*SB0359.1*
January 31, 2025
SENATE BILL No. 359
_____
DIGEST OF SB 359 (Updated January 29, 2025 3:28 pm - DI 140)
Citations Affected: IC 20-20; IC 20-26.
Synopsis: Student well-being and resiliency. Requires the department
of education (department), in consultation with the office of the
secretary of family and social services, to approve and make available
student mental well-being resources for certain schools. Requires the
governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority for
a charter school to publish and publicly post the approved student well-
being resources. Establishes the resiliency program (program) to
provide eligible schools the opportunity to participate in a program
designed to help students build resiliency and grit by learning to
manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so the students are
ready to engage in, learn, and create positive personal change and
growth. Requires the department to develop guidelines to determine
which eligible schools may participate in the program. Requires the
department to prepare a report concerning the program and submit the
report to the legislative council.
Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2025.
Alexander, Donato, Rogers,
Johnson T, Hunley
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
January 30, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 January 31, 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,
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a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 359
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 20-20-50 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 50. Resiliency Program
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible school" means a public
6 school, including a charter school (as defined in IC 20-24-1-4).
7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the
8 resiliency program established by section 3 of this chapter.
9 Sec. 3. The resiliency program is established to help students
10 build resiliency and grit by learning to manage their thoughts,
11 emotions, and behaviors so the students are ready to engage in,
12 learn, and create positive personal change and growth.
13 Sec. 4. The department shall approve a provider or providers to
14 offer the following through the program:
15 (1) Weekly or biweekly universal lessons for kindergarten
16 through grade 12 provided by a whole group teacher led
17 model throughout the school year.
SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 2
1 (2) The opportunity for students in grades 6 through 12, who
2 have been identified with subclinical levels of anxiety, low
3 motivation, disengagement, or lack of focus, to progress
4 through an independent model that uses technology and
5 one-on-one coaching to provide personalized engagement.
6 (3) Optional credit bearing courses for high school students.
7 (4) Optional family programs.
8 (5) Optional educator programs, eligible for approval by the
9 department as credit for educator professional development,
10 that are designed to enhance an educator's ability to support
11 student growth and well-being.
12 Sec. 5. The department shall determine which credits the
13 courses described in section 4(3) of this chapter may satisfy for
14 high school students.
15 Sec. 6. Eligible schools may apply to the department to
16 participate in the program in a form and manner prescribed by the
17 department.
18 Sec. 7. The department shall develop guidelines to determine
19 which eligible schools may participate in the program. The
20 guidelines developed by the department must give priority to
21 eligible schools in rural communities.
22 Sec. 8. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, and each December
23 1 thereafter, the department shall prepare a report concerning the
24 program. The report must include the following:
25 (1) The number of students participating in the program.
26 (2) The number of teachers participating in the program.
27 (3) Recent trends in the field of resiliency.
28 (4) Demographic participation.
29 (5) Any other information the department considers relevant.
30 (b) The department shall submit the report described in
31 subsection (a) to the legislative council in an electronic format
32 under IC 5-14-6.
33 SECTION 2. IC 20-26-5-44.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
34 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
35 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 44.5. (a) As used in this
36 section, "school" means the following:
37 (1) A school maintained by a school corporation.
38 (2) A charter school.
39 (b) Not later than August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter,
40 the department shall approve, in consultation with the office of the
41 secretary of family and social services, and make available to a
42 school student well-being resources on the following subjects:
SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 3
1 (1) Youth suicide.
2 (2) Human trafficking.
3 (3) Interpersonal violence.
4 (4) Child abuse and neglect.
5 (5) Substance abuse.
6 (c) The governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent
7 authority for a charter school shall:
8 (1) publish the student well-being resources approved under
9 subsection (b) on the school's:
10 (A) website; and
11 (B) social media accounts; and
12 (2) post a hard copy of the student well-being resources
13 approved under subsection (b) in a location that is visible and
14 accessible to all students of the school.
15 (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the
16 governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority
17 for a charter school from publishing or posting well-being
18 resources in addition to the student well-being resources approved
19 by the department under subsection (b).
20 SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.
SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 4
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
Development, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 359, 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.
(Reference is to SB 359 as introduced.)
RAATZ, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0
SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152