Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1515
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-26-16; IC 20-51-4-5.5; IC 21-13-11;
IC 21-41-11.
Synopsis: Education and higher education matters. Provides that
accredited nonpublic schools are eligible to participate in the
following: (1) The establishment of police departments. (2) The
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher recruitment
grants. (3) The principal institute. Provides that charter schools are
eligible to receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
teacher recruitment grants. Allows a parent of a choice scholarship
student or an eligible choice scholarship school on behalf of a parent
to petition the department of education to reconsider the eligibility of
a choice scholarship student enrolled in the school if the parent has
reason to believe that the student was determined ineligible due to
enrollment data inaccuracies reported by a school.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Behning
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1515
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 20-26-16-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
2 SECTION 14, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the following:
4 (1) A school corporation, including a school city (as defined in
5 IC 20-25-2-12). and
6 (2) A charter school.
7 (3) An accredited nonpublic school.
8 SECTION 2. IC 20-26-16-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
9 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
10 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter,
11 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
12 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
13 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
14 that is recognized by the state board.
15 SECTION 3. IC 20-26-16-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
16 SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
17 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. The governing body of a school corporation or
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 2
1 the equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school
2 may establish a school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
3 nonpublic school police department under this chapter.
4 SECTION 4. IC 20-26-16-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
5 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
6 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3. The governing body of a school corporation or
7 the equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school
8 may do the following for the school corporation, or charter school, or
9 accredited nonpublic school police department:
10 (1) Appoint school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
11 nonpublic school police officers.
12 (2) Prescribe the duties and direct the conduct of school
13 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school
14 police officers.
15 (3) Prescribe distinctive uniforms.
16 (4) Provide emergency vehicles.
17 SECTION 5. IC 20-26-16-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
18 SECTION 17, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
19 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. An individual appointed as a school
20 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school police
21 officer must successfully complete at least:
22 (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f);
23 and
24 (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements
25 adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9
26 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer.
27 SECTION 6. IC 20-26-16-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
28 SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
29 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Notwithstanding section 4 of this chapter
30 and IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school corporation police
31 officer before July 1, 2007, must complete, not later than July 1, 2010,
32 at least:
33 (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f);
34 and
35 (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements
36 adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9
37 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer.
38 (b) As set forth in IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school
39 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school police
40 officer may not:
41 (1) make an arrest;
42 (2) conduct a search or a seizure of a person or property; or
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 3
1 (3) carry a firearm;
2 unless the school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
3 nonpublic school police officer successfully completes a pre-basic
4 training course under IC 5-2-1-9(f).
5 SECTION 7. IC 20-26-16-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.156-2020,
6 SECTION 76, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
7 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. (a) A school corporation, or charter school, or
8 accredited nonpublic school police officer appointed under this
9 chapter:
10 (1) is a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 5-2-1-2(1));
11 (2) must take an appropriate oath of office in a form and manner
12 prescribed by the governing body or the equivalent for a charter
13 school or accredited nonpublic school;
14 (3) serves at the governing body's (or the equivalent for a charter
15 school or accredited nonpublic school) pleasure; and
16 (4) performs the duties that the governing body or the equivalent
17 for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school assigns.
18 (b) School corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic
19 school police officers appointed under this chapter have general police
20 powers, including the power to arrest, without process, all persons who
21 within their view commit any offense. They have the same common
22 law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities as sheriffs and
23 constables, except that they are empowered to serve civil process only
24 to the extent authorized by the employing governing body or the
25 equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
26 however, any powers may be expressly forbidden them by the
27 governing body (or the equivalent for a charter school or accredited
28 nonpublic school) employing them. In addition to any other powers or
29 duties, such police officers shall enforce and assist the educators and
30 administrators of their school corporation, or charter school, or
31 accredited nonpublic school in the enforcement of the rules and
32 regulations of the school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
33 nonpublic school and assist and cooperate with other law enforcement
34 agencies and officers.
