LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
200 W. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-0696
iga.in.gov
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 6763 NOTE PREPARED: Feb 6, 2024
BILL NUMBER: SB 8 BILL AMENDED: Feb 5, 2024
SUBJECT: Higher Education Matters.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Leising BILL STATUS: As Passed Senate
FIRST SPONSOR: Rep. Snow
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: Reverse Transfer: This bill establishes the Reverse Transfer Program for
Community College Associate Degrees.
Bachelors’ Degrees in Three Years: The bill requires each institution that offers baccalaureate degrees to
establish a policy to review each of the institution's four year baccalaureate degree program offerings to
determine the feasibility of providing each in a specifically structured manner to allow a full-time student
to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. It requires, not later than July 1, 2025, each state
educational institution (SEI) to offer at least one baccalaureate degree program specifically structured to
allow a full-time student to complete the baccalaureate degree within three years. The bill also requires an
SEI to provide an annual report to the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) regarding offering four year
baccalaureate degree programs completed in three years.
Associate Degrees Granted by Four-Year SEIs: The bill requires each SEI to prepare and submit a report
to CHE that includes information regarding a determination by the institution of the feasibility and
advisability of establishing and conferring associate degrees to certain students. It also establishes certain
requirements for CHE regarding the reports.
Indiana College Core: This bill changes the name of the Statewide Transfer General Education Core to the
Indiana College Core (College Core). It requires CHE, in coordination with SEIs and the Department of
Education (DOE), to maintain and post a list and syllabus of each eligible college core course.
This bill requires, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school to offer College Core or
submit a College Core Implementation Plan to CHE. It provides that: (1) a student who successfully
SB 8 1 completes an eligible course under the college core is entitled to secondary credit toward graduation
requirements; and (2) the student's transcripts must reflect the secondary credit.
Secondary Credits: The bill expands the schools to which requirements regarding secondary credit apply.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Academic Performance Grant: The FY 2024-FY 2025 state tuition
support funding formula includes the Academic Performance Grant. The grant is distributed to public schools
based on past academic performance on various measures, including associate degree, Indiana College Core
30, and dual credit attainment. Each of these measures could be impacted by the bill’s requirement that all
public high schools offer or have a plan to offer the Indiana College Core 30 by the 2025-2026 school year.
Current state tuition support distributions would not be impacted since the distributions are based on past
academic performance. However, future iterations of the funding formula may be impacted. Any future
impact depends upon future funding formulas.
CHE: This bill requires CHE to set reporting requirements for SEIs regarding three year baccalaureate
programs, the Reverse Transfer Associate Degree Program, and the establishment of associate degree
programs at “four year” universities. This bill requires CHE to produce reports for the Governor and
Legislative Council and for publication on its website. It also requires CHE to coordinate with DOE and SEIs
to maintain a list of eligible College Core courses and to review implementation plans of public high schools
that do not yet offer College Core curriculum. CHE will work with SEIs to identify and notify students
eligible for the Reverse Transfer Associate Degree Program on a semiannual basis beginning in 2025. These
requirements constitute a workload increase for CHE, but it is expected to be met within existing resources.
SEIs: This bill requires SEIs that grant bachelor’s degrees to analyze what baccalaureate programs can be
structured to facilitate completion in three years, to implement at least one three year bachelor’s degree
program, and to make annual reports regarding the feasibility of implementing three year program designs
more broadly. SEIs are also required to submit a report to CHE on the feasibility of establishing associate’s
degree programs. SEIs will be required to provide information to CHE regarding students and former
students who are eligible for the Reverse Transfer Associate Degree Program. SEIs are also required to
coordinate with CHE to maintain a list of eligible College Core courses. These requirements constitute an
increase in workload for SEIs, but each SEI should be able to meet them within existing resources.
Ivy Tech and Vincennes University will experience a workload increase associated with granting degrees
under the Reverse Transfer Associate Degree Program. These schools are also likely to experience short-term
workload increases associated with the requirement that public high schools offer the Indiana College Core
Curriculum. Of the 209 public schools that offer College Core, 155 are partnered with Ivy Tech to offer dual-
credit courses and 16 are partnered with Vincennes. It is likely that the trend will continue as 241 additional
schools strive to meet the College Core standard. Existing staffing and resource levels, if currently being used
to capacity, may be insufficient for full implementation. Ultimately, the source of funds and resources
required to satisfy the requirements of this bill will depend on legislative and administrative actions.
Associate degrees awarded under the Reverse Transfer Program can be incorporated into CHE’s outcomes-
based formula for operating funding, which is likely to result in increased distributions to SEIs in future
biennia. [SEIs receive general fund appropriations.]
DOE: The bill requires that DOE review the implementation plans submitted by public high schools that do
SB 8 2 not offer College Core as of September 1, 2025, and each year thereafter until the school implements College
Core. DOE is also required to coordinate with CHE to maintain a list of eligible College Core courses. Both
of these requirements are to be completed in cooperation with CHE and should be met within existing
resources.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Public Schools: Public high schools will be required to offer an
Indiana College Core curriculum by academic year 2025-2026 or else submit a plan for implementing
College Core to CHE each year until it is complete. Currently, 209 of 450 Indiana public high schools offer
a College Core curriculum. This requirement constitutes an additional workload on public high schools that
do not offer College Core, as well as some potential expenses in credentialing teachers to teach dual-credit
courses. [A substantial portion of these costs can be covered by grants from Teach Dual Credit Indiana and
STEM Teach Indiana, which provide funding for tuition, textbooks and materials to help teachers meet
credentialing requirements.] Any additional funds and resources required could be supplied through existing
staff and resources currently being used in another program or with new appropriations. Ultimately, the
source of funds and resources required to satisfy the requirements of this bill will depend on legislative and
administrative actions.
Charter schools will have to meet the same requirements to annotate secondary credits on student transcripts
as school corporations currently do. This constitutes a workload increase on charter schools, but this
requirement can be met within existing resources.
Explanation of Local Revenues: Academic Performance Grants: Public schools that currently do not offer
the Indiana College Core curriculum that would offer it under the bill may experience a revenue increase in
the future from Academic Performance Grants. Any revenue increase is dependent upon future state tuition
support funding formulas. [See Explanation of State Expenditures for further details].
State Agencies Affected: Commission for Higher Education, state educational institutions, Department of
Education.
Local Agencies Affected: Public schools.
Information Sources: Greg Harrell, Director of Legislation and Program Implementation, CHE;
https://mycollegecore.org/; https://transferin.net/.
Fiscal Analyst: Alexander Raggio, 317-234-9485.
SB 8 3