*SB0448.2* February 14, 2025 SENATE BILL No. 448 _____ DIGEST OF SB 448 (Updated February 13, 2025 10:11 am - DI 140) Citations Affected: IC 4-3; IC 20-19; IC 21-18; IC 21-40. Synopsis: Higher education and workforce development matters. Requires the Indiana management performance hub, in collaboration with the department of education (department), to: (1) collect and compile certain student income data; and (2) report certain credential information on the department's website. Requires the secretary of education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the general assembly. Provides that the commission for higher education (commission) shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or programs. Provides that before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. Requires the commission to: (1) review each degree or program for approval or disapproval at least one time every 10 years; (2) outline a process for degree and program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure; (3) publish certain information; and (4) take official action regarding the approval or disapproval of certain requests within 90 days. Requires the commission to prepare and submit an annual report to the legislative council regarding certain student enrollment data. Effective: July 1, 2025. Goode, Raatz, Randolph Lonnie M January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career Development. February 6, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations. February 13, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass. SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 February 14, 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. SENATE BILL No. 448 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning higher education. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 1 SECTION 1. IC 4-3-26-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.216-2021, 2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The MPH shall do the following: 4 (1) Establish and maintain a program to collect, analyze, and 5 exchange government information in carrying out the powers and 6 duties of the OMB and the powers and duties of the executive 7 state agency sharing the data. In carrying out this program, the 8 MPH may, in accordance with IC 4-1-6, obtain government 9 information from each executive state agency. 10 (2) In accordance with IC 4-1-6 and IC 5-14-3, establish and 11 maintain a program to make government information available to 12 executive state agencies, political subdivisions, educational 13 institutions, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and the 14 general public, subject to the following: 15 (A) A request for data subject to IC 4-1-6-8.6 shall be made in 16 conformance with that section. 17 (B) A program established and maintained under this chapter SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 2 1 must include policies governing access to government 2 information held by the MPH under this chapter. Government 3 information may be made available only in accordance with 4 applicable confidentiality and disclosure laws. 5 (3) Establish privacy and quality policies for government 6 information that comply with all applicable Indiana and federal 7 laws, rules, and policies. 8 (4) In accordance with standards developed by the office of 9 technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish and maintain 10 a program to ensure the security of government information under 11 this chapter. 12 (5) Conduct operational and procedural audits of executive state 13 agencies. 14 (6) Perform financial planning and design and implement 15 efficiency projects for executive state agencies. 16 (7) Advise and assist each executive state agency to identify and 17 implement continuous process improvement in state government. 18 (8) Carry out such other responsibilities as may be designated by 19 the director of the OMB or the chief data officer to carry out the 20 responsibilities of the OMB or the chief data officer. 21 (9) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's 22 graduation from high school that can be linked to the student's 23 kindergarten through grade 12 student identification number 24 necessary for the department to carry out IC 20-19-3-22.3. The 25 MPH may not disclose any personal, identifiable information to 26 the department. 27 SECTION 2. IC 20-19-3-36.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 28 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 29 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 36.5. (a) Not later than November 30 1, 2025, the secretary of education shall do the following: 31 (1) Prepare a plan to develop a market driven stackable 32 credentials and qualifications framework. The plan must: 33 (A) identify at least three (3) priority employment sectors; 34 (B) outline, based on collaboration with each priority 35 employment sector, the: 36 (i) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to 37 enter each employment sector; and 38 (ii) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to 39 advance in the employee's career within each priority 40 employment sector; and 41 (C) include recommendations regarding employer 42 identified programs and systems that must be developed at SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 3 1 the secondary and postsecondary education levels to equip 2 individuals with the knowledge and skills described in 3 clause (B). 