Indiana 2024 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0002 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	ES0002.2
	2	+	February 27, 2024
	3	+	ENGROSSED
	4	+	SENATE BILL No. 2
	5	+	_____
	6	+	DIGEST OF SB 2 (Updated February 27, 2024 12:28 pm - DI 134)
	7	+	Citations Affected: IC 5-28; IC 12-7; IC 12-8; IC 12-14; IC 12-17.2;
	8	+	noncode.
	9	+	Synopsis: Child care. Requires the Indiana economic development
	10	+	corporation to annually report to the general assembly regarding funds
	11	+	(Continued next page)
	12	+	Effective: Upon passage.
	13	+	Charbonneau, Deery, Yoder,
	14	+	Walker K, Donato, Bohacek,
	15	+	Brown L, Ford J.D., Alting, Rogers,
	16	+	Leising, Pol Jr., Bassler,
	17	+	Randolph Lonnie M, Qaddoura,
	18	+	Becker
	19	+	(HOUSE SPONSORS — DEVON, MCGUIRE, PATTERSON,
	20	+	SHACKLEFORD)
	21	+	January 16, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Provider
	22	+	Services.
	23	+	January 18, 2024, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on
	24	+	Appropriations.
	25	+	January 25, 2024, reported favorably — Do Pass.
	26	+	January 29, 2024, read second time, ordered engrossed. Engrossed.
	27	+	January 30, 2024, read third time, passed. Yeas 48, nays 1.
	28	+	HOUSE ACTION
	29	+	February 6, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and
	30	+	Human Affairs.
	31	+	February 22, 2024, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
	32	+	pursuant to Rule 127.
	33	+	February 27, 2024, amended, reported — Do Pass.
	34	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 Digest Continued
	35	+	dedicated to supporting child care under specified state and federal
	36	+	programs. Defines an "out-of-school-time program". Requires the
	37	+	office of the secretary of family and social services (FSSA) to publish
	38	+	on the FSSA website a dashboard providing monthly information
	39	+	regarding state and federal child care subsidies available to Indiana
	40	+	residents. Provides that a household is eligible to begin receiving
	41	+	assistance under the federal Child Care and Development Fund
	42	+	(CCDF) voucher program if the household, at the time of FSSA's initial
	43	+	determination of the household's income eligibility: (1) has a household
	44	+	income that does not exceed 85% of Indiana's state median income for
	45	+	the household's family size; (2) includes an individual who is employed
	46	+	by a licensed child care center, a licensed child care home, or a
	47	+	licensed or registered child care ministry; and (3) otherwise meets
	48	+	federal eligibility requirements for the CCDF program. Provides, with
	49	+	respect to the individual with certification in cardiopulmonary
	50	+	resuscitation (CPR) required to be present at all times when a child is
	51	+	in the care of a child care provider that is eligible to receive
	52	+	reimbursement through the CCDF program, that the individual is not
	53	+	required to be recertified in CPR annually. Provides that: (1) the early
	54	+	learning advisory committee must commission a third party evaluation
	55	+	to assess existing regulations for child care providers not later than
	56	+	May 1, 2024 (rather than July 1, 2024, under current law); and (2)
	57	+	FSSA must initiate the process of amending FSSA's rules in
	58	+	consideration of the findings of the third party evaluation not later than
	59	+	July 1, 2024. Requires, not later than September 30, 2024, the early
	60	+	learning advisory committee to: (1) complete a study regarding
	61	+	compensation in Indiana for early childhood educators and caregivers
	62	+	at out-of-school-time programs; (2) create an online dashboard to allow
	63	+	access to compensation data; and (3) issue a report containing the
	64	+	committee's findings and recommendations. Amends provisions
	65	+	regarding the On My Way Pre-K voucher program (program) to: (1)
	66	+	provide eligibility for children of child care employees; and (2) amend
	67	+	references to funds provided to children under the program as
	68	+	prekindergarten vouchers, rather than grants. Requires FSSA to
	69	+	establish a micro facility pilot program, under which FSSA shall: (1)
	70	+	develop a regulatory model that: (A) is applicable only to certain
	71	+	licensed or registered child care providers that provide child care for
	72	+	not less than three children and not more than 30 children for at least
	73	+	four hours per day (micro facilities); and (B) incorporates waivers or
	74	+	variances from FSSA's rules applicable to certain child care providers;
	75	+	(2) apply the regulatory model to at least three micro facilities and
	76	+	evaluate the operation of the micro facilities under the regulatory
	77	+	model; and (3) not later than October 1, 2026: (A) make a
	78	+	determination as to whether FSSA will adopt rules specific to micro
	79	+	facilities that incorporate some or all aspects of the regulatory model;
	80	+	and (B) submit to the general assembly a report regarding the pilot
	81	+	program. Requires FSSA to do the following: (1) Amend FSSA's rules
	82	+	to define a "substitute educator" caregiver type for purposes of FSSA's
	83	+	rules pertaining to all categories of child care providers regulated by
	84	+	FSSA. (2) Amend FSSA's rules to allow an employee of a child care
	85	+	provider who: (A) is 16 or 17 years of age; (B) is assigned to a lead
	86	+	caregiver who supervises the employee at all times during which the
	87	+	employee is supervising a child; (C) is never left alone with a child;
	88	+	and (D) meets specified qualifications; to be counted in child/staff
	89	+	ratios for school age child care rooms. (3) Amend FSSA's rules to allow
	90	+	an employee of a child care provider who: (A) is at least 18 years of
	91	+	age; and (B) meets specified qualifications; to serve as the staff person
	92	+	in charge of an infant/toddler room. (4) Issue a report to the general
	93	+	assembly not later than October 31, 2024, documenting the results
	94	+	attributable to: (A) the employer sponsored child care fund; and (B) the
	95	+	employer child care expenditure credit. (5) Study, in collaboration with
	96	+	other specified state agencies, opportunities for resource sharing across
	97	+	(Continued next page)
	98	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 Digest Continued
	99	+	state agencies and local units of government to facilitate the
	100	+	fingerprinting of individuals for purposes of conducting national
	101	+	criminal history background checks and issue a report to the governor
	102	+	and the general assembly regarding the results of the study. Makes
	103	+	technical corrections.
	104	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 February 27, 2024
1	105		Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
2	106		PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
3	107		Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
4	108		additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
5	109		Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
6	110		provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
7	111		word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
8	112		a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
9	113		Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
10	114		between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
11		-	SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 2
12		-	AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning human services.
	115	+	ENGROSSED
	116	+	SENATE BILL No. 2
	117	+	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
	118	+	human services.
13	119		Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
14		-	SECTION 1. IC 5-28-6-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
15		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
16		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. Not later than October 1, 2024, and not
17		-	later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the corporation shall
18		-	submit to the executive director of the legislative services agency,
19		-	for distribution to the members of the general assembly, a report
20		-	regarding funds dedicated to supporting child care under:
21		-	(1) the regional economic acceleration and development
22		-	initiative (READI) under IC 5-28-41; and
23		-	(2) the CHIPS Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167, 136 Stat. 1366).
24		-	The corporation's report under this section must be in an
25		-	electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
26		-	SECTION 2. IC 12-7-2-25.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
27		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
28		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 25.2. "CCDF", for purposes of
29		-	IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.4.
30		-	SECTION 3. IC 12-7-2-28.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
31		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
32		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 28.5. "Child care employee", for purposes
33		-	of IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5.
34		-	SEA 2 — Concur 2
35		-	SECTION 4. IC 12-7-2-31.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
36		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
37		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 31.4. "Child of a child care employee", for
38		-	purposes of IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in
39		-	IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.6.
40		-	SECTION 5. IC 12-7-2-135.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	120	+	1 SECTION 1. IC 5-28-6-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	121	+	2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	122	+	3 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. Not later than October 1, 2024, and not
	123	+	4 later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the corporation shall
	124	+	5 submit to the executive director of the legislative services agency,
	125	+	6 for distribution to the members of the general assembly, a report
	126	+	7 regarding funds dedicated to supporting child care under:
	127	+	8 (1) the regional economic acceleration and development
	128	+	9 initiative (READI) under IC 5-28-41; and
	129	+	10 (2) the CHIPS Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167, 136 Stat. 1366).
	130	+	11 The corporation's report under this section must be in an
	131	+	12 electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
	132	+	13 SECTION 2. IC 12-7-2-25.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	133	+	14 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	134	+	15 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 25.2. "CCDF", for purposes of
	135	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 2
	136	+	1 IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.4.
	137	+	2 SECTION 3. IC 12-7-2-28.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	138	+	3 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	139	+	4 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 28.5. "Child care employee", for purposes
	140	+	5 of IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5.
	141	+	6 SECTION 4. IC 12-7-2-31.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	142	+	7 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	143	+	8 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 31.4. "Child of a child care employee", for
	144	+	9 purposes of IC 12-17.2-7.2, has the meaning set forth in
	145	+	10 IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.6.
	146	+	11 SECTION 5. IC 12-7-2-135.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	147	+	12 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	148	+	13 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 135.7. "Out-of-school-time
	149	+	14 program", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means child care provided
	150	+	15 to a child who is at least five (5) years of age but less than fifteen
	151	+	16 (15) years of age:
	152	+	17 (1) before school is in session or after the school day;
	153	+	18 (2) during the summer; or
	154	+	19 (3) any other time when school is not in session.
	155	+	20 SECTION 6. IC 12-8-1.5-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	156	+	21 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	157	+	22 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 20. Not later than September 30, 2024, the
	158	+	23 office of the secretary shall publish on the website of the office of
	159	+	24 the secretary a dashboard providing monthly information
	160	+	25 regarding state and federal child care subsidies available to
	161	+	26 Indiana residents, including the following information:
	162	+	27 (1) The number of child care subsidies available.
	163	+	28 (2) The average copayment required under each available
	164	+	29 subsidy.
	165	+	30 (3) The number of children on a wait list for each available
	166	+	31 subsidy.
	167	+	32 (4) Other key indicators, as determined by the office of the
	168	+	33 secretary, of the effectiveness of the available child care
	169	+	34 subsidies in each Indiana county.
	170	+	35 SECTION 7. IC 12-14-31-3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
	171	+	36 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	172	+	37 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 3. A household that, at the time of the office
	173	+	38 of the secretary's initial determination of the household's income
	174	+	39 eligibility for purposes of entry into the CCDF program:
	175	+	40 (1) has a household income that does not exceed eighty-five
	176	+	41 percent (85%) of Indiana's state median income for the
	177	+	42 household's family size;
	178	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 3
	179	+	1 (2) includes a child care employee (as defined in
	180	+	2 IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5); and
	181	+	3 (3) otherwise meets federal eligibility requirements for the
	182	+	4 CCDF program;
	183	+	5 is eligible for assistance under the CCDF program.
	184	+	6 SECTION 8. IC 12-17.2-3.5-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.171-2014,
	185	+	7 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	186	+	8 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) At least one (1) adult individual who
	187	+	9 maintains annual certification in a course of cardiopulmonary
	188	+	10 resuscitation applicable to all age groups of children cared for by a
	189	+	11 provider shall be present at all times when a child is in the care of the
	190	+	12 provider.
	191	+	13 (b) The following apply to an individual who is employed or
	192	+	14 volunteers as a caregiver at a facility where a provider operates a child
	193	+	15 care program:
	194	+	16 (1) The individual shall maintain current certification in first aid
	195	+	17 applicable to all age groups of children cared for by the provider.
	196	+	18 (2) If the individual is:
	197	+	19 (A) at least eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
	198	+	20 as a caregiver without supervision of another caregiver; or
	199	+	21 (B) less than eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
	200	+	22 as a caregiver only if the individual:
	201	+	23 (i) is at least fourteen (14) years of age; and
	202	+	24 (ii) is, at all times when child care is provided, directly
	203	+	25 supervised by a caregiver who is at least eighteen (18) years
	204	+	26 of age.
