*EH1515.2*
April 4, 2025
ENGROSSED
HOUSE BILL No. 1515
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1515 (Updated April 3, 2025 12:23 pm - DI 140)
Citations Affected: IC 20-19; IC 20-26; IC 20-51; IC 21-12;
IC 21-13; IC 21-41; IC 36-7.
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
(Continued next page)
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Behning
(SENATE SPONSOR — BUCHANAN)
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
January 30, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
February 3, 2025, read second time, ordered engrossed.
February 4, 2025, engrossed.
February 6, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 57, nays 28.
SENATE ACTION
February 19, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
March 20, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on
Appropriations.
April 3, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 Digest Continued
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. Provides that a
student must be withdrawn from enrollment in a school corporation's
virtual education program if the student accumulates 10 consecutive or
18 cumulative unexcused absences (instead of the number of
unexcused absences sufficient to result in the student's classification as
a habitual truant). Amends eligibility requirements for the high value
workforce ready credit-bearing grant. Provides that a land use
application for any approval that is required by a unit for a public
school, charter school, or nonpublic school may not be denied for the
sole reason that the requesting entity is seeking to establish a public
school, charter school, or nonpublic school.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 April 4, 2025
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.
ENGROSSED
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 20-19-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.250-2023,
2 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. A school corporation that operates a virtual
4 education program must require that if a student who attends a school
5 corporation's virtual education program accumulates the number of ten
6 (10) consecutive or eighteen (18) cumulative unexcused absences,
7 sufficient to result in the student's classification as a habitual truant, the
8 student must be withdrawn from enrollment in the school corporation's
9 virtual education program.
10 SECTION 2. IC 20-26-16-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
11 SECTION 14, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
12 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the following:
13 (1) A school corporation, including a school city (as defined in
14 IC 20-25-2-12). and
15 (2) A charter school.
16 (3) An accredited nonpublic school.
17 SECTION 3. IC 20-26-16-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 2
1 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
2 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter,
3 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
4 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
5 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
6 that is recognized by the state board.
7 SECTION 4. IC 20-26-16-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
8 SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
9 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. The governing body of a school corporation or
10 the equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school
11 may establish a school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
12 nonpublic school police department under this chapter.
13 SECTION 5. IC 20-26-16-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
14 SECTION 16, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3. The governing body of a school corporation or
16 the equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school
17 may do the following for the school corporation, or charter school, or
18 accredited nonpublic school police department:
19 (1) Appoint school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
20 nonpublic school police officers.
21 (2) Prescribe the duties and direct the conduct of school
22 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school
23 police officers.
24 (3) Prescribe distinctive uniforms.
25 (4) Provide emergency vehicles.
26 SECTION 6. IC 20-26-16-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
27 SECTION 17, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
28 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. An individual appointed as a school
29 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school police
30 officer must successfully complete at least:
31 (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f);
32 and
33 (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements
34 adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9
35 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer.
36 SECTION 7. IC 20-26-16-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.270-2019,
37 SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
38 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Notwithstanding section 4 of this chapter
39 and IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school corporation police
40 officer before July 1, 2007, must complete, not later than July 1, 2010,
41 at least:
42 (1) the pre-basic training course established under IC 5-2-1-9(f);
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 3
1 and
2 (2) the minimum basic training and educational requirements
3 adopted by the law enforcement training board under IC 5-2-1-9
4 as necessary for employment as a law enforcement officer.
5 (b) As set forth in IC 5-2-1-9, an individual appointed as a school
6 corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school police
7 officer may not:
8 (1) make an arrest;
9 (2) conduct a search or a seizure of a person or property; or
10 (3) carry a firearm;
11 unless the school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
12 nonpublic school police officer successfully completes a pre-basic
13 training course under IC 5-2-1-9(f).
14 SECTION 8. IC 20-26-16-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.156-2020,
15 SECTION 76, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
16 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. (a) A school corporation, or charter school, or
17 accredited nonpublic school police officer appointed under this
18 chapter:
19 (1) is a law enforcement officer (as defined in IC 5-2-1-2(1));
20 (2) must take an appropriate oath of office in a form and manner
21 prescribed by the governing body or the equivalent for a charter
22 school or accredited nonpublic school;
23 (3) serves at the governing body's (or the equivalent for a charter
24 school or accredited nonpublic school) pleasure; and
25 (4) performs the duties that the governing body or the equivalent
26 for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school assigns.
