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 27, 2024
BILL NUMBER: SB 8 BILL AMENDED: Feb 26, 2024
SUBJECT: Higher Education Matters.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Leising BILL STATUS: As Passed House
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. It requires,
by July 1, 2025, DOE to partner with one or more institutions to provide online access to all College Core
courses through the Course Access Program. It requires, by July 1, 2027, DOE to make all College Core
courses available online to all eligible students through the Course Access Program.
SB 8 1 This bill requires, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school to offer College Core or
submit a College Core Feasibility Report to CHE. It provides that: (1) a student who successfully 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.
International Baccalaureate: This bill provides that successful completion of an International Baccalaureate
diploma program course (course) shall count as high school credit towards completing Indiana graduation
requirements.
Secondary Credits: The bill expands the schools to which requirements regarding secondary credit apply.
Foreign Gifts and Contracts: The bill requires an institution to disclose certain foreign gifts and contracts
received or entered into after December 31, 2013. It also requires CHE to establish and maintain a website
for accessing information about disclosed gifts and contracts. It authorizes CHE to provide for an audit of
an institution's use of a disclosed gift, or the proceeds of a disclosed contract, received or entered into after
June 30, 2021, and before July 1, 2024. It authorizes the Attorney General to bring a cause of action to
enforce the disclosure statute. The bill also repeals a statute concerning disclosures by postsecondary
educational institutions of foreign gifts and contracts.
Credit Equivalency Updates: The bill provides that credit equivalencies, including the College Core, for all
Cambridge International Advanced A and AS Level examinations must be updated annually and sent by each
SEI to CHE by June 1 each year. It provides that each SEI shall post these annually updated credit
equivalencies on the SEI's website by July 1 each year. It also provides that CHE shall post the annually
updated credit equivalencies on CHE's student transfer of credit portal by July 1 each year.
Dual Credit Reporting: The bill requires CHE to: (1) review each course, including the syllabus for each
course, that is provided by a postsecondary educational institution to a high school student and for which the
student receives high school credit; and (2) not later than November 1, 2025, and not later than November
1 each year thereafter, prepare and submit a report that summarizes the information reviewed by CHE.
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.
International Baccalaureate (IB): This bill will change the eligibility requirements to receive a Core 40
diploma with an academic honors designation by allowing certain IB credits to count toward meeting the
diploma's credit requirements. This could result in a minor increase of Academic Performance Grant
expenditures that are distributed through state tuition support beginning in FY 2025. The expenditure
increase, if any, would be minimal, and dependent upon the number of students that would newly qualify for
a Core 40 with Academic Honors diploma under the bill.
SB 8 2 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.
The bill requires CHE to review all dual-credit courses and prepare an annual report summarizing the status
of dual-credit courses to the Legislative Council, the Governor, and the Secretary of Education. It requires
CHE to post updated course equivalencies, including IB courses as specified by this bill, on its transfer of
credit portal (commonly known at the Core Transfer Library or CTL) and maintain and post a list of, and
syllabus for, all eligible College Core courses. These requirements constitute a workload increase for CHE.
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.
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 and to annually submit to CHE
updated credit equivalencies for Cambridge International Advanced A and AS Level examinations. 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. Ivy Tech estimates as many as five full-time equivalent
employees will be required to fully implement the expanded Reverse Transfer Program. Under the existing
memorandum of understanding, approximately 40% of evaluated transcripts result in the award of a degree.
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 feasibility reports submitted by public high schools that do 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.
SB 8 3 College Core Course Access Program: This bill requires DOE to coordinate with one or more SEIs or
approved post-secondary educational institutions to make all College Core courses available through the
Course Access Program (iCAP) to all eligible students by July 1, 2027. The bill also specifies that SEIs may
offer certain courses through iCAP. Entering into the agreement is within the routine administrative functions
of DOE and SEIs, but providing access through iCAP may require significant expenditures on the part of
DOE, partnered SEIs, or both. Ivy Tech is the only SEI that currently provides courses through iCAP.