	205	+	27 (3) Before beginning employment or volunteer duties, the
	206	+	28 individual must receive a formal orientation to the facility and the
	207	+	29 child care program.
	208	+	30 (4) Beginning July 1, 2015, unless the provider is a parent,
	209	+	31 stepparent, guardian, custodian, or other relative to each child in
	210	+	32 the care of the provider, the individual annually must receive at
	211	+	33 least twelve (12) hours of continuing education approved by the
	212	+	34 division and related to the age appropriate educational
	213	+	35 development, care, and safety of children. The hours of
	214	+	36 continuing education required by this subdivision may include the
	215	+	37 training described in this chapter concerning child abuse
	216	+	38 detection and prevention, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
	217	+	39 and safe sleeping practices.
	218	+	40 (5) Not more than three (3) months after the individual begins
	219	+	41 employment or volunteer duties, the individual must receive
	220	+	42 training approved by the division concerning child abuse
	221	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 4
	222	+	1 detection and prevention.
	223	+	2 (c) A provider shall:
	224	+	3 (1) maintain at the facility where the provider operates a child
	225	+	4 care program documentation of all training and completion of
	226	+	5 continuing education required by this section; and
	227	+	6 (2) make the documentation available to the division upon
	228	+	7 request.
	229	+	8 SECTION 9. IC 12-17.2-3.8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.246-2023,
	230	+	9 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	231	+	10 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. (a) The early learning advisory committee
	232	+	11 is established to do the following:
	233	+	12 (1) Establish child developmental and educational goals for
	234	+	13 Indiana's early learning system, including the development of
	235	+	14 standards and objectives for early education programs that receive
	236	+	15 state or federal funds.
	237	+	16 (2) Design and maintain an approach to measuring progress
	238	+	17 toward the goals established under subdivision (1) that include
	239	+	18 objective measures of academic quality.
	240	+	19 (3) Assess the attainment of the goals established under
	241	+	20 subdivision (1) and evaluate the efficacy of state and federal
	242	+	21 spending on Indiana's early learning system.
	243	+	22 (4) Assess whether the requirements for early education program
	244	+	23 licensure:
	245	+	24 (A) create an equitable standard for health and safety across all
	246	+	25 early education program types;
	247	+	26 (B) reinforce the goals established under subdivision (1); and
	248	+	27 (C) support the sustainability of Indiana's early learning
	249	+	28 system.
	250	+	29 (5) Conduct periodic statewide needs assessments concerning the
	251	+	30 quality and availability of early education programs for children
	252	+	31 from birth to the age of school entry, including the availability of
	253	+	32 high quality prekindergarten education for low income children
	254	+	33 in Indiana.
	255	+	34 (6) Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and
	256	+	35 coordination among federally and state funded child development,
	257	+	36 child care, and early childhood education programs and services,
	258	+	37 including governmental agencies that administer the programs
	259	+	38 and services.
	260	+	39 (7) Design early education workforce strategies, including
	261	+	40 recommendations on how to advance professional development.
	262	+	41 (8) Assess the capacity and effectiveness of pathways to support
	263	+	42 training and recruitment of early educators.
	264	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 5
	265	+	1 (9) Not later than November 30 of each year, develop and make
	266	+	2 recommendations to the governor and, in an electronic format
	267	+	3 under IC 5-14-6, to the legislative council concerning the results
	268	+	4 of the committee's work under subdivisions (1) through (8).
	269	+	5 (10) Not later than July May 1, 2024, commission a third party
	270	+	6 evaluation to assess existing regulations for child care providers
	271	+	7 and provide a report containing recommendations to:
	272	+	8 (A) maintain health and safety standards;
	273	+	9 (B) streamline administrative burdens, program standards, and
	274	+	10 reporting requirements for child care providers;
	275	+	11 (C) provide flexibility for a child care provider with a Level 3
	276	+	12 or Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating to expand to
	277	+	13 other locations; and
	278	+	14 (D) assist accredited kindergarten through grade 12
	279	+	15 institutions in establishing and providing high quality onsite
	280	+	16 child care and early learning programs.
	281	+	17 Not later than July 1, 2024, the office of the secretary shall
	282	+	18 initiate the process of amending the rules adopted by the
	283	+	19 office under IC 12-17.2-7.2 in consideration of the
	284	+	20 recommendations of the third party evaluation. This
	285	+	21 subdivision expires January 1, 2025.
	286	+	22 (11) Not later than December 31, 2023, develop recommendations
	287	+	23 for implementing a revised paths to QUALITY program that:
	288	+	24 (A) maintains health and safety standards;
	289	+	25 (B) integrates objective measures of kindergarten readiness;
	290	+	26 (C) contemplates accredited kindergarten through grade 12
	291	+	27 institutions as onsite providers; and
	292	+	28 (D) incentivizes child care providers to increase wages for
	293	+	29 child care workers who complete education and training that
	294	+	30 result in a postsecondary degree or industry recognized
	295	+	31 credential.
	296	+	32 This subdivision expires July 1, 2024.
	297	+	33 (12) Not later than September 30, 2024, do the following:
	298	+	34 (A) Complete a study regarding compensation in Indiana
	299	+	35 for:
	300	+	36 (i) early childhood educators; and
	301	+	37 (ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs;
	302	+	38 by collecting compensation data throughout Indiana.
	303	+	39 (B) Create an online dashboard to allow access to
	304	+	40 compensation data.
	305	+	41 (C) Issue a report containing the committee's findings and
	306	+	42 recommendations on compensation in Indiana for:
	307	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 6
	308	+	1 (i) early childhood educators; and
	309	+	2 (ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs.
	310	+	3 (b) The committee consists of the following thirteen (13) members:
	311	+	4 (1) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
	312	+	5 (2) The secretary of family and social services or the secretary's
	313	+	6 designee.
	314	+	7 (3) Seven (7) members appointed by the governor as follows:
	315	+	8 (A) A representative of an organization with an interest in
	316	+	9 training the early childhood education workforce.
	317	+	10 (B) A representative of a Head Start program under 42 U.S.C.
	318	+	11 9831 et seq.
	319	+	12 (C) A member of the general public who has an interest in
	320	+	13 early childhood education.
	321	+	14 (D) A representative of an early childhood education provider.
	322	+	15 (E) A representative from a school corporation who has an
	323	+	16 interest in strengthening the transition from early childhood
	324	+	17 education to elementary education.
	325	+	18 (F) A representative of business with an interest in early
	326	+	19 childhood education.
	327	+	20 (G) A representative of the nonprofit or philanthropic
	328	+	21 community with an interest in early childhood education.
	329	+	22 (4) One (1) member who:
	330	+	23 (A) is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
	331	+	24 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	332	+	25 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	333	+	26 (5) One (1) member who:
	334	+	27 (A) is appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;
	335	+	28 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	336	+	29 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	337	+	30 (6) One (1) member who:
	338	+	31 (A) is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
	339	+	32 representatives;
	340	+	33 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	341	+	34 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	342	+	35 (7) One (1) member who:
	343	+	36 (A) is appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
	344	+	37 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	345	+	38 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	346	+	39 (c) Subject to section 5.1 of this chapter, members appointed under
	347	+	40 subsection (b)(3) through (b)(7) serve for three (3) year terms. The
	348	+	41 members of the committee serve at the pleasure of the appointing
	349	+	42 authority.
	350	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 7
	351	+	1 (d) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to serve
	352	+	2 as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet at least six
	353	+	3 (6) times each calendar year at the call of the chairperson.
	354	+	4 (e) The division shall, in consultation with the department of
	355	+	5 education, staff the committee.
	356	+	6 (f) The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the funds of
	357	+	7 the division.
	358	+	8 (g) Each member of the committee who is not a state employee is
	359	+	9 entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b).
	360	+	10 The member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses
	361	+	11 as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
	362	+	12 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies
	363	+	13 and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration
	364	+	14 and approved by the budget agency.
	365	+	15 (h) Each member of the committee who is a state employee but who
	366	+	16 is not a member of the general assembly is entitled to reimbursement
	367	+	17 for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other
	368	+	18 expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as
	369	+	19 provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana
	370	+	20 department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
	371	+	21 (i) Each member of the committee who is a member of the general
	372	+	22 assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel
	373	+	23 allowances paid to legislative members of interim study committees
	374	+	24 established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage, and travel
	375	+	25 allowances paid under this section shall be paid from appropriations
	376	+	26 made to the legislative council or the legislative services agency.
	377	+	27 (j) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
	378	+	28 appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take
	379	+	29 action on any measure, including final reports.
	380	+	30 SECTION 10. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	381	+	31 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	382	+	32 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.4. As used in this chapter,
	383	+	33 "CCDF" refers to the federal Child Care and Development Fund
	384	+	34 program administered under 45 CFR 98 and 45 CFR 99.
	385	+	35 SECTION 11. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	386	+	36 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	387	+	37 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter,
	388	+	38 "child care employee" means an individual who:
	389	+	39 (1) receives compensation as a full-time employee of an entity
	390	+	40 licensed or regulated under this article, as determined by the
	391	+	41 office; or
	392	+	42 (2) receives compensation as a part-time employee of an entity
	393	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 8
	394	+	1 licensed or regulated under this article while also pursuing
	395	+	2 postsecondary study or educational training in child care or
	396	+	3 early childhood education, as determined by the office.
	397	+	4 SECTION 12. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	398	+	5 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	399	+	6 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.6. As used in this chapter,
	400	+	7 "child of a child care employee" means an individual who:
	401	+	8 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years
	402	+	9 of age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a
	403	+	10 prekindergarten voucher is sought for the individual under
	404	+	11 the prekindergarten program;
	405	+	12 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement
	406	+	13 in Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
	407	+	14 (3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
	408	+	15 provider, as determined by the office;
	409	+	16 (4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the
	410	+	17 child meets the attendance requirements determined by the
	411	+	18 office;
	412	+	19 (5) resides with a parent or guardian who is a child care
	413	+	20 employee, as determined by the office;
	414	+	21 (6) has a household income that does not exceed eighty-five
	415	+	22 percent (85%) of Indiana's state median income for the
	416	+	23 household's family size; and
	417	+	24 (7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(c) of this chapter.
	418	+	25 SECTION 13. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
	419	+	26 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	420	+	27 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "eligible provider"
	421	+	28 refers to a provider that satisfies the following conditions:
	422	+	29 (1) The provider is:
	423	+	30 (A) a:
	424	+	31 (i) public school, including a charter school;
	425	+	32 (ii) (i) child care center licensed under IC 12-17.2-4;
	426	+	33 (iii) (ii) child care home licensed under IC 12-17.2-5; or
	427	+	34 (iv) (iii) child care ministry registered under IC 12-17.2-6;
	428	+	35 that meets the standards of quality recognized by a Level 3 or
	429	+	36 Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating;
	430	+	37 (B) a public school, including a charter school;
	431	+	38 (B) (C) a nonpublic school that is accredited by the state
	432	+	39 board of education or a national or regional accreditation
	433	+	40 agency that is recognized by the state board of education; or
	434	+	41 (C) (D) a nonpublic school that is accredited to provide
	435	+	42 qualified early education services by an accrediting agency
	436	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 9
	437	+	1 approved by the office of the secretary.
	438	+	2 (2) The provider:
	439	+	3 (A) provides qualified early education services to eligible and
	440	+	4 children, limited eligibility children, and children of child
	441	+	5 care employees;
	442	+	6 (B) complies with the agreement with the office concerning
	443	+	7 the delivery of qualified education services and the use of a
	444	+	8 grant prekindergarten voucher provided under this chapter;
	445	+	9 and
	446	+	10 (C) complies with CCDF provider eligibility standards in
	447	+	11 accordance with federal requirements for health and
	448	+	12 safety.
