	252	9 child's teacher to discuss the eligible or limited eligibility child's
253	253	10 progress or any other conference concerning the eligible or
254	254	11 limited eligibility child that is requested by the eligible provider.
255	255	12 (6) The parent or guardian will complete the necessary forms for
256	256	13 the eligible child or limited eligibility child to receive a student
257	257	14 test number from the department of education.
258	258	15 (7) The parent or guardian will send the eligible or limited
259	259	16 eligibility child to kindergarten.
260	260	17 (8) The parent or guardian will read to the eligible or limited
261	261	18 eligibility child each week.
262	262	19 (9) Any other condition the office determines is appropriate.
263	263	20 (d) (c) Priority may be given to an eligible or limited eligibility child
264	264	21 under this section if a parent or guardian of the eligible or limited
265	265	22 eligibility child is:
266	266	23 (1) involved in activities that improve the parent's or guardian's
267	267	24 education; or
268	268	25 (2) involved in job training.
269	269	26 SECTION 7. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
270	270	27 SECTION 10, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
271	271	28 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.3. The office shall require, for an eligible
272	272	29 provider to enroll in the prekindergarten pilot program, that the eligible
273	273	30 provider agree to the following:
274	274	31 (1) Comply on a continuing basis with the requirements under this
275	275	32 chapter and rules for participation established by the office.
276	276	33 (2) Maintain eligibility under this chapter throughout the
277	277	34 prekindergarten program year.
278	278	35 (3) Report immediately any changes in eligibility status to the
279	279	36 office, including the eligible provider's loss of national or regional
280	280	37 accreditation.
281	281	38 (4) Participate in any training and mandatory meetings required
282	282	39 by the office.
283	283	40 (5) Participate in all onsite visits conducted by the office,
284	284	41 including fiscal auditing activities with regard to the
285	285	42 prekindergarten pilot program and prekindergarten program
286	286	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 7
287	287	1 activity monitoring.
288	288	2 (6) Allow families of eligible or limited eligibility children
289	289	3 enrolled in the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider
290	290	4 to visit at any time the prekindergarten program is in operation.
291	291	5 (7) Maintain accurate online attendance records through the
292	292	6 attendance portal for eligible or limited eligibility children
293	293	7 enrolled in the prekindergarten pilot program and submit
294	294	8 attendance records as required by the office.
295	295	9 (8) Offer parental engagement and involvement activities in the
296	296	10 prekindergarten program of the eligible provider in alignment
297	297	11 with the family engagement framework adopted by the early
298	298	12 learning advisory committee established by IC 12-17.2-3.8-5.
299	299	13 (9) Complete, within the period established by the office, the
300	300	14 Indiana early childhood family engagement toolkit, including the
301	301	15 family engagement self-assessment, adopted by the early learning
302	302	16 advisory committee.
303	303	17 (10) Share information on the family engagement self-assessment
304	304	18 described in subdivision (9) as required by the office.
305	305	19 (11) Participate in research studies as required by the office.
306	306	20 (12) Enforce minimum attendance requirements of at least
307	307	21 eighty-five percent (85%) of the days that the prekindergarten
308	308	22 program of the eligible provider is offered to an eligible or limited
309	309	23 eligibility child.
310	310	24 (13) Inform the office that an eligible or limited eligibility child
311	311	25 has withdrawn from the prekindergarten program of the eligible
312	312	26 provider not later than five (5) days after the eligible or limited
313	313	27 eligibility child is withdrawn.
314	314	28 (14) That retroactive repayment to the state may be required or
315	315	29 future payments may be adjusted as a result of the withdrawal of
316	316	30 an eligible or limited eligibility child or changes in the law.
317	317	31 (15) Maintain records of participation by a family of an eligible
318	318	32 or limited eligibility child in family engagement activities and
319	319	33 submit records as required by the office.
320	320	34 (16) Promote an eligible or limited eligibility child's social,
321	321	35 emotional, and behavioral health and eliminate or severely limit
322	322	36 the use of expulsion, suspension, and other exclusionary
323	323	37 discipline practices.
