LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7513 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 9, 2025
BILL NUMBER: HB 1515 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Education and Higher Education Matters.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Behning BILL STATUS: As Introduced
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED: XGENERAL IMPACT: State
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill 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 (STEM) Teacher Recruitment Grants.
(3) The Principal Institute.
The bill also provides that charter schools are eligible to receive STEM Teacher Recruitment Grants.
The bill 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 (DOE) 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 Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund: The bill expands eligibility for
STEM Teacher Recruitment Grants to organizations serving nonpublic and charter schools. The Commission
for Higher Education administers this grant and may need to adjust policies and application forms. It is
anticipated this can be accomplished with existing resources and may have only a minor impact on future
grantees. The STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund received a $10 M appropriation during the FY 2024 to FY
2025 biennium, and awarded grants to 19 programs or organizations. Any impact to future grant awards will
depend on legislative and administrative actions.
Department of Education (DOE): The bill impacts workload at the DOE to reconsider the eligibility of a
Choice Scholarship to a student at the request of a parent or eligible Choice Scholarship school. The DOE
would also need to adjust enrollment counts and tuition support distributions as applicable. It is anticipated
this can be accomplished with existing resources.
Tuition Support Distributions: If a student attending a school that participates in the Choice Scholarship
HB 1515 1 Program was mistakenly marked as ineligible is able to receive a full Choice Scholarship under the bill, state
expenditures would increase. Any impact is expected to be minimal.
The Principal Leadership Institute: The bill expands eligibility for participants of the Indiana State
University Principal Institute to include accredited nonpublic school principals. The Principal Institute
Advisory Board may need to revise processes or procedures. It is anticipated this can be accomplished with
existing resources. The Principal Leadership Academy received a $1.2 M appropriation during the FY 2024
to FY 2025 biennium.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures:
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Department of Education; Commission for Higher Education; Indiana State
University, Principal Institute.
Local Agencies Affected:
Information Sources: Commission for Higher Education:
https://www.in.gov/che/academic-affairs/teacher-recruitment-programs/
Indiana State University, Principal Leadership Institute: https://indianapli.org/
Fiscal Analyst: Alexander Raggio, 317-234-9485; Allison Leeuw, 317-234-9465.
HB 1515 2