	449	+	13 SECTION 14. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2.5, AS AMENDED BY
	450	+	14 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	451	+	15 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter,
	452	+	16 "limited eligibility child" refers to an individual who:
	453	+	17 (1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
	454	+	18 age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant
	455	+	19 prekindergarten voucher is sought for the individual under the
	456	+	20 prekindergarten program;
	457	+	21 (2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
	458	+	22 Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
	459	+	23 (3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
	460	+	24 provider, as determined by the office;
	461	+	25 (4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
	462	+	26 meets the attendance requirements determined by the office;
	463	+	27 (5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
	464	+	28 engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
	465	+	29 provider;
	466	+	30 (6) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
	467	+	31 not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal
	468	+	32 poverty level;
	469	+	33 (7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) of this
	470	+	34 chapter; and
	471	+	35 (8) is not an eligible child or a child of a child care employee.
	472	+	36 SECTION 15. IC 12-17.2-7.2-5.7, AS AMENDED BY
	473	+	37 P.L.216-2021, SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	474	+	38 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5.7. As used in this chapter,
	475	+	39 "priority enrollment period" refers to the period set forth by the office
	476	+	40 beginning not later than April 1 of each calendar year, except for
	477	+	41 calendar year 2021, 2024, during which the priority enrollment period
	478	+	42 may begin later than April 1, 2021. 2024.
	479	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 10
	480	+	1 SECTION 16. IC 12-17.2-7.2-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
	481	+	2 SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	482	+	3 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "qualified early
	483	+	4 education services" refers to a program of early education services that:
	484	+	5 (1) is provided by an eligible provider to:
	485	+	6 (A) an eligible or child;
	486	+	7 (B) a limited eligibility child; or
	487	+	8 (C) a child of a child care employee;
	488	+	9 (2) includes a parental engagement and involvement component
	489	+	10 in the delivery of early education services that is based on the
	490	+	11 requirements and guidelines established by the office;
	491	+	12 (3) administers the kindergarten readiness assessment adopted by
	492	+	13 the state board of education;
	493	+	14 (4) aligns with the early learning development framework for
	494	+	15 prekindergarten approved by the department of education under
	495	+	16 IC 20-19-3-16; and
	496	+	17 (5) meets the design parameters for inclusion in the longitudinal
	497	+	18 study described in section 12 of this chapter, as determined by the
	498	+	19 office.
	499	+	20 SECTION 17. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.246-2023,
	500	+	21 SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	501	+	22 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7. (a) The prekindergarten program is
	502	+	23 established to provide: grants for:
	503	+	24 (1) prekindergarten vouchers for qualified early education
	504	+	25 services in a manner consistent with how funds are distributed
	505	+	26 under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grant
	506	+	27 CCDF child care voucher program; and
	507	+	28 (2) grants for expansion plans as described in section 7.4(a)(2)
	508	+	29 of this chapter.
	509	+	30 (b) The office shall administer the prekindergarten program. The
	510	+	31 prekindergarten program may include:
	511	+	32 (1) eligible providers in Indiana; and
	512	+	33 (2) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers as
	513	+	34 described in section 7.4 of this chapter.
	514	+	35 (c) Beginning July 1, 2020, the total number of grants
	515	+	36 prekindergarten vouchers provided during the immediately
	516	+	37 preceding state fiscal year shall include the number of grants
	517	+	38 prekindergarten vouchers issued under a preschool program
	518	+	39 established in March 2015 that operates in a consolidated city.
	519	+	40 (d) The prekindergarten program includes eligible providers in any
	520	+	41 county in Indiana.
	521	+	42 (e) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall
	522	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 11
	523	+	1 determine:
	524	+	2 (1) the eligibility requirements, application process, and selection
	525	+	3 process for awarding grants providing prekindergarten
	526	+	4 vouchers under the prekindergarten program and awarding
	527	+	5 grants under section 7.4 of this chapter;
	528	+	6 (2) the administration and reporting requirements for:
	529	+	7 (A) eligible providers; and
	530	+	8 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;
	531	+	9 participating in the prekindergarten program; and
	532	+	10 (3) with the assistance of the early learning advisory committee,
	533	+	11 an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for:
	534	+	12 (A) eligible providers; and
	535	+	13 (B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.
	536	+	14 (f) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine
	537	+	15 the number of eligible children, limited eligibility children, and
	538	+	16 children of child care employees who will participate in the
	539	+	17 prekindergarten program. After December 31, 2019, the office shall,
	540	+	18 subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of limited
	541	+	19 eligibility children who will participate in the prekindergarten program.
	542	+	20 SECTION 18. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.2, AS AMENDED BY
	543	+	21 P.L.268-2019, SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	544	+	22 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.2. (a) For an eligible child to
	545	+	23 qualify for a grant prekindergarten voucher under this chapter, the
	546	+	24 eligible child must reside with a parent or guardian who is:
	547	+	25 (1) working or attending a job training or an educational program;
	548	+	26 or
	549	+	27 (2) actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
	550	+	28 United States Department of Health and Human Services as
	551	+	29 provided in 45 CFR 98.21.
	552	+	30 (b) For a limited eligibility child to qualify for a grant
	553	+	31 prekindergarten voucher under this chapter, the limited eligibility
	554	+	32 child must reside with a parent or guardian who:
	555	+	33 (1) is working or attending a job training or an educational
	556	+	34 program;
	557	+	35 (2) is actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
	558	+	36 United States Department of Health and Human Services as
	559	+	37 provided in 45 CFR 98.21; or
	560	+	38 (3) receives Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental
	561	+	39 Security Income benefits, or disability benefits from the United
	562	+	40 States Department of Veterans Affairs.
	563	+	41 (c) Before the office may award provide a grant prekindergarten
	564	+	42 voucher to an eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of
	565	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 12
	566	+	1 a child care employee under this chapter, the office shall require that
	567	+	2 a parent or guardian of the eligible or limited eligibility child agree to
	568	+	3 the following:
	569	+	4 (1) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
	570	+	5 prekindergarten program of an eligible provider selected by the
	571	+	6 parent or guardian for the full duration of the prekindergarten
	572	+	7 program year.
	573	+	8 (2) The parent or guardian will not transfer to another
	574	+	9 prekindergarten program during the prekindergarten program
	575	+	10 year.
	576	+	11 (3) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
	577	+	12 prekindergarten program at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the
	578	+	13 days that the prekindergarten program is provided.
	579	+	14 (4) The parent or guardian will allow the eligible or limited
	580	+	15 eligibility child to participate in an external evaluation conducted
	581	+	16 by researchers, including the kindergarten readiness assessment
	582	+	17 and measuring of developmental and academic progress.
	583	+	18 (5) The parent or guardian will participate in family engagement
	584	+	19 and involvement activities offered by the selected prekindergarten
	585	+	20 program, including meetings with the eligible or limited eligibility
	586	+	21 child's teacher to discuss the eligible or limited eligibility child's
	587	+	22 progress or any other conference concerning the eligible or
	588	+	23 limited eligibility child that is requested by the eligible provider.
	589	+	24 (6) The parent or guardian will complete the necessary forms for
	590	+	25 the eligible child or limited eligibility child to receive a student
	591	+	26 test number from the department of education.
	592	+	27 (7) The parent or guardian will send the eligible or limited
	593	+	28 eligibility child to kindergarten.
	594	+	29 (8) The parent or guardian will read to the eligible or limited
	595	+	30 eligibility child each week.
	596	+	31 (9) Any other condition the office determines is appropriate.
	597	+	32 (d) Priority shall be given to a child of a child care employee
	598	+	33 under this section.
	599	+	34 (d) (e) Priority may be given to an eligible or limited eligibility child
	600	+	35 under this section if a parent or guardian of the eligible or limited
	601	+	36 eligibility child is:
	602	+	37 (1) involved in activities that improve the parent's or guardian's
	603	+	38 education; or
	604	+	39 (2) involved in job training.
	605	+	40 SECTION 19. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.3, AS AMENDED BY
	606	+	41 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 12, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	607	+	42 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.3. The office
	608	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 13
	609	+	1 shall require, for an eligible provider to enroll in the prekindergarten
	610	+	2 program, that the eligible provider agree to the following:
	611	+	3 (1) Comply on a continuing basis with the requirements under this
	612	+	4 chapter and rules for participation established by the office.
	613	+	5 (2) Maintain eligibility under this chapter throughout the
	614	+	6 prekindergarten program year.
	615	+	7 (3) Report immediately any changes in eligibility status to the
	616	+	8 office, including the eligible provider's loss of national or regional
	617	+	9 accreditation.
	618	+	10 (4) Participate in any training and mandatory meetings required
	619	+	11 by the office.
	620	+	12 (5) Participate in all onsite visits conducted by the office,
	621	+	13 including fiscal auditing activities with regard to the
	622	+	14 prekindergarten program and prekindergarten program activity
	623	+	15 monitoring.
	624	+	16 (6) Allow families the family of an eligible or child, a limited
	625	+	17 eligibility children, child, or a child of a child care employee
	626	+	18 enrolled in the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider
	627	+	19 to visit at any time the prekindergarten program is in operation.
	628	+	20 (7) Maintain accurate online attendance records through the
	629	+	21 attendance portal for eligible or children, limited eligibility
	630	+	22 children, and children of child care employees enrolled in the
	631	+	23 prekindergarten program and submit attendance records as
	632	+	24 required by the office.
	633	+	25 (8) Offer parental engagement and involvement activities in the
	634	+	26 prekindergarten program of the eligible provider in alignment
	635	+	27 with the family engagement framework adopted by the early
	636	+	28 learning advisory committee established by IC 12-17.2-3.8-5.
	637	+	29 (9) Complete, within the period established by the office, the
	638	+	30 Indiana early childhood family engagement toolkit, including the
	639	+	31 family engagement self-assessment, adopted by the early learning
	640	+	32 advisory committee.
	641	+	33 (10) Share information on the family engagement self-assessment
	642	+	34 described in subdivision (9) as required by the office.
	643	+	35 (11) Participate in research studies as required by the office.
	644	+	36 (12) Enforce minimum attendance requirements of at least
	645	+	37 eighty-five percent (85%) of the days that the prekindergarten
	646	+	38 program of the eligible provider is offered to an eligible or child,
	647	+	39 a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee.
	648	+	40 (13) Inform the office that an eligible or child, a limited eligibility
	649	+	41 child, or a child of a child care employee has withdrawn from
	650	+	42 the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider not later than
	651	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 14
	652	+	1 five (5) days after the eligible or limited eligibility child is
	653	+	2 withdrawn.
	654	+	3 (14) That retroactive repayment to the state may be required or
	655	+	4 future payments may be adjusted as a result of the withdrawal of
	656	+	5 an eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a
	657	+	6 child care employee or changes in the law.
	658	+	7 (15) Maintain records of participation by a the family of an
	659	+	8 eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child
	660	+	9 care employee in family engagement activities and submit
	661	+	10 records as required by the office.
	662	+	11 (16) Promote an eligible or limited eligibility child's the social,
	663	+	12 emotional, and behavioral health of an eligible child, a limited
	664	+	13 eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee and
	665	+	14 eliminate or severely limit the use of expulsion, suspension, and
	666	+	15 other exclusionary discipline practices.
	667	+	16 (17) Use the exclusionary discipline practices described in
	668	+	17 subdivision (16) only as a last resort in extraordinary
	669	+	18 circumstances when there is a determination of a serious safety
	670	+	19 threat that cannot otherwise be reduced or eliminated by the
	671	+	20 provision of reasonable modifications.
	672	+	21 (18) Inform and receive approval from the office before the
	673	+	22 eligible provider expels, suspends, or uses other exclusionary
	674	+	23 discipline practices.
	675	+	24 (19) Assist a parent or guardian, upon request by the parent or
	676	+	25 guardian, in obtaining information from, referral to, or both
	677	+	26 information from and referral to, the public school that serves the
	678	+	27 attendance area in which the parent or guardian resides for an
	679	+	28 educational evaluation and determination of eligibility for special
	680	+	29 education services if developmental delays or reasons to suspect
	681	+	30 a disability are observed by the parent, guardian, or teacher of an
	682	+	31 eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child
	683	+	32 care employee during the prekindergarten program year.