324	324	38 (17) Use the exclusionary discipline practices described in
325	325	39 subdivision (16) only as a last resort in extraordinary
326	326	40 circumstances when there is a determination of a serious safety
327	327	41 threat that cannot otherwise be reduced or eliminated by the
328	328	42 provision of reasonable modifications.
329	329	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 8
330	330	1 (18) Inform and receive approval from the office before the
331	331	2 eligible provider expels, suspends, or uses other exclusionary
332	332	3 discipline practices.
333	333	4 (19) Assist a parent or guardian, upon request by the parent or
334	334	5 guardian, in obtaining information from, referral to, or both
335	335	6 information from and referral to, the public school that serves the
336	336	7 attendance area in which the parent or guardian resides for an
337	337	8 educational evaluation and determination of eligibility for special
338	338	9 education services if developmental delays or reasons to suspect
339	339	10 a disability are observed by the parent, guardian, or teacher of an
340	340	11 eligible or limited eligibility child during the prekindergarten
341	341	12 program year.
342	342	13 SECTION 8. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
343	343	14 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
344	344	15 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.4. (a) To qualify as a potential eligible provider
345	345	16 or existing eligible provider, an applicant must:
346	346	17 (1) provide an expansion plan to the office that details the
347	347	18 potential eligible provider's or existing eligible provider's plan to:
348	348	19 (A) increase the capacity of providers of qualified early
349	349	20 education services to serve a greater number of eligible or
350	350	21 limited eligibility children;
351	351	22 (B) increase the number of providers of qualified early
352	352	23 education services; or
353	353	24 (C) increase the capacity as described in clause (A) and
354	354	25 increase the number as described in clause (B);
355	355	26 (2) comply with the agreement with the office concerning the plan
356	356	27 under subdivision (1) and the use of a grant awarded under this
357	357	28 chapter;
358	358	29 (3) agree:
359	359	30 (A) to operate as an eligible provider; or
360	360	31 (B) that the applicant intends to operate as an eligible
361	361	32 provider;
362	362	33 (4) agree that the applicant will not use any grant funds awarded
363	363	34 under this section for capital expenditures; and
364	364	35 (5) comply with any other standards and procedures established
365	365	36 under this chapter.
366	366	37 (b) Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the office may award a grant
367	367	38 to an applicant that meets the requirements of subsection (a).
368	368	39 (c) The office may not use more than a total of twenty percent (20%)
369	369	40 of the money in the pilot fund each state fiscal year:
370	370	41 (1) for grants awarded under this chapter to potential eligible
371	371	42 providers and existing eligible providers for expansion plans; and
372	372	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 9
373	373	1 (2) to meet any state match amounts required for a federal grant
374	374	2 described in subsection (f).
375	375	3 (d) The office may not award grant funds under this section to an
376	376	4 applicant for any of the following:
377	377	5 (1) The purchase of land or a building.
378	378	6 (2) The construction or expansion of a building.
379	379	7 (e) If a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider fails
380	380	8 to:
381	381	9 (1) use the grant funds in accordance with the expansion plan
382	382	10 described in subsection (a); or
383	383	11 (2) comply with the agreement entered into with the office under
384	384	12 subsection (a);
385	385	13 the potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider shall repay
386	386	14 to the office the total amount of the grant awarded to the potential
387	387	15 eligible provider or existing eligible provider under this chapter.
388	388	16 (f) The office may use money in the pilot fund that is allocated for
389	389	17 expansion plans under this section for a state fiscal year to meet any
390	390	18 state match amounts required for a federal grant if the purpose of the
391	391	19 federal grant is that the grant money be used for increasing:
392	392	20 (1) the capacity;
393	393	21 (2) the number; or
394	394	22 (3) both the capacity and number;
395	395	23 of providers of early education services for children four (4) years of
396	396	24 age.
397	397	25 SECTION 9. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
398	398	26 SECTION 12, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
399	399	27 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7.8. (a) The office shall make random onsite
400	400	28 inspections each year, as determined necessary by the office, at the
401	401	29 facility of:
402	402	30 (1) an eligible provider; or
403	403	31 (2) a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider;
404	404	32 that receives a grant under this chapter.
