IN
Indiana Senate Bill SB0359

Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0359 Compare Versions

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1-*SB0359.2*
2-Reprinted
3-February 12, 2025
1+*SB0359.1*
2+January 31, 2025
43 SENATE BILL No. 359
54 _____
6-DIGEST OF SB 359 (Updated February 11, 2025 2:14 pm - DI 152)
5+DIGEST OF SB 359 (Updated January 29, 2025 3:28 pm - DI 140)
76 Citations Affected: IC 20-20; IC 20-26.
87 Synopsis: Student well-being and resiliency. Requires the department
98 of education (department), in consultation with the office of the
109 secretary of family and social services, to approve and make available
1110 student mental well-being resources for certain schools. Requires the
1211 governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority for
1312 a charter school to publish and publicly post the approved student well-
1413 being resources. Establishes the resiliency program (program) to
1514 provide eligible schools the opportunity to participate in a program
16-designed to help students build resiliency and grit so that students are
17-ready to learn. Requires the department to develop guidelines to
18-determine which eligible schools may participate in the program.
19-Requires an eligible school selected by the department to participate in
20-the program to follow certain requirements and procedures before a
21-student may participate in the program. Requires the department to
22-prepare a report concerning the program and submit the report to the
23-legislative council.
15+designed to help students build resiliency and grit by learning to
16+manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so the students are
17+ready to engage in, learn, and create positive personal change and
18+growth. Requires the department to develop guidelines to determine
19+which eligible schools may participate in the program. Requires the
20+department to prepare a report concerning the program and submit the
21+report to the legislative council.
2422 Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2025.
25-Alexander, Donato, Rogers, Hunley
23+Alexander, Donato, Rogers,
24+Johnson T, Hunley
2625 January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
2726 Development.
2827 January 30, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass.
29-February 11, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
30-SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 Reprinted
31-February 12, 2025
28+SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 January 31, 2025
3229 First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
3330 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
3431 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
3532 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
3633 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
3734 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
3835 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
3936 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
4037 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
4138 between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
4239 SENATE BILL No. 359
4340 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
4441 education.
4542 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
4643 1 SECTION 1. IC 20-20-50 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
4744 2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
4845 3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4946 4 Chapter 50. Resiliency Program
5047 5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible school" means a public
5148 6 school, including a charter school (as defined in IC 20-24-1-4).
5249 7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the
5350 8 resiliency program established by section 3 of this chapter.
5451 9 Sec. 3. The resiliency program is established to help students
55-10 build resiliency and grit so that students are ready to learn.
56-11 Sec. 4. The department shall approve a provider or providers to
57-12 offer the following through the program:
58-13 (1) Weekly or biweekly universal life skills lessons for
59-14 kindergarten through grade 12 provided by a whole group
60-15 teacher led model throughout the school year.
61-16 (2) The opportunity for students in grades 6 through 12, who
62-17 have been identified with subclinical levels of anxiety, low
52+10 build resiliency and grit by learning to manage their thoughts,
53+11 emotions, and behaviors so the students are ready to engage in,
54+12 learn, and create positive personal change and growth.
55+13 Sec. 4. The department shall approve a provider or providers to
56+14 offer the following through the program:
57+15 (1) Weekly or biweekly universal lessons for kindergarten
58+16 through grade 12 provided by a whole group teacher led
59+17 model throughout the school year.
6360 SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 2
64-1 motivation, disengagement, or lack of focus, to progress
65-2 through a virtual or in-person coaching program that teaches
66-3 resiliency strategies so students have the tools to re-engage in
67-4 school.
68-5 (3) An option for the coaching program described in
69-6 subdivision (2) to be credit bearing for high school students.
61+1 (2) The opportunity for students in grades 6 through 12, who
62+2 have been identified with subclinical levels of anxiety, low
63+3 motivation, disengagement, or lack of focus, to progress
64+4 through an independent model that uses technology and
65+5 one-on-one coaching to provide personalized engagement.
66+6 (3) Optional credit bearing courses for high school students.
7067 7 (4) Optional family programs.