	684	+	33 SECTION 20. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.8, AS AMENDED BY
	685	+	34 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	686	+	35 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.8. (a) The office
	687	+	36 shall make random onsite inspections each year, as determined
	688	+	37 necessary by the office, at the facility of:
	689	+	38 (1) an eligible provider that receives a prekindergarten
	690	+	39 voucher under this chapter; or
	691	+	40 (2) a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider that
	692	+	41 receives a grant under section 7.4 of this chapter.
	693	+	42 that receives a grant under this chapter.
	694	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 15
	695	+	1 (b) The office may determine that an eligible provider or potential
	696	+	2 eligible provider or existing eligible provider is not eligible to receive
	697	+	3 a grant prekindergarten voucher under the prekindergarten program
	698	+	4 or that a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider is
	699	+	5 not eligible to receive a grant under section 7.4 of this chapter if the
	700	+	6 eligible provider or the potential eligible provider or existing eligible
	701	+	7 provider:
	702	+	8 (1) fails to comply with this chapter; or
	703	+	9 (2) refuses to allow, during normal business hours, the office or
	704	+	10 an agent of the office to inspect the facility at which the eligible
	705	+	11 provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider
	706	+	12 operates a child care program for eligible or children, limited
	707	+	13 eligibility children, or children of child care employees.
	708	+	14 SECTION 21. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
	709	+	15 SECTION 13, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	710	+	16 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) The office shall determine:
	711	+	17 (1) which applicants shall be awarded provided a:
	712	+	18 (A) prekindergarten voucher under this chapter; or
	713	+	19 (B) grant under section 7.4 of this chapter; and
	714	+	20 (2) subject to subsection (b) and to the availability of funding, the
	715	+	21 amount of each prekindergarten voucher or grant.
	716	+	22 (b) At least five percent (5%) but not more than fifty percent (50%)
	717	+	23 of the:
	718	+	24 (1) tuition for eligible or limited eligibility children under the
	719	+	25 prekindergarten pilot program; or
	720	+	26 (2) expansion plan described in section 7.4(a) of this chapter;
	721	+	27 during the state fiscal year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants,
	722	+	28 bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from
	723	+	29 the United States government, or from other sources (excluding funds
	724	+	30 from a prekindergarten voucher or grant provided under this chapter
	725	+	31 and excluding other state funding). The office may receive and
	726	+	32 administer grants on behalf of the prekindergarten pilot program. The
	727	+	33 grants shall be distributed by the office to fulfill the requirements of
	728	+	34 this subsection.
	729	+	35 (c) The amount of a grant made prekindergarten voucher
	730	+	36 provided under the pilot prekindergarten program to an eligible or
	731	+	37 child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee:
	732	+	38 (1) who attends a prekindergarten program full time must equal
	733	+	39 at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) during the
	734	+	40 state fiscal year; and
	735	+	41 (2) may not exceed six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800)
	736	+	42 from state money provided under this chapter during the state
	737	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 16
	738	+	1 fiscal year.
	739	+	2 SECTION 22. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8.1, AS AMENDED BY
	740	+	3 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	741	+	4 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8.1. (a) If funds are
	742	+	5 appropriated by the general assembly, grants prekindergarten
	743	+	6 vouchers provided to limited eligibility children may not exceed:
	744	+	7 (1) twenty percent (20%) of the amount appropriated for a
	745	+	8 particular state fiscal year if families with children four (4) years
	746	+	9 of age are on the waiting list for funds available under the Child
	747	+	10 Care Development Fund; CCDF; or
	748	+	11 (2) forty percent (40%) of the amount appropriated for a
	749	+	12 particular state fiscal year if there is no waiting list for children
	750	+	13 four (4) years of age for funds available under the Child Care
	751	+	14 Development Fund. CCDF.
	752	+	15 (b) During the priority enrollment period, the office shall provide
	753	+	16 grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible children and children of
	754	+	17 child care employees in the prekindergarten program on a first-come,
	755	+	18 first-served basis. The office shall date stamp and reserve applications
	756	+	19 for limited eligibility children received during the priority enrollment
	757	+	20 period for processing during the extended enrollment period.
	758	+	21 (c) During the extended enrollment period, the office shall provide
	759	+	22 grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible children, children of
	760	+	23 child care employees, and limited eligibility children in the
	761	+	24 prekindergarten program on a first-come, first-served basis to the
	762	+	25 extent of available funding and in accordance with the limit established
	763	+	26 by subsection (a).
	764	+	27 SECTION 23. IC 12-17.2-7.2-10, AS ADDED BY P.L.202-2014,
	765	+	28 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	766	+	29 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. The office shall apply for any available
	767	+	30 waivers under the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
	768	+	31 grant CCDF voucher program and the federal Head Start program.
	769	+	32 SECTION 24. IC 12-17.2-7.2-11, AS AMENDED BY
	770	+	33 P.L.201-2023, SECTION 139, AND AS AMENDED BY
	771	+	34 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 17, AND AS AMENDED BY THE
	772	+	35 TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL OF THE 2024 GENERAL
	773	+	36 ASSEMBLY, IS CORRECTED AND AMENDED TO READ AS
	774	+	37 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 11. Except as
	775	+	38 provided under IC 20-51-1-4.3(4)(E), The receipt of a grant
	776	+	39 prekindergarten voucher under the pilot prekindergarten program
	777	+	40 does not qualify, nor have an effect on the qualification or eligibility,
	778	+	41 of a child for a choice scholarship under IC 20-51-4.
	779	+	42 SECTION 25. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13, AS AMENDED BY
	780	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 17
	781	+	1 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 19, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	782	+	2 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13. (a) The office
	783	+	3 shall, before November 1 of each year, submit a report to the governor,
	784	+	4 the budget committee, the state board of education, the department of
	785	+	5 education, and, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, the general
	786	+	6 assembly regarding the prekindergarten program.
	787	+	7 (b) The report under subsection (a) must include the following:
	788	+	8 (1) The total number of children who received a grant
	789	+	9 prekindergarten voucher under the prekindergarten program for
	790	+	10 the immediately preceding state fiscal year, disaggregated by
	791	+	11 county.
	792	+	12 (2) The total amount of funds budgeted for and spent under the
	793	+	13 prekindergarten program during the immediately preceding state
	794	+	14 fiscal year.
	795	+	15 (3) The balance remaining in the fund at the end of the
	796	+	16 immediately preceding state fiscal year.
	797	+	17 SECTION 26. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.1, AS AMENDED BY
	798	+	18 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	799	+	19 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13.1. The office
	800	+	20 shall post monthly on the office's website the total enrollment of and
	801	+	21 number of grants prekindergarten vouchers awarded to:
	802	+	22 (1) all eligible children; (before January 1, 2020); and
	803	+	23 (2) after December 31, 2019, both:
	804	+	24 (A) all eligible children; and
	805	+	25 (B) (2) all limited eligibility children; and
	806	+	26 (3) children of child care employees;
	807	+	27 for each county that participates in the prekindergarten program.
	808	+	28 SECTION 27. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.5, AS AMENDED BY
	809	+	29 P.L.246-2023, SECTION 21, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
	810	+	30 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13.5. (a) The
	811	+	31 prekindergarten program fund is established to:
	812	+	32 (1) provide grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible or
	813	+	33 children, limited eligibility children, and children of child care
	814	+	34 employees for qualified early education services under this
	815	+	35 chapter;
	816	+	36 (2) carry out the longitudinal study described in section 12 of this
	817	+	37 chapter;
	818	+	38 (3) provide grants to potential eligible providers and existing
	819	+	39 eligible providers as set forth in section 7.4 of this chapter; and
	820	+	40 (4) make payments to reimburse costs incurred to provide
	821	+	41 in-home early education services under IC 12-17.2-7.5.
	822	+	42 (b) The fund consists of:
	823	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 18
	824	+	1 (1) money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; and
	825	+	2 (2) grants or gifts to the fund.
	826	+	3 (c) The fund shall be administered by the office.
	827	+	4 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
	828	+	5 money in the fund.
	829	+	6 (e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes
	830	+	7 provided under this article.
	831	+	8 (f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
	832	+	9 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
	833	+	10 manner as other public funds may be invested.
	834	+	11 SECTION 28. IC 12-17.2-7.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	835	+	12 CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	836	+	13 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]:
	837	+	14 Chapter 7.6. Micro Facility Pilot Program
	838	+	15 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "micro facility" means an entity
	839	+	16 licensed under this article that provides child care for not less than
	840	+	17 three (3) children and not more than thirty (30) children for at
	841	+	18 least four (4) hours per day.
	842	+	19 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" refers to the
	843	+	20 pilot program established under section 3 of this chapter.
	844	+	21 Sec. 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, after soliciting and
	845	+	22 considering recommendations from appropriate stakeholders, the
	846	+	23 office of the secretary shall develop a regulatory model that:
	847	+	24 (1) is applicable only to micro facilities;
	848	+	25 (2) incorporates waivers or variances from the office of the
	849	+	26 secretary's rules applicable to providers under this article;
	850	+	27 and
	851	+	28 (3) provides for a balance between the goals of:
	852	+	29 (A) increasing the availability of child care, particularly in
	853	+	30 geographic areas facing a critical shortage of child care, by
	854	+	31 reducing the costs of operating a micro facility; and
	855	+	32 (B) ensuring the health and safety of children for whom a
	856	+	33 micro facility provides child care.
	857	+	34 (b) In determining waivers or variances to be incorporated
	858	+	35 under subsection (a)(2), the office of the secretary shall consider
	859	+	36 efficiencies such as:
	860	+	37 (1) allowing a micro facility to be operated in either a
	861	+	38 residential or nonresidential building;
	862	+	39 (2) prescribing educational requirements for staff members of
	863	+	40 a micro facility that are tailored to the needs of providing
	864	+	41 child care to groups of thirty (30) children or less; and
	865	+	42 (3) allowing for supervision of children of diverse age groups
	866	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 19
	867	+	1 in a manner that maximizes use of limited facility space.
	868	+	2 (c) Not later than March 1, 2025, the office of the secretary shall
	869	+	3 establish and administer a pilot program under which:
	870	+	4 (1) a licensee under IC 12-7-2-28.4 or IC 12-7-2-28.8 that:
	871	+	5 (A) operates an existing micro facility; or
	872	+	6 (B) proposes to begin operating a new micro facility not
	873	+	7 more than sixty (60) days after the date of the licensee's
	874	+	8 application under this subdivision;
	875	+	9 may apply to participate in the pilot program in a manner
	876	+	10 prescribed by the office of the secretary;
	877	+	11 (2) the office of the secretary shall select at least three (3)
	878	+	12 licensees that apply under subdivision (1) and:
	879	+	13 (A) allow a selected licensee described in subdivision (1)(A)
	880	+	14 to operate the licensee's existing micro facility; and
	881	+	15 (B) allow a selected licensee described in subdivision (1)(B)
	882	+	16 to operate the licensee's proposed micro facility;
	883	+	17 under the regulatory model developed under subsection (a);
	884	+	18 and
	885	+	19 (3) the office of the secretary shall:
	886	+	20 (A) monitor the operation of the micro facilities operating
	887	+	21 under the regulatory model under subdivision (2); and
	888	+	22 (B) evaluate the degree to which the operation of the micro
	889	+	23 facilities under the regulatory model serves the balance
	890	+	24 described in subsection (a)(3).
	891	+	25 (d) The office of the secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
	892	+	26 select licensees for participation in the pilot program such that the
	893	+	27 micro facilities operated by the licensees are located in areas:
	894	+	28 (1) that are geographically diverse from one another; and
	895	+	29 (2) in which there exists a critical shortage of child care
	896	+	30 providers.