405	405	33 (b) The office may determine that an eligible provider or potential
406	406	34 eligible provider or existing eligible provider is not eligible to receive
407	407	35 a grant under the prekindergarten pilot program if the eligible provider
408	408	36 or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider:
409	409	37 (1) fails to comply with this chapter; or
410	410	38 (2) refuses to allow, during normal business hours, the office or
411	411	39 an agent of the office to inspect the facility at which the eligible
412	412	40 provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider
413	413	41 operates a child care program for eligible or limited eligibility
414	414	42 children.
415	415	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 10
416	416	1 SECTION 10. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
417	417	2 SECTION 13, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
418	418	3 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8. (a) The office shall determine:
419	419	4 (1) which applicants shall be awarded a grant; and
420	420	5 (2) subject to subsection (b) and to the availability of funding, the
421	421	6 amount of each grant.
422	422	7 (b) At least five percent (5%) but not more than fifty percent (50%)
423	423	8 of the:
424	424	9 (1) tuition for eligible or limited eligibility children under the
425	425	10 prekindergarten pilot program; or
426	426	11 (2) expansion plan described in section 7.4(a) of this chapter;
427	427	12 during the state fiscal year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants,
428	428	13 bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from
429	429	14 the United States government, or from other sources (excluding funds
430	430	15 from a grant provided under this chapter and excluding other state
431	431	16 funding). The office may receive and administer grants on behalf of the
432	432	17 prekindergarten pilot program. The grants shall be distributed by the
433	433	18 office to fulfill the requirements of this subsection.
434	434	19 (c) The amount of a grant made under the pilot program to an
435	435	20 eligible or limited eligibility child:
436	436	21 (1) who attends a prekindergarten program full time must equal
437	437	22 at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) during the
438	438	23 state fiscal year; and
439	439	24 (2) may not exceed six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800)
440	440	25 from state money provided under this chapter during the state
441	441	26 fiscal year.
442	442	27 SECTION 11. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8.1, AS AMENDED BY
443	443	28 P.L.216-2021, SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
444	444	29 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8.1. (a) If funds are appropriated by
445	445	30 the general assembly, grants to limited eligibility children may not
446	446	31 exceed:
447	447	32 (1) twenty percent (20%) of the amount appropriated for a
448	448	33 particular state fiscal year if families with children four (4) years
449	449	34 of age are on the waiting list for funds available under the Child
450	450	35 Care Development Fund; or
451	451	36 (2) forty percent (40%) of the amount appropriated for a
452	452	37 particular state fiscal year if there is no waiting list for children
453	453	38 four (4) years of age for funds available under the Child Care
454	454	39 Development Fund.
455	455	40 (b) During the priority enrollment period, The office shall provide
456	456	41 grants to eligible children in the prekindergarten pilot program on a
457	457	42 first-come, first-served basis to the extent of available funding. The
458	458	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 11
459	459	1 office shall date stamp and reserve applications for limited eligibility
460	460	2 children received during the priority enrollment period for processing
461	461	3 during the extended enrollment period.
462	462	4 (c) During the extended enrollment period, the office shall provide
463	463	5 grants to eligible children and limited eligibility children in the
464	464	6 prekindergarten pilot program on a first-come, first-served basis to the
465	465	7 extent of available funding and in accordance with the limit established
466	466	8 by subsection (a).
467	467	9 SECTION 12. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.1, AS ADDED BY P.L.268-2019,
468	468	10 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
469	469	11 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 13.1. The office shall post monthly on the office's
470	470	12 Internet web site website the total enrollment of and number of grants
471	471	13 awarded to
472	472	14 (1) all eligible children (before January 1, 2020); and
473	473	15 (2) after December 31, 2019, both:
474	474	16 (A) all eligible children; and
475	475	17 (B) all limited eligibility children;
476	476	18 all eligible children for each county that participates in the
477	477	19 prekindergarten pilot program.
478	478	20 SECTION 13. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.5, AS AMENDED BY
479	479	21 P.L.156-2020, SECTION 60, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
480	480	22 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 13.5. (a) The
481	481	23 prekindergarten pilot program fund is established to:
482	482	24 (1) provide grants to eligible or limited eligibility children for
483	483	25 qualified early education services under this chapter;
484	484	26 (2) carry out the longitudinal study described in section 12 of this
485	485	27 chapter;
486	486	28 (3) provide grants to potential eligible providers and existing
487	487	29 eligible providers as set forth in section 7.4 of this chapter; and
488	488	30 (4) make payments to reimburse costs incurred to provide
489	489	31 in-home early education services under IC 12-17.2-7.5.