7168 8 (5) Optional educator programs, eligible for approval by the
7269 9 department as credit for educator professional development,
7370 10 that are designed to enhance an educator's ability to support
74-11 student resiliency.
71+11 student growth and well-being.
7572 12 Sec. 5. The department shall determine which credits the
76-13 coaching program described in section 4(3) of this chapter may
77-14 satisfy for high school students.
73+13 courses described in section 4(3) of this chapter may satisfy for
74+14 high school students.
7875 15 Sec. 6. Eligible schools may apply to the department to
7976 16 participate in the program in a form and manner prescribed by the
8077 17 department.
8178 18 Sec. 7. The department shall develop guidelines to determine
8279 19 which eligible schools may participate in the program. The
8380 20 guidelines developed by the department must give priority to
8481 21 eligible schools in rural communities.
85-22 Sec. 8. (a) An eligible school selected by the department to
86-23 participate in the program must provide the parent of a student or
87-24 the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor,
88-25 with a written request for the student to participate in the program
89-26 before the student may participate in the program. A consent form
90-27 provided to a parent of a student or a student under this section
91-28 must accurately summarize the contents and nature of the
92-29 program and indicate that a parent of a student or an adult or
93-30 emancipated student has the right to review and inspect all
94-31 materials related to the instruction provided by the program. The
95-32 written consent may be sent in an electronic format. The parent of
96-33 the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an
97-34 emancipated minor, may return the consent form indicating that
98-35 the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student:
99-36 (1) consents to participate in the program; or
100-37 (2) declines to participate in the program.
101-38 (b) If the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an
102-39 adult or an emancipated minor, does not respond to the written
103-40 request provided by the school under subsection (a) within
104-41 twenty-one (21) calendar days after receiving the request under
105-42 subsection (a), the student will not be permitted to participate in
82+22 Sec. 8. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, and each December
83+23 1 thereafter, the department shall prepare a report concerning the
84+24 program. The report must include the following:
85+25 (1) The number of students participating in the program.
86+26 (2) The number of teachers participating in the program.
87+27 (3) Recent trends in the field of resiliency.
88+28 (4) Demographic participation.
89+29 (5) Any other information the department considers relevant.
90+30 (b) The department shall submit the report described in
91+31 subsection (a) to the legislative council in an electronic format
92+32 under IC 5-14-6.
93+33 SECTION 2. IC 20-26-5-44.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
94+34 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
95+35 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 44.5. (a) As used in this
96+36 section, "school" means the following:
97+37 (1) A school maintained by a school corporation.
98+38 (2) A charter school.
99+39 (b) Not later than August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter,
100+40 the department shall approve, in consultation with the office of the
101+41 secretary of family and social services, and make available to a
102+42 school student well-being resources on the following subjects:
106103 SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 3
107-1 the program unless the parent or the adult or emancipated student
108-2 subsequently provides written consent for the student to
109-3 participate in the program.
110-4 Sec. 9. (a) Not later than December 1, 2026, and each December
111-5 1 thereafter, the department shall prepare a report concerning the
112-6 program. The report must include the following:
113-7 (1) The number of students participating in the program.
114-8 (2) The number of teachers participating in the program.
115-9 (3) Recent trends in the field of resiliency.
116-10 (4) Demographic participation.
117-11 (5) An evaluation of the program's effectiveness, measured by
118-12 student engagement, performance, and attendance.
119-13 (6) Any other information the department considers relevant.
120-14 (b) The department shall submit the report described in
121-15 subsection (a) to the legislative council in an electronic format
122-16 under IC 5-14-6.
123-17 SECTION 2. IC 20-26-5-44.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
124-18 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
125-19 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 44.5. (a) As used in this
126-20 section, "school" means the following:
127-21 (1) A school maintained by a school corporation.
128-22 (2) A charter school.
129-23 (b) Not later than August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter,
130-24 the department shall approve, in consultation with the office of the
131-25 secretary of family and social services, and make available to a
132-26 school student well-being resources on the following subjects:
133-27 (1) Youth suicide.
134-28 (2) Human trafficking.
135-29 (3) Interpersonal violence.
136-30 (4) Child abuse and neglect.
137-31 (5) Substance abuse.