27 (b) School corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic
28 school police officers appointed under this chapter have general police
29 powers, including the power to arrest, without process, all persons who
30 within their view commit any offense. They have the same common
31 law and statutory powers, privileges, and immunities as sheriffs and
32 constables, except that they are empowered to serve civil process only
33 to the extent authorized by the employing governing body or the
34 equivalent for a charter school or accredited nonpublic school;
35 however, any powers may be expressly forbidden them by the
36 governing body (or the equivalent for a charter school or accredited
37 nonpublic school) employing them. In addition to any other powers or
38 duties, such police officers shall enforce and assist the educators and
39 administrators of their school corporation, or charter school, or
40 accredited nonpublic school in the enforcement of the rules and
41 regulations of the school corporation, or charter school, or accredited
42 nonpublic school and assist and cooperate with other law enforcement
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 4
1 agencies and officers.
2 (c) Such police officers may exercise the powers granted under this
3 section only upon any property owned, leased, or occupied by the
4 school corporation, or charter school, or accredited nonpublic school,
5 including the streets passing through and adjacent to the property.
6 Additional jurisdiction may be established by agreement with the chief
7 of police of the municipality or sheriff of the county or the appropriate
8 law enforcement agency where the property is located, dependent upon
9 the jurisdiction involved.
10 SECTION 9. IC 20-51-4-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
11 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
12 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) A parent of an eligible choice scholarship
13 student or an eligible school on behalf of a parent of an eligible
14 choice scholarship student may petition the department to
15 reconsider the eligibility of a choice scholarship student enrolled in
16 the eligible school if the parent has reason to believe that the
17 student was determined ineligible due to enrollment data
18 inaccuracies reported by a school.
19 (b) If the department determines that a student described in
20 subsection (a) is eligible for a choice scholarship under this
21 chapter, the department may adjust the enrollment count of choice
22 scholarship students for the applicable eligible school.
23 (c) If the department adjusts a count used for a distribution
24 under this chapter, the department shall adjust subsequent
25 distributions to the eligible school that is affected by the adjusted
26 count, on the schedule determined by the department, to reflect the
27 differences between the distribution that the eligible school
28 received and the distribution that the eligible school would have
29 received if the adjusted count had been used.
30 SECTION 10. IC 21-12-8-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2020,
31 SECTION 100, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
32 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. (a) This section applies to an
33 applicant who attends or has attended any of the following:
34 (1) An approved secondary school.
35 (2) A state accredited nonpublic school.
36 (3) A nonaccredited nonpublic school.
37 (b) An applicant is eligible to receive a high value workforce ready
38 credit-bearing grant if the following conditions are met:
39 (1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the
40 commission.
41 (2) The applicant:
42 (A) has received a diploma of graduation from a school
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 5
1 described in subsection (a);
2 (B) has been granted a:
3 (i) high school equivalency certificate before July 1, 1995;
4 or
5 (ii) state of Indiana general educational development (GED)
6 diploma under IC 20-10.1-12.1 (before its repeal),
7 IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal), or IC 22-4.1-18; or
8 (C) is a student in good standing who is completing a final
9 year of study at a school described in subsection (a) and will
10 be eligible upon graduation to attend an approved institution
11 of higher learning.
12 (3) The applicant is enrolled in an eligible certificate program, as
13 determined under section 2(4) of this chapter, at Ivy Tech
14 Community College, Vincennes University, or a program
15 approved by the commission.
16 (4) The applicant enrolls at least half-time for purposes of federal
17 financial aid.
18 (5) The applicant has not received any grant for the maximum
19 number of academic terms specified for the grant in
20 IC 21-12-13-1 or IC 21-12-13-2.
21 (6) The applicant is not eligible for any state financial aid
22 program described in IC 21-12-13-1(a) or IC 21-12-13-2(a).
23 (7) The applicant is identified as financially independent from the
24 applicant's parents as determined by the Free Application for
25 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
26 (8) The applicant has correctly filed the FAFSA and, if eligible
27 for aid, accepts all offered federal scholarships and grants.
28 (9) Except as provided under subsection (c), the applicant
29 maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
30 eligible institution.
31 (10) The applicant has not previously received a baccalaureate
32 degree or an associate degree. or an eligible certificate.
33 (11) The applicant meets any other minimum criteria established
34 by the commission.