490	490	32 (b) The fund consists of:
491	491	33 (1) money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; and
492	492	34 (2) grants or gifts to the fund.
493	493	35 (c) The fund shall be administered by the office.
494	494	36 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
495	495	37 money in the fund.
496	496	38 (e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes
497	497	39 provided under this article.
498	498	40 (f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
499	499	41 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
500	500	42 manner as other public funds may be invested.
501	501	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 12
502	502	1 SECTION 14. IC 21-12-6-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2020,
503	503	2 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
504	504	3 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 5. (a) Unless a student qualifies under subsection
505	505	4 (b), to qualify to participate in the program, a student must meet the
506	506	5 following requirements:
507	507	6 (1) Be a resident of Indiana.
508	508	7 (2) Be:
509	509	8 (A) enrolled in grade 7 or 8 at a:
510	510	9 (i) public school; or
511	511	10 (ii) nonpublic school that is accredited either by the state
512	512	11 board of education or by a national or regional accrediting
513	513	12 agency whose accreditation is accepted as a school
514	514	13 improvement plan under IC 20-31-4.1-2; or
515	515	14 (B) otherwise qualified under the rules of the commission that
516	516	15 are adopted under IC 21-18.5-4-9(2) to include students who
517	517	16 are in grades other than grade 8 as eligible students.
518	518	17 (3) Be a member of a household with an annual income of not
519	519	18 more than the amount required for the individual to qualify for
520	520	19 free or reduced priced lunches under the national school lunch
521	521	20 program, that does not exceed three hundred percent (300%)
522	522	21 of the federal poverty level, as determined for the immediately
523	523	22 preceding taxable year for the household for which the student
524	524	23 was claimed as a dependent.
525	525	24 (4) Agree, in writing, together with the student's custodial parents
526	526	25 or guardian, that the student will:
527	527	26 (A) graduate from a secondary school located in Indiana that
528	528	27 meets the admission criteria of an eligible institution;
529	529	28 (B) not illegally use controlled substances (as defined in
530	530	29 IC 35-48-1-9);
531	531	30 (C) not commit a crime or an infraction described in
532	532	31 IC 9-30-5;
533	533	32 (D) not commit any other crime or delinquent act (as described
534	534	33 in IC 31-37-1-2 or IC 31-37-2-2 through IC 31-37-2-5 (or
535	535	34 IC 31-6-4-1(a)(1) through IC 31-6-4-1(a)(5) before their
536	536	35 repeal));
537	537	36 (E) timely apply, when the eligible student is a senior in high
538	538	37 school:
539	539	38 (i) for admission to an eligible institution; and
540	540	39 (ii) for any federal and state student financial assistance
541	541	40 available to the eligible student to attend an eligible
542	542	41 institution;
543	543	42 (F) achieve a cumulative grade point average upon graduation
544	544	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 13
545	545	1 of:
546	546	2 (i) at least 2.0, if the student graduates from high school
547	547	3 before July 1, 2014; and
548	548	4 (ii) at least 2.5, if the student graduates from high school
549	549	5 after June 30, 2014;
550	550	6 on a 4.0 grading scale (or its equivalent if another grading
551	551	7 scale is used) for courses taken during grades 9, 10, 11, and
552	552	8 12; and
553	553	9 (G) complete an academic success program required under the
554	554	10 rules adopted by the commission, if the student initially enrolls
555	555	11 in high school after June 30, 2013.
556	556	12 (b) A student qualifies to participate in the program if the student:
557	557	13 (1) before or during grade 7 or grade 8, is placed by or with the
558	558	14 consent of the department of child services, by a court order, or by
559	559	15 a child placing agency in:
560	560	16 (A) a foster family home;
561	561	17 (B) the home of a relative or other unlicensed caretaker;
562	562	18 (C) a child caring institution; or
563	563	19 (D) a group home;
564	564	20 (2) meets the requirements in subsection (a)(1) through (a)(2);
565	565	21 and
566	566	22 (3) agrees in writing, together with the student's caseworker (as
567	567	23 defined in IC 31-9-2-11) or legal guardian, to the conditions set
568	568	24 forth in subsection (a)(4).