4 (2) Submit the plan prepared under subdivision (1) to the 5 general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. 6 (b) This section expires July 1, 2026. 7 SECTION 3. IC 20-19-3-37.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA 8 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS 9 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 37.2. (a) As used in this section, 10 "management performance hub" refers to the management 11 performance hub established by IC 4-3-26-8. 12 (b) The management performance hub, in collaboration with the 13 department, shall do the following: 14 (1) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's 15 graduation from high school that can be linked to the 16 student's kindergarten through grade 12 student 17 identification number necessary for the department to carry 18 out its responsibilities under section 22.3 of this chapter. The 19 management performance hub may not disclose any personal, 20 identifiable information to the department under this 21 subdivision. 22 (2) Compile into a data product on the department's website 23 the data from all available and relevant sources, including: 24 (A) the number and type of credentials needed to fill 25 employment openings in Indiana; and 26 (B) the number and type of credentials earned by 27 individuals in Indiana. 28 SECTION 4. IC 21-18-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.101-2012, 29 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE 30 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the commission 31 may shall approve or disapprove the: 32 (1) establishment of any new branches, regional or other 33 campuses, or extension centers; 34 (2) establishment of any new college or school; or 35 (3) offering of any proposed or existing: 36 (A) associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree; or 37 (B) program leading to a certificate or other indication of 38 accomplishment. 39 (b) Before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or 40 program under subsection (a)(3), a state educational institution 41 shall provide, and the commission shall consider, the following with 42 regard to the degree or program: SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 4 1 (1) The proposed curriculum. 2 (2) The labor market supply and demand. 3 (3) The current or projected: 4 (A) enrollment; 5 (B) completion and completion rate; 6 (C) program cost; 7 (D) total student debt and average monthly student debt; 8 (E) job placement rate; 9 (F) graduate retention rate; and 10 (G) estimated: 11 (i) starting compensation; 12 (ii) compensation three (3) years after graduation; 13 (iii) compensation five (5) years after graduation; and 14 (iv) compensation ten (10) years after graduation. 15 (4) The opportunity for embedded, stackable degrees and 16 credentials. 17 (5) An experiential or work based learning requirement. 18 (6) Options for veterans to receive credit for military service. 19 (7) Options for credit for prior workforce experience with 20 Indiana based employers. 21 (8) Options for accelerated degree delivery. 22 (9) Defined pathways for high school, returning, and adult 23 students. 24 (10) The opportunity to advise students on and connect 25 students with employment opportunities. 26 (c) A state educational institution shall provide the information 27 described in subsection (b) in the manner and form prescribed by 28 the commission. 29 (d) The commission, or a committee established by the 30 commission, shall take official action on the approval or 31 disapproval of a degree or program under subsection (a)(3) within 32 ninety (90) days of the state educational institution providing the 33 commission with the full and complete information described in 34 subsection (b). 35 SECTION 5. IC 21-18-9-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE 36 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 37 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) For a degree or program approved under 38 section 5 of this chapter before July 1, 2025, the commission shall 39 review the degree or program for approval or disapproval not 40 later than July 1, 2035. 41 (b) After the review under subsection (a) for degrees and 42 programs described in subsection (a) and for any degree or SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 5 1 program approved under section 5 after June 30, 2025, the 2 commission shall review each degree and program for approval or 3 disapproval at least one (1) time every ten (10) years. 4 (c) The commission shall do the following: 5 (1) Outline a process for degree or program monitoring, 6 improvement, suspension, and closure. 7 (2) Publish quantitative information on a dashboard that is 8 available to the public to ensure accountability and 9 transparency. 10 (3) Publish a credit for prior learning inventory, including 11 information provided under section 5(b)(6) and 5(b)(7) of this 12 chapter. 13 SECTION 6. IC 21-40-6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS 14 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 15 1, 2025]: 16 Chapter 6. Student Enrollment Reporting 17 Sec. 1. (a) Not later than November 1, 2025, and each November 18 1 thereafter, the commission for higher education shall prepare a 19 report regarding student enrollment data for: 20 (1) each state educational institution; and 21 (2) each state educational institution's college or program of: 22 (A) engineering; and 23 (B) computer science; 24 if the institution offers a college or program described in this 25 subdivision. 