35 (c) This subsection applies to an applicant who does not maintain
36 satisfactory academic progress under subsection (b)(9) but meets all the
37 other conditions required under subsection (b). An applicant is eligible
38 to receive a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant if the
39 applicant meets one (1) of the following:
40 (1) The applicant has not attended an eligible institution for the
41 immediately preceding two (2) academic years.
42 (2) The applicant:
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 6
1 (A) attended an eligible institution at any time during the
2 immediately preceding two (2) academic years; and
3 (B) maintained satisfactory academic progress, as determined
4 by the eligible institution, during the period described in
5 clause (A) in which the applicant attended the eligible
6 institution.
7 (d) If an applicant is identified as dependent as determined by the
8 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the applicant must:
9 (1) meet the criteria specified in subsection (b), except for
10 subsection (b)(4), (b)(7), and (b)(9);
11 (2) enroll full time for purposes of federal financial aid;
12 (3) maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
13 eligible institution; and
14 (4) complete a workforce ready grant success program, as
15 determined by the commission, if the applicant graduates from
16 high school after December 31, 2018.
17 (e) If the demand for high value workforce ready credit-bearing
18 grants exceeds the available appropriation, as determined by the
19 commission, the commission shall prioritize the applicants identified
20 as independent as determined by the Free Application for Federal
21 Student Aid (FAFSA).
22 SECTION 11. IC 21-13-11-1.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
23 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
24 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. As used in this chapter,
25 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
26 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
27 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
28 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
29 SECTION 12. IC 21-13-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
30 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
31 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. The commission may use money in the fund to
32 provide grants to Indiana organizations that recruit science, technology,
33 engineering, and mathematics teachers for employment by Indiana
34 school corporations, charter schools, or accredited nonpublic
35 schools in Indiana.
36 SECTION 13. IC 21-13-11-10, AS ADDED BY P.L.118-2016,
37 SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
38 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The commission shall develop an application
39 process for grants under this chapter that identifies recruiting
40 organizations and programs:
41 (1) that produce high student achievement and effective and
42 highly effective teachers; and
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 7
1 (2) that match science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
2 teachers with Indiana school corporations, charter schools, or
3 accredited nonpublic schools in Indiana that would otherwise
4 encounter a shortage of qualified teachers in science, technology,
5 engineering, and mathematics.
6 SECTION 14. IC 21-41-11-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
7 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
8 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter,
9 "accredited nonpublic school" means a nonpublic school that:
10 (1) has voluntarily become accredited under IC 20-31-4.1; or
11 (2) is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency
12 that is recognized by the Indiana state board of education.
13 SECTION 15. IC 21-41-11-4, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
14 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 4. The principal institute is established within the
16 university to achieve excellence in teacher and student performance by
17 strengthening leadership and management skills of practicing Indiana
18 public and accredited nonpublic school principals.
19 SECTION 16. IC 21-41-11-7, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
20 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
21 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) The director of the institute shall, with staff
22 support, develop a plan to accomplish the goals of the institute. The
23 plan must be approved by the advisory board and must include
24 procedures to teach principals the following:
25 (1) How to develop the leadership skills and management
26 techniques necessary for providing quality education in Indiana
27 schools.
28 (2) How to improve teacher and student performance, including
29 how to conduct meaningful and relevant staff evaluations.
30 (3) How to strengthen communication and leadership skills
31 required for the establishment of a broad based support for public
32 education.
33 (4) Management skills for use in improving curriculum and
34 instruction.
35 (5) How to improve the school environment.
36 (b) The director of the institute shall, with staff support, and subject
37 to approval by the advisory board, develop a plan for continuing
38 education by the institute of public and accredited nonpublic school
39 principals who have completed initial training at the institute.
40 SECTION 17. IC 21-41-11-8, AS ADDED BY P.L.2-2014,
41 SECTION 99, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
42 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. To be eligible for admission to the institute, a
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 8
1 participant must be a practicing public or accredited nonpublic school
2 principal for a public or accredited nonpublic school located in
3 Indiana. Admission preference must be given to those school principals
4 who have at least three (3) years of administrative experience in
5 Indiana public or accredited nonpublic schools and intend to continue
6 as public or accredited nonpublic school principals.
7 SECTION 18. IC 36-7-2.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
8 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
9 JULY 1, 2025]:
10 Chapter 2.4. School Corporations and Charter Schools
11 Sec. 1. This chapter only applies to planning and zoning
12 ordinances or regulations under IC 36-7-4.
13 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "charter school" has the meaning
14 set forth in IC 20-24-1-4.