569	569	25 (c) The commission may require that an applicant apply
570	570	26 electronically to participate in the program using an online Internet
571	571	27 application on the commission's Internet web site. website.
572	572	28 SECTION 15. IC 21-12-6-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.165-2016,
573	573	29 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
574	574	30 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 6. (a) A student may apply to the commission for
575	575	31 a scholarship. To qualify for a scholarship, the student must meet the
576	576	32 following requirements:
577	577	33 (1) Be an eligible student who qualified to participate in the
578	578	34 program under section 5 of this chapter.
579	579	35 (2) Be a resident of Indiana.
580	580	36 (3) Be a graduate from a secondary school located in Indiana that
581	581	37 meets the admission criteria of an eligible institution and have
582	582	38 achieved a cumulative grade point average in high school of:
583	583	39 (A) at least 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale, if the student is
584	584	40 expected to graduate from high school before July 1, 2014; and
585	585	41 (B) at least 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale, if the student is
586	586	42 expected to graduate from high school after June 30, 2014.
587	587	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 14
588	588	1 (4) Have applied to attend and be accepted to attend as a full-time
589	589	2 student an eligible institution.
590	590	3 (5) Certify in writing that before the student's graduation from
591	591	4 high school the student:
592	592	5 (A) did not illegally use controlled substances (as defined in
593	593	6 IC 35-48-1-9);
594	594	7 (B) did not illegally consume alcoholic beverages;
595	595	8 (C) did not commit any other crime or a delinquent act (as
596	596	9 described in IC 31-37-1-2 or IC 31-37-2-2 through
597	597	10 IC 31-37-2-5 (or IC 31-6-4-1(a)(1) through IC 31-6-4-1(a)(5)
598	598	11 before their repeal));
599	599	12 (D) timely filed an application for other types of financial
600	600	13 assistance available to the student from the state or federal
601	601	14 government; and
602	602	15 (E) completed an academic success program required under
603	603	16 the rules adopted by the commission.
604	604	17 (6) Submit to the commission all the information and evidence
605	605	18 required by the commission to determine eligibility as a
606	606	19 scholarship applicant.
607	607	20 (7) This subdivision applies only to applicants who initially enroll
608	608	21 in the program under section 5 of this chapter or IC 21-12-6.5-2
609	609	22 after June 30, 2011. For purposes of this chapter, applicants who
610	610	23 are enrolled in the program before July 1, 2011, will not have an
611	611	24 income or financial resources test applied to them when they
612	612	25 subsequently apply for a scholarship. Have a lack of financial
613	613	26 resources reasonably available to the applicant, as defined by the
614	614	27 commission, that, in the absence of an award under this chapter,
615	615	28 would deter the scholarship applicant from completing the
616	616	29 applicant's education at the approved postsecondary educational
617	617	30 institution that the applicant has selected and that has accepted
618	618	31 the applicant.
619	619	32 (8) Meet any other minimum criteria established by the
620	620	33 commission.
621	621	34 (b) This section applies to an individual who graduates from high
622	622	35 school after December 31, 2011. To be eligible for a scholarship under
623	623	36 this section, a student must initially attend an eligible institution
624	624	37 described in subsection (a)(4) not later than the fall semester (or its
625	625	38 equivalent, as determined by the commission) in the year immediately
626	626	39 following the year in which the student graduates from high school.
627	627	40 (c) Beginning after June 30, 2023, the commission shall:
628	628	41 (1) coordinate with the department of education to identify
629	629	42 each student who qualifies for a scholarship under the
630	630	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 15
631	631	1 program each year;
632	632	2 (2) automatically enroll those students identified under
633	633	3 subdivision (1) for participation in the program without
634	634	4 application; and
635	635	5 (3) provide written notification of the approval to the student.