35 (c) Such police officers may exercise the powers granted under this
36 section only upon any property owned, leased, or occupied by the
37 school corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school,
38 including the streets passing through and adjacent to the property.
39 Additional jurisdiction may be established by agreement with the chief
40 of police of the municipality or sheriff of the county or the appropriate
41 law enforcement agency where the property is located, dependent upon
42 the jurisdiction involved.
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 4
1 SECTION 8. IC 20-51-4-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) A parent of an eligible choice scholarship
4 student or an eligible school on behalf of a parent of an eligible
5 choice scholarship student may petition the department to
6 reconsider the eligibility of a choice scholarship student enrolled in
7 the eligible school if the parent has reason to believe that the
8 student was determined ineligible due to enrollment data
9 inaccuracies reported by a school.
10 (b) If the department determines that a student described in
11 subsection (a) is eligible for a choice scholarship under this
12 chapter, the department may adjust the enrollment count of choice
13 scholarship students for the applicable eligible school.
14 (c) If the department adjusts a count used for a distribution
15 under this chapter, the department shall adjust subsequent
16 distributions to the eligible school that is affected by the adjusted
17 count, on the schedule determined by the department, to reflect the
18 differences between the distribution that the eligible school
19 received and the distribution that the eligible school would have
20 received if the adjusted count had been used.
21 SECTION 9. IC 21-13-11-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
22 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
23 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter,
24 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
25 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
26 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
27 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
28 SECTION 10. IC 21-13-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
29 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
30 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. The commission may use money in the fund to
31 provide grants to Indiana organizations that recruit science, technology,
32 engineering, and mathematics teachers for employment by Indiana
33 school corporations, charter schools, or accredited nonpublic
34 schools in Indiana.
35 SECTION 11. IC 21-13-11-10, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
36 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
37 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The commission shall develop an application
38 process for grants under this chapter that identifies recruiting
39 organizations and programs:
40 (1) that produce high student achievement and effective and
41 highly effective teachers; and
42 (2) that match science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 5
1 teachers with Indiana school corporations, charter schools, or
2 accredited nonpublic schools in Indiana that would otherwise
3 encounter a shortage of qualified teachers in science, technology,
4 engineering, and mathematics.
5 SECTION 12. IC 21-41-11-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
6 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
7 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter,
8 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
9 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
10 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
11 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
12 SECTION 13. IC 21-41-11-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
13 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
14 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. The principal institute is established within the
15 university to achieve excellence in teacher and student performance by
16 strengthening leadership and management skills of practicing Indiana
17 public and accredited nonpublic school principals.
18 SECTION 14. IC 21-41-11-7, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
19 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
20 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) The director of the institute shall, with staff
21 support, develop a plan to accomplish the goals of the institute. The
22 plan must be approved by the advisory board and must include
23 procedures to teach principals the following:
24 (1) How to develop the leadership skills and management
25 techniques necessary for providing quality education in Indiana
26 schools.
27 (2) How to improve teacher and student performance, including
28 how to conduct meaningful and relevant staff evaluations.
29 (3) How to strengthen communication and leadership skills
30 required for the establishment of a broad based support for public
31 education.
32 (4) Management skills for use in improving curriculum and
33 instruction.
34 (5) How to improve the school environment.
35 (b) The director of the institute shall, with staff support, and subject
36 to approval by the advisory board, develop a plan for continuing
37 education by the institute of public and accredited nonpublic school
38 principals who have completed initial training at the institute.
39 SECTION 15. IC 21-41-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
40 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
41 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. To be eligible for admission to the institute, a
42 participant must be a practicing public or accredited nonpublic school
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 6
1 principal for a public or accredited nonpublic school located in
2 Indiana. Admission preference must be given to those school principals
3 who have at least three (3) years of administrative experience in
4 Indiana public or accredited nonpublic schools and intend to continue
5 as public or accredited nonpublic school principals.
2025 IN 1515—LS 7513/DI 110