	897	+	31 (e) A waiver or variance applied to a micro facility under this
	898	+	32 section expires on the earlier of:
	899	+	33 (1) the date specified by the office of the secretary; or
	900	+	34 (2) December 31, 2026.
	901	+	35 Sec. 4. Not later than October 1, 2026, the office of the secretary
	902	+	36 shall do the following:
	903	+	37 (1) Make a determination as to whether the operation of the
	904	+	38 micro facilities under the regulatory model developed under
	905	+	39 section 3(a) of this chapter served the balance described in
	906	+	40 section 3(a)(3) of this chapter.
	907	+	41 (2) Based on the office of the secretary's determination under
	908	+	42 subdivision (1), make a determination as to whether the office
	909	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 20
	910	+	1 of the secretary will adopt rules specific to micro facilities that
	911	+	2 incorporate some or all aspects of the regulatory model
	912	+	3 developed under section 3(a) of this chapter.
	913	+	4 (3) Submit to the executive director of the legislative services
	914	+	5 agency, for distribution to the members of the general
	915	+	6 assembly, a report regarding the pilot program that describes
	916	+	7 the office of the secretary's determinations under subdivisions
	917	+	8 (1) and (2). The office of the secretary's report under this
	918	+	9 subdivision must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
	919	+	10 Sec. 5. This chapter expires January 1, 2027.
	920	+	11 SECTION 29. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
	921	+	12 SECTION, "CCDF" refers to the federal Child Care and
	922	+	13 Development Fund program administered under 45 CFR 98 and 45
	923	+	14 CFR 99.
	924	+	15 (b) As used in this SECTION, "office" means the office of the
	925	+	16 secretary of family and social services established by IC 12-8-1.5-1.
	926	+	17 (c) Not later than September 30, 2024, the office shall do the
	927	+	18 following:
	928	+	19 (1) Amend 470 IAC 3 to define a "substitute educator"
	929	+	20 caregiver type for purposes of the office's rules pertaining to
	930	+	21 all categories of child care providers regulated by the office
	931	+	22 under IC 12-17.2.
	932	+	23 (2) Amend 470 IAC 3-4.7-24 to allow an employee of a child
	933	+	24 care provider who:
	934	+	25 (A) is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age;
	935	+	26 (B) meets CCDF qualified caregiver requirements;
	936	+	27 (C) is assigned to a lead caregiver who:
	937	+	28 (i) is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
	938	+	29 (ii) meets the qualifications of a lead caregiver under
	939	+	30 rules adopted under IC 12-13-5-3; and
	940	+	31 (iii) supervises the employee at all times during which
	941	+	32 the employee is supervising one (1) or more children;
	942	+	33 (D) is never left alone with a child; and
	943	+	34 (E) meets other reasonable requirements related to
	944	+	35 ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of children as
	945	+	36 established by the office;
	946	+	37 to be counted in child/staff ratios for school age child care
	947	+	38 rooms.
	948	+	39 (3) Amend 470 IAC 3-4.7-121 to allow an employee of a child
	949	+	40 care provider who:
	950	+	41 (A) is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
	951	+	42 (B) meets CCDF qualified caregiver requirements; and
	952	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 21
	953	+	1 (C) meets other reasonable requirements related to
	954	+	2 ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of children as
	955	+	3 established by the office;
	956	+	4 to serve as the staff person in charge of an infant/toddler
	957	+	5 room.
	958	+	6 (d) Not later than October 31, 2024, the office, in collaboration
	959	+	7 with the department of state revenue, shall provide to the executive
	960	+	8 director of the legislative services agency for distribution to the
	961	+	9 members of the general assembly a report in an electronic format
	962	+	10 under IC 5-14-6 documenting the results attributable to:
	963	+	11 (1) the employer sponsored child care fund, including any
	964	+	12 tri-share model programs; and
	965	+	13 (2) the employer child care expenditure credit.
	966	+	14 (e) Not later than December 31, 2024, the office shall:
	967	+	15 (1) submit to the United States Department of Health and
	968	+	16 Human Services any state plan amendment necessary to
	969	+	17 implement; and
	970	+	18 (2) amend the rules of the office's division of family resources
	971	+	19 in conformance with;
	972	+	20 IC 12-14-31-3, as added by this act, and IC 12-17.2-7.2, as amended
	973	+	21 by this act.
	974	+	22 (f) This SECTION expires January 1, 2025.
	975	+	23 SECTION 30. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
	976	+	24 SECTION, "secretary" refers to the secretary of family and social
	977	+	25 services appointed under IC 12-8-1.5-2.
	978	+	26 (b) The secretary, in collaboration with the department of
	979	+	27 administration, the department of education, the department of
	980	+	28 child services, the criminal justice institute, and the state police,
	981	+	29 shall study opportunities for resource sharing across state agencies
	982	+	30 and local units of government to facilitate the fingerprinting of
	983	+	31 individuals for purposes of conducting a national criminal history
	984	+	32 background check (as defined by IC 10-13-3-12) or any similar
	985	+	33 criminal history check involving fingerprint identification.
	986	+	34 (c) Not later than November 1, 2024, the secretary shall submit
	987	+	35 a report of the secretary's findings under subsection (b) to the
	988	+	36 following:
	989	+	37 (1) The governor.
	990	+	38 (2) The legislative council in an electronic format under
	991	+	39 IC 5-14-6.
	992	+	40 The report must include recommendations to facilitate
	993	+	41 fingerprinting for individuals in rural areas.
	994	+	42 (d) This section expires December 31, 2025.
	995	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 22
	996	+	1 SECTION 31. An emergency is declared for this act.
	997	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 23
	998	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	999	+	Madam President: The Senate Committee on Health and Provider
	1000	+	Services, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 2, has had the same
	1001	+	under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
	1002	+	Senate with the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as
	1003	+	follows:
	1004	+	Page 20, line 17, after "(i)" insert "is at least eighteen (18) years of
	1005	+	age;
	1006	+	(ii)".
	1007	+	Page 20, line 19, delete "(ii)" and insert "(iii)".
	1008	+	and when so amended that said bill do pass and be reassigned to the
	1009	+	Senate Committee on Appropriations.
	1010	+	(Reference is to SB 2 as introduced.)
	1011	+	CHARBONNEAU, Chairperson
	1012	+	Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0.
	1013	+	_____
	1014	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	1015	+	Madam President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to
	1016	+	which was referred Senate Bill No. 2, has had the same under
	1017	+	consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
	1018	+	the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
	1019	+	(Reference is to SB 2 as printed January 19, 2024.)
	1020	+
	1021	+	MISHLER, Chairperson
	1022	+	Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0
	1023	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 24
	1024	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	1025	+	Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Family, Children and Human
	1026	+	Affairs, to which was referred Senate Bill 2, has had the same under
	1027	+	consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the House with
	1028	+	the recommendation that said bill do pass.
	1029	+	(Reference is to SB 2 as printed January 26, 2024.)
	1030	+	DEVON
	1031	+	Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0
	1032	+	_____
	1033	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	1034	+	Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was
	1035	+	referred Engrossed Senate Bill 2, has had the same under consideration
	1036	+	and begs leave to report the same back to the House with the
	1037	+	recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
	1038	+	Page 2, between lines 10 and 11, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	1039	+	"SECTION 5. IC 12-7-2-135.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
41	1040		CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
42	1041		[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 135.7. "Out-of-school-time
43	1042		program", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means child care provided
44	1043		to a child who is at least five (5) years of age but less than fifteen
45	1044		(15) years of age:
46	1045		(1) before school is in session or after the school day;
47	1046		(2) during the summer; or
48		-	(3) any other time when school is not in session.
49		-	SECTION 6. IC 12-8-1.5-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
50		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
51		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 20. Not later than September 30, 2024, the
52		-	office of the secretary shall publish on the website of the office of
53		-	the secretary a dashboard providing monthly information
54		-	regarding state and federal child care subsidies available to
55		-	Indiana residents, including the following information:
56		-	(1) The number of child care subsidies available.
57		-	(2) The average copayment required under each available
58		-	subsidy.
59		-	(3) The number of children on a wait list for each available
60		-	subsidy.
61		-	(4) Other key indicators, as determined by the office of the
62		-	secretary, of the effectiveness of the available child care
63		-	subsidies in each Indiana county.
64		-	SECTION 7. IC 12-14-31-3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
65		-	AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
66		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 3. A household that, at the time of the office
67		-	of the secretary's initial determination of the household's income
68		-	eligibility for purposes of entry into the CCDF program:
69		-	(1) has a household income that does not exceed eighty-five
70		-	percent (85%) of Indiana's state median income for the
71		-	household's family size;
72		-	(2) includes a child care employee (as defined in
73		-	IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5); and
74		-	(3) otherwise meets federal eligibility requirements for the
75		-	CCDF program;
76		-	is eligible for assistance under the CCDF program.
77		-	SEA 2 — Concur 3
78		-	SECTION 8. IC 12-17.2-3.5-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.171-2014,
79		-	SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
80		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) At least one (1) adult individual who
81		-	maintains annual certification in a course of cardiopulmonary
82		-	resuscitation applicable to all age groups of children cared for by a
83		-	provider shall be present at all times when a child is in the care of the
84		-	provider.
85		-	(b) The following apply to an individual who is employed or
86		-	volunteers as a caregiver at a facility where a provider operates a child
87		-	care program:
88		-	(1) The individual shall maintain current certification in first aid
89		-	applicable to all age groups of children cared for by the provider.
90		-	(2) If the individual is:
91		-	(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
92		-	as a caregiver without supervision of another caregiver; or
93		-	(B) less than eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
94		-	as a caregiver only if the individual:
95		-	(i) is at least fourteen (14) years of age; and
96		-	(ii) is, at all times when child care is provided, directly
97		-	supervised by a caregiver who is at least eighteen (18) years
98		-	of age.
99		-	(3) Before beginning employment or volunteer duties, the
100		-	individual must receive a formal orientation to the facility and the
101		-	child care program.
102		-	(4) Beginning July 1, 2015, unless the provider is a parent,
103		-	stepparent, guardian, custodian, or other relative to each child in
104		-	the care of the provider, the individual annually must receive at
105		-	least twelve (12) hours of continuing education approved by the
106		-	division and related to the age appropriate educational
107		-	development, care, and safety of children. The hours of
108		-	continuing education required by this subdivision may include the
109		-	training described in this chapter concerning child abuse
110		-	detection and prevention, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
111		-	and safe sleeping practices.
112		-	(5) Not more than three (3) months after the individual begins
113		-	employment or volunteer duties, the individual must receive
114		-	training approved by the division concerning child abuse
115		-	detection and prevention.
116		-	(c) A provider shall:
117		-	(1) maintain at the facility where the provider operates a child
118		-	care program documentation of all training and completion of
119		-	continuing education required by this section; and
120		-	SEA 2 — Concur 4
121		-	(2) make the documentation available to the division upon
122		-	request.
123		-	SECTION 9. IC 12-17.2-3.8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.246-2023,
124		-	SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
125		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. (a) The early learning advisory committee
126		-	is established to do the following:
127		-	(1) Establish child developmental and educational goals for
128		-	Indiana's early learning system, including the development of
129		-	standards and objectives for early education programs that receive
130		-	state or federal funds.
131		-	(2) Design and maintain an approach to measuring progress
132		-	toward the goals established under subdivision (1) that include
133		-	objective measures of academic quality.
134		-	(3) Assess the attainment of the goals established under
135		-	subdivision (1) and evaluate the efficacy of state and federal
136		-	spending on Indiana's early learning system.
137		-	(4) Assess whether the requirements for early education program
138		-	licensure:
139		-	(A) create an equitable standard for health and safety across all
140		-	early education program types;
141		-	(B) reinforce the goals established under subdivision (1); and
142		-	(C) support the sustainability of Indiana's early learning
143		-	system.
144		-	(5) Conduct periodic statewide needs assessments concerning the
145		-	quality and availability of early education programs for children
146		-	from birth to the age of school entry, including the availability of
147		-	high quality prekindergarten education for low income children
148		-	in Indiana.
