*SB0211.2*
Reprinted
February 6, 2024
SENATE BILL No. 211
_____
DIGEST OF SB 211 (Updated February 5, 2024 3:45 pm - DI 110)
Citations Affected: IC 20-20; IC 20-24; IC 20-29.
Synopsis: Various education matters. Requires the department of
education to establish a civics seal program (program) and make
certain determinations concerning the program. Defines a "charter
school corporation". Prohibits formal collective bargaining between a
school corporation and the exclusive representative from beginning
before October 1.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Raatz, Donato, Crane
January 10, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
February 1, 2024, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass.
February 5, 2024, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152 Reprinted
February 6, 2024
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 211
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 20-20-46.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2024]:
4 Chapter 46.5. Civics Seal Program
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "civics seal" refers to an award
6 granted by the department under the program.
7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the civics
8 seal program established under section 4 of this chapter.
9 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "school" refers to the following:
10 (1) A school maintained by a school corporation.
11 (2) A charter school.
12 (3) A state accredited nonpublic school.
13 Sec. 4. The department shall do the following:
14 (1) Establish a civics seal program through which students,
15 teachers, and schools are awarded civics seals recognizing
16 excellence in civics.
17 (2) Adopt criteria to determine student, teacher, and school
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152 2
1 excellence in civics. The criteria may include the following:
2 (A) A student's proficiency in civics demonstrated by
3 student volunteer work and class grades.
4 (B) A teacher's participation in professional development
5 training in civics.
6 (C) A school's emphasis on civics by means of curriculum,
7 instructional methods, conduct requirements, and other
8 means.
9 (3) Determine the form of a civics seal award. The form may
10 include the following:
11 (A) A seal displayed on a student's diploma or transcript.
12 (B) A seal displayed on a teacher's license.
13 (C) A seal displayed as prescribed by the department for
14 a school.
15 SECTION 2. IC 20-24-1-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.1-2005, SECTION
16 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
17 2024]: Sec. 4. (a) "Charter school" means a public elementary school
18 or secondary school established under this article that:
19 (1) is nonsectarian and nonreligious; and
20 (2) operates under a charter.
21 (b) Except as otherwise provided, a charter school described in
22 subsection (a) includes a charter school corporation (as defined in
23 section 4.5 of this chapter).
24 SECTION 3. IC 20-24-1-4.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
25 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
26 1, 2024]: Sec. 4.5. "Charter school corporation" means a collection
27 of charter schools:
28 (1) operated by the same organizer under a single charter;
29 and
30 (2) approved by the state board to receive a school
31 corporation identification number.
32 SECTION 4. IC 20-24-7-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.218-2015,
33 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
34 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 1. (a) The organizer is the fiscal agent for the
35 charter school.
36 (b) The organizer has exclusive control of:
37 (1) funds received by the charter school; and
38 (2) financial matters of the charter school.
39 (c) The organizer shall maintain accounts of all funds received and
40 disbursed by the organizer. Except in the case of a charter school
41 corporation, the organizer shall maintain separate accountings of all
42 funds received and disbursed by each charter school it holds.
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152 3
1 (d) Notwithstanding IC 20-43, an organizer that operates more than
2 one (1) charter school or operates a charter school corporation may
3 file, before July 1 of each year, a notice with the department that the
4 organizer desires to receive the tuition support distributions, and in the
5 case of an adult high school (as defined in IC 20-24-1-2.3), funding
6 provided in the state biennial budget for adult high schools, for all the
7 charter schools the organizer operates or the charter school
8 corporation as a whole. After the organizer's authorizer or authorizers
9 verify to the department that the organizer operates the charter schools
10 or charter school corporation, the department shall distribute the
11 tuition support, and in the case of an adult high school (as defined in
12 IC 20-24-1-2.3), funding provided in the state biennial budget for adult
13 high schools, for the verified charter schools to the organizer or the
14 charter school corporation. The organizer or charter school
15 corporation may distribute the tuition support distribution it receives
16 to each charter school it operates in the amounts determined by the
17 organizer. However, an organizer that receives money from the state
18 under this subsection may not use any of the money received for
19 expenses incurred outside Indiana that are not directly related to the
20 charter school or charter school corporation the organizer operates
21 in Indiana.
22 (e) Organizers or charter school corporations receiving tuition
23 support under this section may submit a consolidated audit in
24 accordance with guidelines established by the state examiner and
25 submit any required financial reporting to the department in a manner
26 prescribed by the state examiner. The state examiner shall establish
27 guidelines and prescribe reporting requirements for organizers under
28 this section that are consistent with generally accepted accounting
29 principles (GAAP) and the needs of the department.
30 SECTION 5. IC 20-29-6-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.200-2023,
31 SECTION 25, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
32 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 1. (a) School employers and school employees
33 shall:
34 (1) have the obligation and the right to bargain collectively the
35 items set forth in section 4 of this chapter; and
36 (2) enter into a contract embodying any of the matters listed in
37 section 4 of this chapter on which they have bargained
38 collectively.
39 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, before a school employer and
40 school employees may privately negotiate the matters described in
41 subsection (a)(1) during the time period for formal collective
42 bargaining established in section 12 of this chapter, the parties must
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152 4
1 hold at least one (1) public hearing and take public testimony to discuss
2 the items described in subsection (a). The public hearing under this
3 subsection may take place at a regular or special meeting of the
4 governing body. A school employer may allow governing body
5 members or the public to participate in a public hearing under this
6 subsection by means of electronic communication.
7 SECTION 6. IC 20-29-6-12, AS AMENDED BY P.L.214-2017,
8 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
9 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 12. Formal collective bargaining between a school
10 corporation and the exclusive representative shall not begin before:
11 (1) September 15 October 1 in the first year of the state budget
12 biennium; or
13 (2) September 15 October 1 in the second year of the state budget
14 biennium if the parties agreed to a one (1) year contract during the
15 first year of the state budget biennium or the contract provides for
16 renegotiating certain financial items the second year of a two (2)
17 year contract.
18 Informal negotiations may be held before September 15. October 1.
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152 5
COMMITTEE REPORT
Madam President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
Development, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 211, has had the
same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
Senate with the recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as
follows:
Page 2, line 27, delete "schools:" and insert "schools (not including
a virtual charter school):".
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to SB 211 as introduced.)
RAATZ, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 4.
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SENATE MOTION
Madam President: I move that Senate Bill 211 be amended to read
as follows:
Page 2, line 27, delete "schools (not including a virtual charter
school):" and insert "schools:".
(Reference is to SB 211 as printed February 2, 2024.)
RAATZ
SB 211—LS 6837/DI 152