15 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "nonpublic school" has the
16 meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-12.
17 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "public school" has the meaning
18 set forth in IC 20-18-2-15(1).
19 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
20 town.
21 Sec. 6. A public school, charter school, or nonpublic school shall
22 be considered a permitted use in all zoning districts of a unit.
23 Sec. 7. A land use application for any approval that is required
24 by a unit for a public school, charter school, or nonpublic school
25 may not be denied for the sole reason that the requesting entity is
26 seeking to establish a public school, charter school, or nonpublic
27 school.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 9
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Education, to which was referred
House Bill 1515, has had the same under consideration and begs leave
to report the same back to the House with the recommendation that said
bill be amended as follows:
Page 1, between the enacting clause and line 1, begin a new
paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 1. IC 20-19-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.250-2023,
SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. A school corporation that operates a virtual
education program must require that if a student who attends a school
corporation's virtual education program accumulates the number of ten
(10) consecutive or eighteen (18) cumulative unexcused absences,
sufficient to result in the student's classification as a habitual truant, the
student must be withdrawn from enrollment in the school corporation's
virtual education program.".
Page 4, between lines 20 and 21, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 10. IC 21-12-8-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2020,
SECTION 100, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. (a) This section applies to an
applicant who attends or has attended any of the following:
(1) An approved secondary school.
(2) A state accredited nonpublic school.
(3) A nonaccredited nonpublic school.
(b) An applicant is eligible to receive a high value workforce ready
credit-bearing grant if the following conditions are met:
(1) The applicant is domiciled in Indiana, as defined by the
commission.
(2) The applicant:
(A) has received a diploma of graduation from a school
described in subsection (a);
(B) has been granted a:
(i) high school equivalency certificate before July 1, 1995;
or
(ii) state of Indiana general educational development (GED)
diploma under IC 20-10.1-12.1 (before its repeal),
IC 20-20-6 (before its repeal), or IC 22-4.1-18; or
(C) is a student in good standing who is completing a final
year of study at a school described in subsection (a) and will
be eligible upon graduation to attend an approved institution
of higher learning.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 10
(3) The applicant is enrolled in an eligible certificate program, as
determined under section 2(4) of this chapter, at Ivy Tech
Community College, Vincennes University, or a program
approved by the commission.
(4) The applicant enrolls at least half-time for purposes of federal
financial aid.
(5) The applicant has not received any grant for the maximum
number of academic terms specified for the grant in
IC 21-12-13-1 or IC 21-12-13-2.
(6) The applicant is not eligible for any state financial aid
program described in IC 21-12-13-1(a) or IC 21-12-13-2(a).
(7) The applicant is identified as financially independent from the
applicant's parents as determined by the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
(8) The applicant has correctly filed the FAFSA and, if eligible
for aid, accepts all offered federal scholarships and grants.
(9) Except as provided under subsection (c), the applicant
maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
eligible institution.
(10) The applicant has not previously received a baccalaureate
degree or an associate degree. or an eligible certificate.
(11) The applicant meets any other minimum criteria established
by the commission.
(c) This subsection applies to an applicant who does not maintain
satisfactory academic progress under subsection (b)(9) but meets all the
other conditions required under subsection (b). An applicant is eligible
to receive a high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant if the
applicant meets one (1) of the following:
(1) The applicant has not attended an eligible institution for the
immediately preceding two (2) academic years.
(2) The applicant:
(A) attended an eligible institution at any time during the
immediately preceding two (2) academic years; and
(B) maintained satisfactory academic progress, as determined
by the eligible institution, during the period described in
clause (A) in which the applicant attended the eligible
institution.
(d) If an applicant is identified as dependent as determined by the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the applicant must:
(1) meet the criteria specified in subsection (b), except for
subsection (b)(4), (b)(7), and (b)(9);
(2) enroll full time for purposes of federal financial aid;
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 11
(3) maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
eligible institution; and
(4) complete a workforce ready grant success program, as
determined by the commission, if the applicant graduates from
high school after December 31, 2018.
(e) If the demand for high value workforce ready credit-bearing
grants exceeds the available appropriation, as determined by the
commission, the commission shall prioritize the applicants identified
as independent as determined by the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA).".
Page 6, after line 5, begin a new paragraph and insert:
"SECTION 16. IC 36-7-2.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]:
Chapter 2.4. School Corporations and Charter Schools
Sec. 1. This chapter only applies to planning and zoning
ordinances or regulations under IC 36-7-4.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "charter school" has the meaning
set forth in IC 20-24-1-4.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "construction" has the meaning
set forth in IC 22-12-1-7.