149		-	(6) Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and
150		-	coordination among federally and state funded child development,
151		-	child care, and early childhood education programs and services,
152		-	including governmental agencies that administer the programs
153		-	and services.
154		-	(7) Design early education workforce strategies, including
155		-	recommendations on how to advance professional development.
156		-	(8) Assess the capacity and effectiveness of pathways to support
157		-	training and recruitment of early educators.
158		-	(9) Not later than November 30 of each year, develop and make
159		-	recommendations to the governor and, in an electronic format
160		-	under IC 5-14-6, to the legislative council concerning the results
161		-	of the committee's work under subdivisions (1) through (8).
162		-	(10) Not later than July May 1, 2024, commission a third party
163		-	SEA 2 — Concur 5
164		-	evaluation to assess existing regulations for child care providers
165		-	and provide a report containing recommendations to:
166		-	(A) maintain health and safety standards;
167		-	(B) streamline administrative burdens, program standards, and
168		-	reporting requirements for child care providers;
169		-	(C) provide flexibility for a child care provider with a Level 3
170		-	or Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating to expand to
171		-	other locations; and
172		-	(D) assist accredited kindergarten through grade 12
173		-	institutions in establishing and providing high quality onsite
174		-	child care and early learning programs.
175		-	Not later than July 1, 2024, the office of the secretary shall
176		-	initiate the process of amending the rules adopted by the
177		-	office under IC 12-17.2-7.2 in consideration of the
178		-	recommendations of the third party evaluation. This
179		-	subdivision expires January 1, 2025.
180		-	(11) Not later than December 31, 2023, develop recommendations
181		-	for implementing a revised paths to QUALITY program that:
182		-	(A) maintains health and safety standards;
183		-	(B) integrates objective measures of kindergarten readiness;
184		-	(C) contemplates accredited kindergarten through grade 12
185		-	institutions as onsite providers; and
186		-	(D) incentivizes child care providers to increase wages for
187		-	child care workers who complete education and training that
188		-	result in a postsecondary degree or industry recognized
189		-	credential.
190		-	This subdivision expires July 1, 2024.
191		-	(12) Not later than September 30, 2024, do the following:
	1047	+	(3) any other time when school is not in session.".
	1048	+	Page 5, delete lines 24 through 33, begin a new line block indented
	1049	+	and insert:
	1050	+	"(12) Not later than September 30, 2024, do the following:
192	1051		(A) Complete a study regarding compensation in Indiana
193	1052		for:
194	1053		(i) early childhood educators; and
195	1054		(ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs;
196	1055		by collecting compensation data throughout Indiana.
197	1056		(B) Create an online dashboard to allow access to
198	1057		compensation data.
199	1058		(C) Issue a report containing the committee's findings and
200	1059		recommendations on compensation in Indiana for:
201	1060		(i) early childhood educators; and
202		-	(ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs.
203		-	(b) The committee consists of the following thirteen (13) members:
204		-	(1) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
205		-	(2) The secretary of family and social services or the secretary's
206		-	SEA 2 — Concur 6
207		-	designee.
208		-	(3) Seven (7) members appointed by the governor as follows:
209		-	(A) A representative of an organization with an interest in
210		-	training the early childhood education workforce.
211		-	(B) A representative of a Head Start program under 42 U.S.C.
212		-	9831 et seq.
213		-	(C) A member of the general public who has an interest in
214		-	early childhood education.
215		-	(D) A representative of an early childhood education provider.
216		-	(E) A representative from a school corporation who has an
217		-	interest in strengthening the transition from early childhood
218		-	education to elementary education.
219		-	(F) A representative of business with an interest in early
220		-	childhood education.
221		-	(G) A representative of the nonprofit or philanthropic
222		-	community with an interest in early childhood education.
223		-	(4) One (1) member who:
224		-	(A) is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
225		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
226		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
227		-	(5) One (1) member who:
228		-	(A) is appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;
229		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
230		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
231		-	(6) One (1) member who:
232		-	(A) is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
233		-	representatives;
234		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
235		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
236		-	(7) One (1) member who:
237		-	(A) is appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
238		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
239		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
240		-	(c) Subject to section 5.1 of this chapter, members appointed under
241		-	subsection (b)(3) through (b)(7) serve for three (3) year terms. The
242		-	members of the committee serve at the pleasure of the appointing
243		-	authority.
244		-	(d) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to serve
245		-	as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet at least six
246		-	(6) times each calendar year at the call of the chairperson.
247		-	(e) The division shall, in consultation with the department of
248		-	education, staff the committee.
249		-	SEA 2 — Concur 7
250		-	(f) The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the funds of
251		-	the division.
252		-	(g) Each member of the committee who is not a state employee is
253		-	entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b).
254		-	The member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses
255		-	as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
256		-	connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies
257		-	and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration
258		-	and approved by the budget agency.
259		-	(h) Each member of the committee who is a state employee but who
260		-	is not a member of the general assembly is entitled to reimbursement
261		-	for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other
262		-	expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as
263		-	provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana
264		-	department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
265		-	(i) Each member of the committee who is a member of the general
266		-	assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel
267		-	allowances paid to legislative members of interim study committees
268		-	established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage, and travel
269		-	allowances paid under this section shall be paid from appropriations
270		-	made to the legislative council or the legislative services agency.
271		-	(j) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
272		-	appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take
273		-	action on any measure, including final reports.
274		-	SECTION 10. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
275		-	CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
276		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.4. As used in this chapter,
277		-	"CCDF" refers to the federal Child Care and Development Fund
278		-	program administered under 45 CFR 98 and 45 CFR 99.
279		-	SECTION 11. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
280		-	CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
281		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter,
282		-	"child care employee" means an individual who:
283		-	(1) receives compensation as a full-time employee of an entity
284		-	licensed or regulated under this article, as determined by the
285		-	office; or
286		-	(2) receives compensation as a part-time employee of an entity
287		-	licensed or regulated under this article while also pursuing
288		-	postsecondary study or educational training in child care or
289		-	early childhood education, as determined by the office.
290		-	SECTION 12. IC 12-17.2-7.2-0.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
291		-	CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
292		-	SEA 2 — Concur 8
293		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.6. As used in this chapter,
294		-	"child of a child care employee" means an individual who:
295		-	(1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years
296		-	of age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a
297		-	prekindergarten voucher is sought for the individual under
298		-	the prekindergarten program;
299		-	(2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement
300		-	in Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
301		-	(3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
302		-	provider, as determined by the office;
303		-	(4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the
304		-	child meets the attendance requirements determined by the
305		-	office;
306		-	(5) resides with a parent or guardian who is a child care
307		-	employee, as determined by the office;
308		-	(6) has a household income that does not exceed eighty-five
309		-	percent (85%) of Indiana's state median income for the
310		-	household's family size; and
311		-	(7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(c) of this chapter.
312		-	SECTION 13. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
313		-	SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
314		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "eligible provider"
315		-	refers to a provider that satisfies the following conditions:
316		-	(1) The provider is:
317		-	(A) a:
318		-	(i) public school, including a charter school;
319		-	(ii) (i) child care center licensed under IC 12-17.2-4;
320		-	(iii) (ii) child care home licensed under IC 12-17.2-5; or
321		-	(iv) (iii) child care ministry registered under IC 12-17.2-6;
322		-	that meets the standards of quality recognized by a Level 3 or
323		-	Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating;
324		-	(B) a public school, including a charter school;
325		-	(B) (C) a nonpublic school that is accredited by the state
326		-	board of education or a national or regional accreditation
327		-	agency that is recognized by the state board of education; or
328		-	(C) (D) a nonpublic school that is accredited to provide
329		-	qualified early education services by an accrediting agency
330		-	approved by the office of the secretary.
331		-	(2) The provider:
332		-	(A) provides qualified early education services to eligible and
333		-	children, limited eligibility children, and children of child
334		-	care employees;
335		-	SEA 2 — Concur 9
336		-	(B) complies with the agreement with the office concerning
337		-	the delivery of qualified education services and the use of a
338		-	grant prekindergarten voucher provided under this chapter;
339		-	and
340		-	(C) complies with CCDF provider eligibility standards in
341		-	accordance with federal requirements for health and
342		-	safety.
343		-	SECTION 14. IC 12-17.2-7.2-2.5, AS AMENDED BY
344		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
345		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2.5. As used in this chapter,
346		-	"limited eligibility child" refers to an individual who:
347		-	(1) is at least four (4) years of age and less than five (5) years of
348		-	age on August 1 of the state fiscal year for which a grant
349		-	prekindergarten voucher is sought for the individual under the
350		-	prekindergarten program;
351		-	(2) is a resident of Indiana or otherwise has legal settlement in
352		-	Indiana, as determined under IC 20-26-11;
353		-	(3) receives qualified early education services from an eligible
354		-	provider, as determined by the office;
355		-	(4) has a parent or guardian who agrees to ensure that the child
356		-	meets the attendance requirements determined by the office;
357		-	(5) has a parent or guardian who participates in a parental
358		-	engagement and involvement component provided by the eligible
359		-	provider;
360		-	(6) is a member of a household with an annual income that does
361		-	not exceed one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal
362		-	poverty level;
363		-	(7) meets the requirements of section 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) of this
364		-	chapter; and
365		-	(8) is not an eligible child or a child of a child care employee.
366		-	SECTION 15. IC 12-17.2-7.2-5.7, AS AMENDED BY
367		-	P.L.216-2021, SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
368		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5.7. As used in this chapter,
369		-	"priority enrollment period" refers to the period set forth by the office
370		-	beginning not later than April 1 of each calendar year, except for
371		-	calendar year 2021, 2024, during which the priority enrollment period
372		-	may begin later than April 1, 2021. 2024.
373		-	SECTION 16. IC 12-17.2-7.2-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
374		-	SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
375		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "qualified early
376		-	education services" refers to a program of early education services that:
377		-	(1) is provided by an eligible provider to:
378		-	SEA 2 — Concur 10
379		-	(A) an eligible or child;
380		-	(B) a limited eligibility child; or
381		-	(C) a child of a child care employee;
382		-	(2) includes a parental engagement and involvement component
383		-	in the delivery of early education services that is based on the
384		-	requirements and guidelines established by the office;
385		-	(3) administers the kindergarten readiness assessment adopted by
386		-	the state board of education;
387		-	(4) aligns with the early learning development framework for
388		-	prekindergarten approved by the department of education under
389		-	IC 20-19-3-16; and
390		-	(5) meets the design parameters for inclusion in the longitudinal
391		-	study described in section 12 of this chapter, as determined by the
392		-	office.
393		-	SECTION 17. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.246-2023,
394		-	SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
395		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7. (a) The prekindergarten program is
396		-	established to provide: grants for:
397		-	(1) prekindergarten vouchers for qualified early education
398		-	services in a manner consistent with how funds are distributed
399		-	under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grant
400		-	CCDF child care voucher program; and
401		-	(2) grants for expansion plans as described in section 7.4(a)(2)
402		-	of this chapter.
403		-	(b) The office shall administer the prekindergarten program. The
404		-	prekindergarten program may include:
405		-	(1) eligible providers in Indiana; and
406		-	(2) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers as
407		-	described in section 7.4 of this chapter.
408		-	(c) Beginning July 1, 2020, the total number of grants
409		-	prekindergarten vouchers provided during the immediately
410		-	preceding state fiscal year shall include the number of grants
411		-	prekindergarten vouchers issued under a preschool program
412		-	established in March 2015 that operates in a consolidated city.
413		-	(d) The prekindergarten program includes eligible providers in any
414		-	county in Indiana.