26 (b) The report described in subsection (a) must include the 27 following information: 28 (1) The total number of students enrolled in the institution, 29 college, or program, not including students enrolled in a dual 30 credit offering or a dual enrollment course, disaggregated by 31 the following: 32 (A) The number and percentage of enrolled students who: 33 (i) are Indiana residents; and 34 (ii) are not Indiana residents. 35 (B) The number and percentage of enrolled students who: 36 (i) are United States citizens; and 37 (ii) are not United States citizens. 38 (C) The number and percentage of enrolled students 39 described under clause (B)(ii) disaggregated by the 40 student's country of origin. 41 (2) The total number of students enrolled in a dual credit 42 offering or a dual enrollment course from the institution, SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 6 1 college, or program. 2 (c) The commission for higher education shall: 3 (1) submit the report required under subsection (a) to the 4 legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6; 5 and 6 (2) publish the report on the commission's website. SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 7 COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Education and Career Development, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 448, 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 2, strike lines 21 through 26. Page 2, delete lines 27 through 31. Page 3, between lines 11 and 12, begin a new paragraph and insert: "SECTION 3. IC 20-19-3-37.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 37.2. (a) As used in this section, "management performance hub" refers to the management performance hub established by IC 4-3-26-8. (b) The management performance hub, in collaboration with the department, shall do the following: (1) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's graduation from high school that can be linked to the student's kindergarten through grade 12 student identification number necessary for the department to carry out its responsibilities under section 22.3 of this chapter. The management performance hub may not disclose any personal, identifiable information to the department under this subdivision. (2) Compile into a data product on the department's website the data from all available and relevant sources, including: (A) the number and type of credentials needed to fill employment openings in Indiana; and (B) the number and type of credentials earned by individuals in Indiana.". Page 4, between lines 12 and 13, begin a new paragraph and insert: "(d) The commission, or a committee established by the commission, shall take official action on the approval or disapproval of a degree or program under subsection (a)(3) within ninety (90) days of the state educational institution providing the commission with the full and complete information described in subsection (b).". Page 4, line 31, delete "5(b)(8)" and insert "5(b)(6)". Page 4, line 31, delete "5(b)(9)" and insert "5(b)(7)". Page 4, between lines 35 and 36, begin a new paragraph and insert: "Chapter 6. Student Enrollment Reporting Sec. 1. (a) Not later than November 1, 2025, and each November SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 8 1 thereafter, the commission for higher education shall prepare a report regarding student enrollment data for: (1) each state educational institution; and (2) each state educational institution's college or program of: (A) engineering; and (B) computer science; if the institution offers a college or program described in this subdivision. (b) The report described in subsection (a) must include the following information: (1) The total number of students enrolled in the institution, college, or program, not including students enrolled in a dual credit offering or a dual enrollment course, disaggregated by the following: (A) The number and percentage of enrolled students who: (i) are Indiana residents; and (ii) are not Indiana residents. (B) The number and percentage of enrolled students who: (i) are United States citizens; and (ii) are not United States citizens. (C) The number and percentage of enrolled students described under clause (B)(ii) disaggregated by the student's country of origin. (2) The total number of students enrolled in a dual credit offering or a dual enrollment course from the institution, college, or program. (c) The commission for higher education shall: (1) submit the report required under subsection (a) to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6; and (2) publish the report on the commission's website.". Page 4, delete lines 36 through 42. Delete page 5. Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively. and when so amended that said bill do pass and be reassigned to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. (Reference is to SB 448 as introduced.) RAATZ, Chairperson Committee Vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0. SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110 9 COMMITTEE REPORT Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 448, 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 448 as printed February 7, 2025.) MISHLER, Chairperson Committee Vote: Yeas 12, Nays 0 SB 448—LS 7503/DI 110