Sec. 4. (a) As used in this chapter, "educational facility" means:
(1) a building containing classrooms;
(2) a structure or facility:
(A) located on the same property as a building described in
subdivision (1); and
(B) used in support of the use of the building; or
(3) a building providing office and related space to school
administrative personnel.
(b) The term does not include land or a structure, including land
or a structure for inventory storage, equipment storage, food
processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar
use that is not:
(1) located on the same property as; or
(2) used in support of the purposes of;
a building described in subsection (a).
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "roadway" means that part of a
highway or street that is:
(1) publicly maintained; and
(2) improved, designed, or ordinarily used by the public for
vehicular travel.
The term includes an alley in a city or town.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 12
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "school" means a school
corporation or charter school.
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter "school corporation" has the
meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-16(a).
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
town.
Sec. 9. A unit may not impose requirements on school property
regarding any of the following:
(1) Landscaping.
(2) Fencing.
(3) Aesthetic considerations.
(4) Construction methods or materials.
(5) Additional building inspections.
Sec. 10. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a unit may not
require a school to participate in the cost of:
(1) constructing a roadway or sidewalk; or
(2) a study on the impact of a school on a roadway or
sidewalk.
(b) A unit may require a school to participate in the costs
provided in subsection (a) if the roadway or sidewalk meets at least
one (1) of the following requirements:
(1) The roadway or sidewalk is:
(A) reasonably necessary for the safety of the school's
students; and
(B) is:
(i) located on; or
(ii) shares a common boundary with;
the school property.
(2) The roadway or sidewalk is required to connect an
otherwise isolated school to an existing roadway.
Sec. 11. (a) This section does not apply to construction of a Class
1 building or structure for which a design release is required under
675 IAC 12-6.
(b) A school may choose to have a private inspector conduct an
inspection of a school construction project, if the private inspector:
(1) meets the qualifications established by the secretary of
education; and
(2) is not the architect or contractor of the school construction
project.
The unit may not assess a fee or other charge, if a school hires a
private inspector to conduct the inspection.
(c) If the unit does not hire a private inspector, the unit may:
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 13
(1) conduct the inspection or provide for an inspection of the
school construction project; and
(2) assess a fee or other charge for the inspection services.
Sec. 12. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a unit may not
impose a regulation regarding:
(1) building use for educational purposes; or
(2) location or use of an educational facility, including
temporary classroom facilities.
(b) A unit may regulate the location of an educational facility,
if the regulation is necessary to avoid unreasonable risks to health
or safety.
Sec. 13. (a) This section applies only to the regulation of a land
use or structure that is:
(1) owned or operated by the school; and
(2) is not an educational facility.
(b) A unit may not regulate a land use or structure described in
subsection (a) if:
(1) other similar land uses or structures in the same zoning
district are not subject to the same regulation; or
(2) the tax exempt status of the school is a criteria for
prohibiting or regulating the land use or structure.
Sec. 14. A charter school shall be considered a permitted use in
all zoning districts of a unit.
Sec. 15. A land use application for any approval that is required
by a unit for a charter school shall be processed by the unit on a
first priority basis.".
Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1515 as introduced.)
BEHNING
Committee Vote: yeas 7, nays 4.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 14
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
Development, to which was referred House Bill No. 1515, 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 8, delete lines 15 through 42, begin a new paragraph and
insert:
"Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "nonpublic school" has the
meaning set forth in IC 20-18-2-12.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "public school" has the meaning
set forth in IC 20-18-2-15(1).
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
town.
Sec. 6. A public school, charter school, or nonpublic school shall
be considered a permitted use in all zoning districts of a unit.
Sec. 7. A land use application for any approval that is required
by a unit for a public school, charter school, or nonpublic school
may not be denied for the sole reason that the requesting entity is
seeking to establish a public school, charter school, or nonpublic
school.".
Delete pages 9 through 10.
and when so amended that said bill do pass and be reassigned to the
Senate Committee on Appropriations.
(Reference is to HB 1515 as printed January 30, 2025.)
RAATZ, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 4.
_____
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to which
was referred Engrossed House Bill No. 1515, has had the same under
consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with
the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110 15
(Reference is to EHB 1515 as printed March 21, 2025.)
MISHLER, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 4
EH 1515—LS 7513/DI 110