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 6476 NOTE PREPARED: Feb 5, 2024
BILL NUMBER: SB 287 BILL AMENDED: Feb 5, 2024
SUBJECT: Education Matters.
FIRST AUTHOR: Sen. Tomes BILL STATUS: 2
nd
Reading - 1
st
House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: (Amended) Cursive Writing: This bill requires each school corporation, charter
school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. It also
repeals a provision that provides that each school corporation may include cursive writing in the school
corporation's curriculum.
Internet Safety: The bill provides that a school corporation may include instruction regarding internet safety
in the school corporation's curriculum. It requires the Department of Education to develop, or approve
previously developed, age appropriate curricula in Internet safety for use at multiple grade levels not later
than July 1, 2025.
Career Coaching: This bill amends requirements regarding:
(1) Eligibility for career coaching grants; and
(2) Instruction on career awareness.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024.
Explanation of State Expenditures: (Revised) Internet Safety: This bill requires the Department of
Education (DOE) to develop or approve age-appropriate curricula on internet safety by FY 2026. The bill’s
requirements are within the agency’s routine administrative functions and should be able to be implemented
with no additional appropriations, assuming near customary agency staffing and resource levels.
Career Coaching Grant: Provisions in the bill provide extra flexibility for eligible entities to apply for a
career coaching grant beginning in FY 2025. However, the Commission for Higher Education expects the
SB 287 1 entirety of the $15 M appropriation to the Career Coaching Grant Funds to be distributed in FY 2025, so the
added flexibility provided by the bill is unlikely to impact state expenditures. [Public schools, accredited
nonpublic schools, approved intermediaries, and approved career coaching providers are considered eligible
entities and may apply for a career coaching grant.]
Additional Information - Internet Safety: DOE was required to develop guidelines for the development and
teaching of internet safety curricula under Public Law 119-2008, which remained in effect until it was
repealed in 2015. Although this bill’s requirements are more specific, foundational elements of curricula
developed under P.L. 119 should be applicable to this bill’s requirements. Additionally, the Cybersecurity
for Education Toolkit developed by the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity could have resources
helpful in developing curricula.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Internet Safety: This bill authorizes, but does not require, the addition
of internet safety instruction in elementary school and high school. School corporations that adopt this
curricula may incur additional costs and/or workload related to instruction. The 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.
Cursive Writing: Currently, school corporations may offer cursive as an optional subject area. Beginning in
FY 2025, public elementary schools must incorporate cursive writing in their language arts curriculum. This
may cause schools not already offering cursive to adjust the amount of time spent on other areas of
instruction. A short-term workload increase is also likely for schools that are not currently teaching cursive
writing to adjust curricula in order to meet the requirements of this bill. The bill’s requirements should be
able to be implemented with no additional appropriations.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Department of Education.
Local Agencies Affected: Public schools.
Information Sources: Commission for Higher Education;
Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity, CyberSecurity for Education Toolkit 2.0.
https://www.in.gov/cybersecurity/files/Indiana-Cybersecurity-for-Education-Toolkit-2.0-FINAL-AUGUS
T-7.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Kelan Fong, 317-232-9592.
SB 287 2