415		-	(e) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the office shall
416		-	determine:
417		-	(1) the eligibility requirements, application process, and selection
418		-	process for awarding grants providing prekindergarten
419		-	vouchers under the prekindergarten program and awarding
420		-	grants under section 7.4 of this chapter;
421		-	SEA 2 — Concur 11
422		-	(2) the administration and reporting requirements for:
423		-	(A) eligible providers; and
424		-	(B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers;
425		-	participating in the prekindergarten program; and
426		-	(3) with the assistance of the early learning advisory committee,
427		-	an appropriate outcomes based accountability system for:
428		-	(A) eligible providers; and
429		-	(B) potential eligible providers or existing eligible providers.
430		-	(f) The office shall, subject to the availability of funding, determine
431		-	the number of eligible children, limited eligibility children, and
432		-	children of child care employees who will participate in the
433		-	prekindergarten program. After December 31, 2019, the office shall,
434		-	subject to the availability of funding, determine the number of limited
435		-	eligibility children who will participate in the prekindergarten program.
436		-	SECTION 18. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.2, AS AMENDED BY
437		-	P.L.268-2019, SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
438		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.2. (a) For an eligible child to
439		-	qualify for a grant prekindergarten voucher under this chapter, the
440		-	eligible child must reside with a parent or guardian who is:
441		-	(1) working or attending a job training or an educational program;
442		-	or
443		-	(2) actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
444		-	United States Department of Health and Human Services as
445		-	provided in 45 CFR 98.21.
446		-	(b) For a limited eligibility child to qualify for a grant
447		-	prekindergarten voucher under this chapter, the limited eligibility
448		-	child must reside with a parent or guardian who:
449		-	(1) is working or attending a job training or an educational
450		-	program;
451		-	(2) is actively seeking employment, subject to the approval by the
452		-	United States Department of Health and Human Services as
453		-	provided in 45 CFR 98.21; or
454		-	(3) receives Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental
455		-	Security Income benefits, or disability benefits from the United
456		-	States Department of Veterans Affairs.
457		-	(c) Before the office may award provide a grant prekindergarten
458		-	voucher to an eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of
459		-	a child care employee under this chapter, the office shall require that
460		-	a parent or guardian of the eligible or limited eligibility child agree to
461		-	the following:
462		-	(1) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
463		-	prekindergarten program of an eligible provider selected by the
464		-	SEA 2 — Concur 12
465		-	parent or guardian for the full duration of the prekindergarten
466		-	program year.
467		-	(2) The parent or guardian will not transfer to another
468		-	prekindergarten program during the prekindergarten program
469		-	year.
470		-	(3) The eligible or limited eligibility child will attend the
471		-	prekindergarten program at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the
472		-	days that the prekindergarten program is provided.
473		-	(4) The parent or guardian will allow the eligible or limited
474		-	eligibility child to participate in an external evaluation conducted
475		-	by researchers, including the kindergarten readiness assessment
476		-	and measuring of developmental and academic progress.
477		-	(5) The parent or guardian will participate in family engagement
478		-	and involvement activities offered by the selected prekindergarten
479		-	program, including meetings with the eligible or limited eligibility
480		-	child's teacher to discuss the eligible or limited eligibility child's
481		-	progress or any other conference concerning the eligible or
482		-	limited eligibility child that is requested by the eligible provider.
483		-	(6) The parent or guardian will complete the necessary forms for
484		-	the eligible child or limited eligibility child to receive a student
485		-	test number from the department of education.
486		-	(7) The parent or guardian will send the eligible or limited
487		-	eligibility child to kindergarten.
488		-	(8) The parent or guardian will read to the eligible or limited
489		-	eligibility child each week.
490		-	(9) Any other condition the office determines is appropriate.
491		-	(d) Priority shall be given to a child of a child care employee
492		-	under this section.
493		-	(d) (e) Priority may be given to an eligible or limited eligibility child
494		-	under this section if a parent or guardian of the eligible or limited
495		-	eligibility child is:
496		-	(1) involved in activities that improve the parent's or guardian's
497		-	education; or
498		-	(2) involved in job training.
499		-	SECTION 19. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.3, AS AMENDED BY
500		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 12, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
501		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.3. The office
502		-	shall require, for an eligible provider to enroll in the prekindergarten
503		-	program, that the eligible provider agree to the following:
504		-	(1) Comply on a continuing basis with the requirements under this
505		-	chapter and rules for participation established by the office.
506		-	(2) Maintain eligibility under this chapter throughout the
507		-	SEA 2 — Concur 13
508		-	prekindergarten program year.
509		-	(3) Report immediately any changes in eligibility status to the
510		-	office, including the eligible provider's loss of national or regional
511		-	accreditation.
512		-	(4) Participate in any training and mandatory meetings required
513		-	by the office.
514		-	(5) Participate in all onsite visits conducted by the office,
515		-	including fiscal auditing activities with regard to the
516		-	prekindergarten program and prekindergarten program activity
517		-	monitoring.
518		-	(6) Allow families the family of an eligible or child, a limited
519		-	eligibility children, child, or a child of a child care employee
520		-	enrolled in the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider
521		-	to visit at any time the prekindergarten program is in operation.
522		-	(7) Maintain accurate online attendance records through the
523		-	attendance portal for eligible or children, limited eligibility
524		-	children, and children of child care employees enrolled in the
525		-	prekindergarten program and submit attendance records as
526		-	required by the office.
527		-	(8) Offer parental engagement and involvement activities in the
528		-	prekindergarten program of the eligible provider in alignment
529		-	with the family engagement framework adopted by the early
530		-	learning advisory committee established by IC 12-17.2-3.8-5.
531		-	(9) Complete, within the period established by the office, the
532		-	Indiana early childhood family engagement toolkit, including the
533		-	family engagement self-assessment, adopted by the early learning
534		-	advisory committee.
535		-	(10) Share information on the family engagement self-assessment
536		-	described in subdivision (9) as required by the office.
537		-	(11) Participate in research studies as required by the office.
538		-	(12) Enforce minimum attendance requirements of at least
539		-	eighty-five percent (85%) of the days that the prekindergarten
540		-	program of the eligible provider is offered to an eligible or child,
541		-	a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee.
542		-	(13) Inform the office that an eligible or child, a limited eligibility
543		-	child, or a child of a child care employee has withdrawn from
544		-	the prekindergarten program of the eligible provider not later than
545		-	five (5) days after the eligible or limited eligibility child is
546		-	withdrawn.
547		-	(14) That retroactive repayment to the state may be required or
548		-	future payments may be adjusted as a result of the withdrawal of
549		-	an eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a
550		-	SEA 2 — Concur 14
551		-	child care employee or changes in the law.
552		-	(15) Maintain records of participation by a the family of an
553		-	eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child
554		-	care employee in family engagement activities and submit
555		-	records as required by the office.
556		-	(16) Promote an eligible or limited eligibility child's the social,
557		-	emotional, and behavioral health of an eligible child, a limited
558		-	eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee and
559		-	eliminate or severely limit the use of expulsion, suspension, and
560		-	other exclusionary discipline practices.
561		-	(17) Use the exclusionary discipline practices described in
562		-	subdivision (16) only as a last resort in extraordinary
563		-	circumstances when there is a determination of a serious safety
564		-	threat that cannot otherwise be reduced or eliminated by the
565		-	provision of reasonable modifications.
566		-	(18) Inform and receive approval from the office before the
567		-	eligible provider expels, suspends, or uses other exclusionary
568		-	discipline practices.
569		-	(19) Assist a parent or guardian, upon request by the parent or
570		-	guardian, in obtaining information from, referral to, or both
571		-	information from and referral to, the public school that serves the
572		-	attendance area in which the parent or guardian resides for an
573		-	educational evaluation and determination of eligibility for special
574		-	education services if developmental delays or reasons to suspect
575		-	a disability are observed by the parent, guardian, or teacher of an
576		-	eligible or child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child
577		-	care employee during the prekindergarten program year.
578		-	SECTION 20. IC 12-17.2-7.2-7.8, AS AMENDED BY
579		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
580		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 7.8. (a) The office
581		-	shall make random onsite inspections each year, as determined
582		-	necessary by the office, at the facility of:
583		-	(1) an eligible provider that receives a prekindergarten
584		-	voucher under this chapter; or
585		-	(2) a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider that
586		-	receives a grant under section 7.4 of this chapter.
587		-	that receives a grant under this chapter.
588		-	(b) The office may determine that an eligible provider or potential
589		-	eligible provider or existing eligible provider is not eligible to receive
590		-	a grant prekindergarten voucher under the prekindergarten program
591		-	or that a potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider is
592		-	not eligible to receive a grant under section 7.4 of this chapter if the
593		-	SEA 2 — Concur 15
594		-	eligible provider or the potential eligible provider or existing eligible
595		-	provider:
596		-	(1) fails to comply with this chapter; or
597		-	(2) refuses to allow, during normal business hours, the office or
598		-	an agent of the office to inspect the facility at which the eligible
599		-	provider or potential eligible provider or existing eligible provider
600		-	operates a child care program for eligible or children, limited
601		-	eligibility children, or children of child care employees.
602		-	SECTION 21. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.268-2019,
603		-	SECTION 13, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
604		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) The office shall determine:
605		-	(1) which applicants shall be awarded provided a:
606		-	(A) prekindergarten voucher under this chapter; or
607		-	(B) grant under section 7.4 of this chapter; and
608		-	(2) subject to subsection (b) and to the availability of funding, the
609		-	amount of each prekindergarten voucher or grant.
610		-	(b) At least five percent (5%) but not more than fifty percent (50%)
611		-	of the:
612		-	(1) tuition for eligible or limited eligibility children under the
613		-	prekindergarten pilot program; or
614		-	(2) expansion plan described in section 7.4(a) of this chapter;
615		-	during the state fiscal year must be paid from donations, gifts, grants,
616		-	bequests, and other funds received from a private entity or person, from
617		-	the United States government, or from other sources (excluding funds
618		-	from a prekindergarten voucher or grant provided under this chapter
619		-	and excluding other state funding). The office may receive and
620		-	administer grants on behalf of the prekindergarten pilot program. The
621		-	grants shall be distributed by the office to fulfill the requirements of
622		-	this subsection.
623		-	(c) The amount of a grant made prekindergarten voucher
624		-	provided under the pilot prekindergarten program to an eligible or
625		-	child, a limited eligibility child, or a child of a child care employee:
626		-	(1) who attends a prekindergarten program full time must equal
627		-	at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) during the
628		-	state fiscal year; and
629		-	(2) may not exceed six thousand eight hundred dollars ($6,800)
630		-	from state money provided under this chapter during the state
631		-	fiscal year.
632		-	SECTION 22. IC 12-17.2-7.2-8.1, AS AMENDED BY
633		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
634		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8.1. (a) If funds are
635		-	appropriated by the general assembly, grants prekindergarten
636		-	SEA 2 — Concur 16
637		-	vouchers provided to limited eligibility children may not exceed:
638		-	(1) twenty percent (20%) of the amount appropriated for a
639		-	particular state fiscal year if families with children four (4) years
640		-	of age are on the waiting list for funds available under the Child
641		-	Care Development Fund; CCDF; or
642		-	(2) forty percent (40%) of the amount appropriated for a
643		-	particular state fiscal year if there is no waiting list for children
644		-	four (4) years of age for funds available under the Child Care
645		-	Development Fund. CCDF.
646		-	(b) During the priority enrollment period, the office shall provide
647		-	grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible children and children of
648		-	child care employees in the prekindergarten program on a first-come,
649		-	first-served basis. The office shall date stamp and reserve applications
650		-	for limited eligibility children received during the priority enrollment
651		-	period for processing during the extended enrollment period.
652		-	(c) During the extended enrollment period, the office shall provide
653		-	grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible children, children of
654		-	child care employees, and limited eligibility children in the
655		-	prekindergarten program on a first-come, first-served basis to the
656		-	extent of available funding and in accordance with the limit established
657		-	by subsection (a).
658		-	SECTION 23. IC 12-17.2-7.2-10, AS ADDED BY P.L.202-2014,
659		-	SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
660		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. The office shall apply for any available
661		-	waivers under the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
662		-	grant CCDF voucher program and the federal Head Start program.
