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 6764 NOTE PREPARED: Feb 19, 2024
BILL NUMBER: HB 1233 BILL AMENDED: Jan 18, 2024
SUBJECT: Robotics Competition Program.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Goodrich BILL STATUS: 2
nd
Reading - 2
nd
House
FIRST SPONSOR: Sen. Rogers
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill amends the Robotics Competition Program (program) definition of
"allowable expenses" to allow a robotics competition team to use grant funds on expenses associated with
a robotics competition. (Current law allows expenditures for expenses associated with attendance at a
robotics competition.) The bill amends the program definition of "eligible school" to include a nonpublic
school accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the State Board of
Education. It amends the program definition of "eligible team" to include a community based robotics
competition team. The bill also requires the Department of Education (DOE) to consider the number of
participants when developing a guideline to award grants. It requires DOE to award grants for each school
year not later than August 1 of the applicable school year. It specifies that the program and any participation
by a team mentor and team coach in the program is not subject to collective bargaining.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Robotics Competition Program: Public schools and state accredited
nonpublic school robotics competition teams are currently eligible to receive a grant from the Robotics
Competition Program. Beginning in FY 2025, provisions in the bill would also allow community based
robotics competition teams and nonpublic schools accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency
to receive grants from the program. If the Robotics Competition Program awards additional grants under the
bill, program expenditures may increase. Ultimately, the impact to state expenditures is dependent on the
number of additional robotics competition teams who receive a grant, the grant awards as determined by the
Department of Education (DOE), and the amount of funding available for grants.
DOE: Provisions in the bill may require DOE to update their policy and guidance related to the Robotics
HB 1233 1 Competition Program. The bill’s requirements are within the agency’s routine administrative functions and
should be able to be implemented with no additional appropriations, assuming near customary agency
staffing and resource levels.
Additional Information -
Robotics Competition Program: Approximately $8.6 M was annually appropriated to the STEM Program
Alignment fund for the FY 2024-FY2025 biennium in HEA 1001-2023. Of this amount, $4 M is required
to be used to support the Robotics Competition Program and the Indiana Bar Association’s We the People
programs.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues: Robotics Competition Program: Provisions in the bill expand the number
of robotics competition teams eligible to receive a grant from the Robotics Competition Program. This may
reduce the amount of grant funding available to public school robotics competition teams. The impact to
public school revenue is dependent on the number of additional teams who receive a grant and the grant
awards as determined by DOE.
Additional Information - The Robotics Competition Program was first established in FY 2024, and this was
the first year grants were awarded. Participation in the Robotics Competition Program is expected to increase
as more robotics competition teams are made aware of the program’s funding opportunities. In FY 2024,
approximately 500 schools are expected to receive $2.9 M in Robotics Competition Program grants.
However, the grant process is ongoing and depending on the amount of remaining funds, DOE may expand
the allowable grant expenses which would provide additional funding opportunities for teams.
State Agencies Affected: Department of Education.
Local Agencies Affected: Public schools.
Information Sources: Department of Education.
Fiscal Analyst: Kelan Fong, 317-232-9592.
HB 1233 2