138-32 (c) The governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent
139-33 authority for a charter school shall:
140-34 (1) publish the student well-being resources approved under
141-35 subsection (b) on the school's:
142-36 (A) website; and
143-37 (B) social media accounts; and
144-38 (2) post a hard copy of the student well-being resources
145-39 approved under subsection (b) in a location that is visible and
146-40 accessible to all students of the school.
147-41 (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the
148-42 governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority
104+1 (1) Youth suicide.
105+2 (2) Human trafficking.
106+3 (3) Interpersonal violence.
107+4 (4) Child abuse and neglect.
108+5 (5) Substance abuse.
109+6 (c) The governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent
110+7 authority for a charter school shall:
111+8 (1) publish the student well-being resources approved under
112+9 subsection (b) on the school's:
113+10 (A) website; and
114+11 (B) social media accounts; and
115+12 (2) post a hard copy of the student well-being resources
116+13 approved under subsection (b) in a location that is visible and
117+14 accessible to all students of the school.
118+15 (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the
119+16 governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority
120+17 for a charter school from publishing or posting well-being
121+18 resources in addition to the student well-being resources approved
122+19 by the department under subsection (b).
123+20 SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.
149124 SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 4
150-1 for a charter school from publishing or posting well-being
151-2 resources in addition to the student well-being resources approved
152-3 by the department under subsection (b).
153-4 SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.
154-SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 5
155125 COMMITTEE REPORT
156126 Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career
157127 Development, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 359, has had the
158128 same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
159129 Senate with the recommendation that said bill DO PASS.
160130 (Reference is to SB 359 as introduced.)
161131
162132 RAATZ, Chairperson
163133 Committee Vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0
164-_____
165-SENATE MOTION
166-Mr. President: I move that Senate Bill 359 be amended to read as
167-follows:
168-Page 1, line 10, delete "by learning to manage their thoughts,".
169-Page 1, delete lines 11 through 12, and insert "so that students are
170-ready to learn.".
171-Page 1, line 15, after "universal" insert "life skills".
172-Page 2, delete lines 4 through 5, and insert "through a virtual or
173-in-person coaching program that teaches resiliency strategies so
174-students have the tools to re-engage in school.".
175-Page 2, line 6, delete "Optional" and insert "An option for the
176-coaching program described in subdivision (2) to be".
177-Page 2, line 6, after "bearing" delete "courses".
178-Page 2, line 11, delete "growth and well-being." and insert
179-"resiliency.".
180-Page 2, line 13, delete "courses" and insert "coaching program".
181-Page 2, between lines 21 and 22, begin a new paragraph and insert:
182-"Sec. 8. (a) An eligible school selected by the department to
183-participate in the program must provide the parent of a student or
184-the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor,
185-with a written request for the student to participate in the program
186-before the student may participate in the program. A consent form
187-provided to a parent of a student or a student under this section
188-must accurately summarize the contents and nature of the
189-program and indicate that a parent of a student or an adult or
190-emancipated student has the right to review and inspect all
191-materials related to the instruction provided by the program. The
192-written consent may be sent in an electronic format. The parent of
193-SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152 6
194-the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an
195-emancipated minor, may return the consent form indicating that
196-the parent of the student or the adult or emancipated student:
197-(1) consents to participate in the program; or
198-(2) declines to participate in the program.
199-(b) If the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an
200-adult or an emancipated minor, does not respond to the written
201-request provided by the school under subsection (a) within
202-twenty-one (21) calendar days after receiving the request under
203-subsection (a), the student will not be permitted to participate in
204-the program unless the parent or the adult or emancipated student
205-subsequently provides written consent for the student to
206-participate in the program.".
207-Page 2, line 22, delete "8." and insert "9.".
208-Page 2, between lines 28 and 29, begin a new line block indented
209-and insert:
210-"(5) An evaluation of the program's effectiveness, measured
211-by student engagement, performance, and attendance.".
212-Page 2, line 29, delete "(5)" and insert "(6)".
213-(Reference is to SB 359 as printed January 31, 2025.)
214-ALEXANDER
215134 SB 359—LS 6829/DI 152