663		-	SECTION 24. IC 12-17.2-7.2-11, AS AMENDED BY
664		-	P.L.201-2023, SECTION 139, AND AS AMENDED BY
665		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 17, AND AS AMENDED BY THE
666		-	TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS BILL OF THE 2024 GENERAL
667		-	ASSEMBLY, IS CORRECTED AND AMENDED TO READ AS
668		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 11. Except as
669		-	provided under IC 20-51-1-4.3(4)(E), The receipt of a grant
670		-	prekindergarten voucher under the pilot prekindergarten program
671		-	does not qualify, nor have an effect on the qualification or eligibility,
672		-	of a child for a choice scholarship under IC 20-51-4.
673		-	SECTION 25. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13, AS AMENDED BY
674		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 19, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
675		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13. (a) The office
676		-	shall, before November 1 of each year, submit a report to the governor,
677		-	the budget committee, the state board of education, the department of
678		-	education, and, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, the general
679		-	SEA 2 — Concur 17
680		-	assembly regarding the prekindergarten program.
681		-	(b) The report under subsection (a) must include the following:
682		-	(1) The total number of children who received a grant
683		-	prekindergarten voucher under the prekindergarten program for
684		-	the immediately preceding state fiscal year, disaggregated by
685		-	county.
686		-	(2) The total amount of funds budgeted for and spent under the
687		-	prekindergarten program during the immediately preceding state
688		-	fiscal year.
689		-	(3) The balance remaining in the fund at the end of the
690		-	immediately preceding state fiscal year.
691		-	SECTION 26. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.1, AS AMENDED BY
692		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 20, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
693		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13.1. The office
694		-	shall post monthly on the office's website the total enrollment of and
695		-	number of grants prekindergarten vouchers awarded to:
696		-	(1) all eligible children; (before January 1, 2020); and
697		-	(2) after December 31, 2019, both:
698		-	(A) all eligible children; and
699		-	(B) (2) all limited eligibility children; and
700		-	(3) children of child care employees;
701		-	for each county that participates in the prekindergarten program.
702		-	SECTION 27. IC 12-17.2-7.2-13.5, AS AMENDED BY
703		-	P.L.246-2023, SECTION 21, IS AMENDED TO READ AS
704		-	FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 13.5. (a) The
705		-	prekindergarten program fund is established to:
706		-	(1) provide grants prekindergarten vouchers to eligible or
707		-	children, limited eligibility children, and children of child care
708		-	employees for qualified early education services under this
709		-	chapter;
710		-	(2) carry out the longitudinal study described in section 12 of this
711		-	chapter;
712		-	(3) provide grants to potential eligible providers and existing
713		-	eligible providers as set forth in section 7.4 of this chapter; and
714		-	(4) make payments to reimburse costs incurred to provide
715		-	in-home early education services under IC 12-17.2-7.5.
716		-	(b) The fund consists of:
717		-	(1) money appropriated to the fund by the general assembly; and
718		-	(2) grants or gifts to the fund.
719		-	(c) The fund shall be administered by the office.
720		-	(d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
721		-	money in the fund.
722		-	SEA 2 — Concur 18
723		-	(e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated for the purposes
724		-	provided under this article.
725		-	(f) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
726		-	currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
727		-	manner as other public funds may be invested.
728		-	SECTION 28. IC 12-17.2-7.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
729		-	CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS
730		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]:
731		-	Chapter 7.6. Micro Facility Pilot Program
732		-	Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "micro facility" means an entity
733		-	licensed under this article that provides child care for not less than
734		-	three (3) children and not more than thirty (30) children for at
735		-	least four (4) hours per day.
736		-	Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" refers to the
737		-	pilot program established under section 3 of this chapter.
738		-	Sec. 3. (a) Not later than January 1, 2025, after soliciting and
739		-	considering recommendations from appropriate stakeholders, the
740		-	office of the secretary shall develop a regulatory model that:
741		-	(1) is applicable only to micro facilities;
742		-	(2) incorporates waivers or variances from the office of the
743		-	secretary's rules applicable to providers under this article;
744		-	and
745		-	(3) provides for a balance between the goals of:
746		-	(A) increasing the availability of child care, particularly in
747		-	geographic areas facing a critical shortage of child care, by
748		-	reducing the costs of operating a micro facility; and
749		-	(B) ensuring the health and safety of children for whom a
750		-	micro facility provides child care.
751		-	(b) In determining waivers or variances to be incorporated
752		-	under subsection (a)(2), the office of the secretary shall consider
753		-	efficiencies such as:
754		-	(1) allowing a micro facility to be operated in either a
755		-	residential or nonresidential building;
756		-	(2) prescribing educational requirements for staff members of
757		-	a micro facility that are tailored to the needs of providing
758		-	child care to groups of thirty (30) children or less; and
759		-	(3) allowing for supervision of children of diverse age groups
760		-	in a manner that maximizes use of limited facility space.
761		-	(c) Not later than March 1, 2025, the office of the secretary shall
762		-	establish and administer a pilot program under which:
763		-	(1) a licensee under IC 12-7-2-28.4 or IC 12-7-2-28.8 that:
764		-	(A) operates an existing micro facility; or
765		-	SEA 2 — Concur 19
766		-	(B) proposes to begin operating a new micro facility not
767		-	more than sixty (60) days after the date of the licensee's
768		-	application under this subdivision;
769		-	may apply to participate in the pilot program in a manner
770		-	prescribed by the office of the secretary;
771		-	(2) the office of the secretary shall select at least three (3)
772		-	licensees that apply under subdivision (1) and:
773		-	(A) allow a selected licensee described in subdivision (1)(A)
774		-	to operate the licensee's existing micro facility; and
775		-	(B) allow a selected licensee described in subdivision (1)(B)
776		-	to operate the licensee's proposed micro facility;
777		-	under the regulatory model developed under subsection (a);
778		-	and
779		-	(3) the office of the secretary shall:
780		-	(A) monitor the operation of the micro facilities operating
781		-	under the regulatory model under subdivision (2); and
782		-	(B) evaluate the degree to which the operation of the micro
783		-	facilities under the regulatory model serves the balance
784		-	described in subsection (a)(3).
785		-	(d) The office of the secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
786		-	select licensees for participation in the pilot program such that the
787		-	micro facilities operated by the licensees are located in areas:
788		-	(1) that are geographically diverse from one another; and
789		-	(2) in which there exists a critical shortage of child care
790		-	providers.
791		-	(e) A waiver or variance applied to a micro facility under this
792		-	section expires on the earlier of:
793		-	(1) the date specified by the office of the secretary; or
794		-	(2) December 31, 2026.
795		-	Sec. 4. Not later than October 1, 2026, the office of the secretary
796		-	shall do the following:
797		-	(1) Make a determination as to whether the operation of the
798		-	micro facilities under the regulatory model developed under
799		-	section 3(a) of this chapter served the balance described in
800		-	section 3(a)(3) of this chapter.
801		-	(2) Based on the office of the secretary's determination under
802		-	subdivision (1), make a determination as to whether the office
803		-	of the secretary will adopt rules specific to micro facilities that
804		-	incorporate some or all aspects of the regulatory model
805		-	developed under section 3(a) of this chapter.
806		-	(3) Submit to the executive director of the legislative services
807		-	agency, for distribution to the members of the general
808		-	SEA 2 — Concur 20
809		-	assembly, a report regarding the pilot program that describes
810		-	the office of the secretary's determinations under subdivisions
811		-	(1) and (2). The office of the secretary's report under this
812		-	subdivision must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
813		-	Sec. 5. This chapter expires January 1, 2027.
814		-	SECTION 29. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
815		-	SECTION, "CCDF" refers to the federal Child Care and
816		-	Development Fund program administered under 45 CFR 98 and 45
817		-	CFR 99.
818		-	(b) As used in this SECTION, "office" means the office of the
819		-	secretary of family and social services established by IC 12-8-1.5-1.
820		-	(c) Not later than September 30, 2024, the office shall do the
821		-	following:
822		-	(1) Amend 470 IAC 3 to define a "substitute educator"
823		-	caregiver type for purposes of the office's rules pertaining to
824		-	all categories of child care providers regulated by the office
825		-	under IC 12-17.2.
826		-	(2) Amend 470 IAC 3-4.7-24 to allow an employee of a child
827		-	care provider who:
828		-	(A) is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age;
829		-	(B) meets CCDF qualified caregiver requirements;
830		-	(C) is assigned to a lead caregiver who:
831		-	(i) is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
832		-	(ii) meets the qualifications of a lead caregiver under
833		-	rules adopted under IC 12-13-5-3; and
834		-	(iii) supervises the employee at all times during which
835		-	the employee is supervising one (1) or more children;
836		-	(D) is never left alone with a child; and
837		-	(E) meets other reasonable requirements related to
838		-	ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of children as
839		-	established by the office;
840		-	to be counted in child/staff ratios for school age child care
841		-	rooms.
842		-	(3) Amend 470 IAC 3-4.7-121 to allow an employee of a child
843		-	care provider who:
844		-	(A) is at least eighteen (18) years of age;
845		-	(B) meets CCDF qualified caregiver requirements; and
846		-	(C) meets other reasonable requirements related to
847		-	ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of children as
848		-	established by the office;
849		-	to serve as the staff person in charge of an infant/toddler
850		-	room.
851		-	SEA 2 — Concur 21
852		-	(d) Not later than October 31, 2024, the office, in collaboration
853		-	with the department of state revenue, shall provide to the executive
854		-	director of the legislative services agency for distribution to the
855		-	members of the general assembly a report in an electronic format
856		-	under IC 5-14-6 documenting the results attributable to:
857		-	(1) the employer sponsored child care fund, including any
858		-	tri-share model programs; and
859		-	(2) the employer child care expenditure credit.
860		-	(e) Not later than December 31, 2024, the office shall:
861		-	(1) submit to the United States Department of Health and
862		-	Human Services any state plan amendment necessary to
863		-	implement; and
864		-	(2) amend the rules of the office's division of family resources
865		-	in conformance with;
866		-	IC 12-14-31-3, as added by this act, and IC 12-17.2-7.2, as amended
867		-	by this act.
868		-	(f) This SECTION expires January 1, 2025.
869		-	SECTION 30. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
870		-	SECTION, "secretary" refers to the secretary of family and social
871		-	services appointed under IC 12-8-1.5-2.
872		-	(b) The secretary, in collaboration with the department of
873		-	administration, the department of education, the department of
874		-	child services, the criminal justice institute, and the state police,
875		-	shall study opportunities for resource sharing across state agencies
876		-	and local units of government to facilitate the fingerprinting of
877		-	individuals for purposes of conducting a national criminal history
878		-	background check (as defined by IC 10-13-3-12) or any similar
879		-	criminal history check involving fingerprint identification.
880		-	(c) Not later than November 1, 2024, the secretary shall submit
881		-	a report of the secretary's findings under subsection (b) to the
882		-	following:
883		-	(1) The governor.
884		-	(2) The legislative council in an electronic format under
885		-	IC 5-14-6.
886		-	The report must include recommendations to facilitate
887		-	fingerprinting for individuals in rural areas.
888		-	(d) This section expires December 31, 2025.
889		-	SECTION 31. An emergency is declared for this act.
890		-	SEA 2 — Concur President of the Senate
891		-	President Pro Tempore
892		-	Speaker of the House of Representatives
893		-	Governor of the State of Indiana
894		-	Date: Time:
895		-	SEA 2 — Concur
	1061	+	(ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs.".
	1062	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119 25
	1063	+	Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
	1064	+	and when so amended that said bill do pass.
	1065	+	(Reference is to ESB 2 as printed February 22, 2024.)
	1066	+	THOMPSON
	1067	+	Committee Vote: yeas 20, nays 0.
	1068	+	ES 2—LS 6562/DI 119