636	636	6 SECTION 16. IC 21-12-16-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.105-2016,
637	637	7 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
638	638	8 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8. (a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c), if an
639	639	9 applicant meets the requirements under this chapter, the commission
640	640	10 may award, for not more than four (4) academic years, a scholarship to
641	641	11 the applicant in an amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars
642	642	12 ($7,500) for each academic year that the applicant attends the
643	643	13 accredited postsecondary educational institution approved by the
644	644	14 commission under section 10 of this chapter.
645	645	15 (b) The commission may not do the following:
646	646	16 (1) award a scholarship under this chapter in an amount of more
647	647	17 than a total of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) to an individual
648	648	18 applicant.
649	649	19 (2) Award scholarships under this chapter to more than two
650	650	20 hundred (200) new applicants each academic year.
651	651	21 (c) If the total amount to be distributed from the fund in a state fiscal
652	652	22 year exceeds the amount available for distribution, the amount to be
653	653	23 distributed to each eligible applicant shall be proportionately reduced
654	654	24 so that the total reductions equal the amount of the excess.
655	655	25 SECTION 17. IC 21-12-16-17.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
656	656	26 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
657	657	27 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 17.5. (a) For the state fiscal year
658	658	28 beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, ten million
659	659	29 dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated from the state general fund
660	660	30 to the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship fund for the
661	661	31 purpose of the fund.
662	662	32 (b) For the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending
663	663	33 June 30, 2025, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated
664	664	34 from the state general fund to the next generation Hoosier
665	665	35 educators scholarship fund for the purpose of the fund.
666	666	36 SECTION 18. IC 21-13-1-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.148-2016,
667	667	37 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
668	668	38 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 5. "Fund":
669	669	39 (1) for purposes of IC 21-13-2, refers to the William A. Crawford
670	670	40 minority teacher scholarship fund established by IC 21-13-2-1;
671	671	41 (2) for purposes of IC 21-13-4, refers to the National Guard
672	672	42 tuition supplement program fund established by IC 21-13-4-1;
673	673	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 16
674	674	1 (3) for purposes of IC 21-13-5, refers to the National Guard
675	675	2 scholarship extension fund established by IC 21-13-5-1;
676	676	3 (4) for purposes of IC 21-13-6, refers to the primary care
677	677	4 physician loan forgiveness fund established by IC 21-13-6-3; and
678	678	5 (5) for purposes of IC 21-13-6.5, refers to the medical residency
679	679	6 education fund established by IC 21-13-6.5-1.
680	680	7 SECTION 19. IC 21-13-6-1, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
681	681	8 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
682	682	9 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "primary care
683	683	10 physician" "eligible physician" means a physician who practices in
684	684	11 any of the following areas:
685	685	12 (1) Family practice.
686	686	13 (2) Pediatrics.
687	687	14 (3) Obstetrics and gynecology.
688	688	15 (4) Internal medicine.
689	689	16 (5) Psychiatry.
690	690	17 (6) Any other area the commission determines is an
691	691	18 underserved area in Indiana after consulting with the office
692	692	19 of the secretary of family and social services and the Indiana
693	693	20 department of health.
694	694	21 SECTION 20. IC 21-13-6-2, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
695	695	22 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
696	696	23 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 2. (a) The primary care physician loan forgiveness
697	697	24 program is established.
698	698	25 (b) The commission shall administer the primary care physician
699	699	26 loan forgiveness program.
700	700	27 SECTION 21. IC 21-13-6-3, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
701	701	28 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
702	702	29 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 3. (a) The primary care physician loan forgiveness
703	703	30 fund is established to encourage and promote qualified physicians to
704	704	31 pursue a medical career in Indiana.
705	705	32 (b) The fund consists of the following:
706	706	33 (1) Appropriations by the general assembly.
707	707	34 (2) Gifts to the fund.
708	708	35 SECTION 22. IC 21-13-6-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
709	709	36 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
710	710	37 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 4. (a) The commission shall administer the fund.
711	711	38 (b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
712	712	39 money in the fund.
713	713	40 (c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
714	714	41 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
715	715	42 manner as other public funds. Interest that accrues from those
716	716	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 17
717	717	1 investments shall be deposited in the fund.
718	718	2 (d) Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to
719	719	3 the state general fund but remains available to be used to provide
720	720	4 money for student loan forgiveness payments under this chapter.