Foreign Gifts and Contracts: The bill requires SEIs to disclose gifts received from and contracts entered into
with certain foreign entities. It requires CHE to establish and maintain a website for accessing information
about disclosed gifts and contracts and to send copies of disclosure documents to the Attorney General.
These requirements will increase the workload of SEIs and CHE but should be met within existing resources.
The bill also authorizes CHE to audit certain foreign gifts and contracts. The costs of such an audit would
depend on a number of factors, including whether the audit is conducted by CHE or by an outside contractor,
the source and nature of the gift or contract in question, and the complexity of the circumstances surrounding
the gift or contract. Costs associated with this provision will depend on administrative decisions made by
CHE.
Civil Actions by the Attorney General: The Attorney General is authorized to bring a civil action against an
SEI that fails to comply with the disclosure provisions of this bill. The bill also repeals similar language
elsewhere in code. If additional suits are brought, SEIs could have additional legal fees. If an SEI is found
to have knowingly or willingly failed to comply with those disclosure provisions, it may also have to pay for
the costs of the investigation, enforcement and legal actions associated with the civil action. The Attorney
General may also see increased workload associated with such enforcement actions. These requirements are
expected to be met within existing resources.
Additional Information – In the FY 2024-FY 2025 state tuition support formula, the Academic Performance
Grant has the following components:
a. $1,500 for students who graduate one semester early;
b. $1,500 for each student that graduates with an Honors diploma who receives SNAP, TANF or
foster care services or $1,100 for all other students graduating with an Honors diploma;
c. $2,500 for each student who receives an associate degree while still in high school;
d. $1,500 for each student who completes the Indiana College Core 30 while in high school;
e. $40 for each dual credit or dual enrollment credit hour completed (with a maximum award of
$1,200)
For each individual student, schools receive the highest grant calculated under items a through e. To the
extent that the grant a student generates for their given school increases due to the provision allowing the
student to receive an Honors diploma, state expenditures would increase.
Explanation of State Revenues: Civil Actions by the Attorney General: If additional civil cases occur and
court fees are collected, revenue to the state General Fund will increase. The total revenue per case would
range between $100 and $122. The amount deposited will vary depending on whether the case is filed in a
court of record or a municipal court. The following linked document describes the fees and distribution of
the revenue: Court fees imposed in civil, probate, and small claims cases.
International Baccalaureate: Provisions in this bill require state educational institutions (SEIs) to award
academic credit to students who receive a score of four or better on an IB exam. If the number of credits
SB 8 4 awarded increases due to this provision, the enrollment in similar courses at SEIs could decrease, thereby
reducing tuition and fees to the SEIs. Any impact is expected to be minimal.
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: Civil Actions by the Attorney General: If additional cases occur, revenue
will be collected by certain local units. If the case is filed in a court of record, the county will receive $32
and qualifying municipalities will receive a share of $3. If the case is filed in a municipal court, the county
receives $20, and the municipality will receive $37. The following linked document describes the fees and
distribution of the revenue: Court fees imposed in civil, probate, and small claims cases.
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. Additionally, schools offering IB courses may see a revenue increase if more students
complete Core 40 as a result of provisions of this bill. 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; Attorney General.
Local Agencies Affected: Trial courts, city and town courts. Public schools.
Information Sources: Greg Harrell, Director of Legislation and Program Implementation, CHE;
https://mycollegecore.org/; https://www.in.gov/doe/educators/indiana-course-access-network/;
https://transferin.net/; https://www.in.gov/doe/files/iCAP-Provider-Overview-.pdf;
https://media.doe.in.gov/icap/ivytech.pdf; https://transferin.net/earned-credits/core-transfer-library/;
Mary Jane Michalak, Ivy Tech Community College; Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Trial Court Fee
Manual.
Fiscal Analyst: Alexander Raggio, 317-234-9485.
SB 8 5