721	721	5 (e) The commission shall manage payments from the fund.
722	722	6 SECTION 23. IC 21-13-6-5, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
723	723	7 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
724	724	8 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 5. (a) The money in the fund must be used to
725	725	9 provide annual student loan forgiveness payments to qualified primary
726	726	10 care eligible physicians who are residents of Indiana and practice
727	727	11 medicine in Indiana.
728	728	12 (b) Subject to section 8 of this chapter, a student loan forgiveness
729	729	13 payment awarded in a particular year under this section is equal to the
730	730	14 lesser of the following amounts:
731	731	15 (1) The balance of the physician's total amount of student loans.
732	732	16 (2) Five thousand dollars ($5,000). An amount that is:
733	733	17 (A) at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); but
734	734	18 (B) not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000);
735	735	19 as determined for each physician by the commission taking
736	736	20 into consideration the need for the physician's area of
737	737	21 practice.
738	738	22 (c) A primary care physician is eligible for a student loan
739	739	23 forgiveness payment under this section for up to ten (10) years
740	740	24 beginning the first year of employment in Indiana as an eligible
741	741	25 physician provided that each year that the individual meets the
742	742	26 qualifications under section 6 of this chapter each year.
743	743	27 SECTION 24. IC 21-13-6-6, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
744	744	28 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
745	745	29 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 6. To qualify for a student loan forgiveness
746	746	30 payment from the fund, an individual must:
747	747	31 (1) be a graduate of an Indiana medical school;
748	748	32 (2) have completed a medical residency in Indiana and
749	749	33 become employed in Indiana upon completion of the
750	750	34 residency;
751	751	35 (1) (3) be a resident of Indiana;
752	752	36 (2) (4) be licensed as a physician under IC 25-22.5;
753	753	37 (3) (5) practice as a primary care an eligible physician;
754	754	38 (4) (6) conduct the majority of the individual's medical practice
755	755	39 in Indiana;
756	756	40 (5) (7) have an outstanding student loan balance at the beginning
757	757	41 of the calendar year; and
758	758	42 (6) (8) be approved by the commission.
759	759	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120 18
760	760	1 SECTION 25. IC 21-13-6-7, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
761	761	2 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
762	762	3 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 7. The medical education board shall annually
763	763	4 make available to the commission the most recent information
764	764	5 concerning the number of primary care eligible physicians who are
765	765	6 serving as medical residents in Indiana.
766	766	7 SECTION 26. IC 21-13-6-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
767	767	8 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
768	768	9 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 8. The commission shall annually allocate the
769	769	10 available money in the fund to each primary care physician approved
770	770	11 under this chapter in proportion to the total number of primary care
771	771	12 physicians approved and the amount awarded under this chapter.
772	772	13 SECTION 27. IC 21-13-6-9, AS ADDED BY P.L.170-2009,
773	773	14 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
774	774	15 JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 9. Each:
775	775	16 (1) primary care physician who applies under this chapter; and
776	776	17 (2) primary care physician approved under this chapter;
777	777	18 shall provide to the commission any information that the commission
778	778	19 determines is necessary to administer this chapter.
779	779	20 SECTION 28. IC 21-13-6-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
780	780	21 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
781	781	22 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 10. (a) For the state fiscal year
782	782	23 beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, ten million
783	783	24 dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated from the state general fund
784	784	25 to the physician loan forgiveness fund to be used for the purposes
785	785	26 of the fund.
786	786	27 (b) For the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending
787	787	28 June 30, 2025, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated
788	788	29 from the state general fund to the physician loan forgiveness fund
789	789	30 to be used for the purposes of the fund.
790	790	31 SECTION 29. IC 21-13-6.5-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
791	791	32 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
792	792	33 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023]: Sec. 4. (a) For the state fiscal year
793	793	34 beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, ten million
794	794	35 dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated from the state general fund
795	795	36 to the medical residency education fund for the purposes of the
796	796	37 fund.
797	797	38 (b) For the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending
798	798	39 June 30, 2025, ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is appropriated
799	799	40 from the state general fund to the medical residency education
800	800	41 fund for the purposes of the fund.
801	801	2023 IN 437—LS 6305/DI 120