Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0463 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	ES0463.3
	2	+	Reprinted
	3	+	April 9, 2025
	4	+	ENGROSSED
	5	+	SENATE BILL No. 463
	6	+	_____
	7	+	DIGEST OF SB 463 (Updated April 8, 2025 3:40 pm - DI 119)
	8	+	Citations Affected: IC 6-3.1; IC 12-17.2; noncode.
	9	+	Synopsis: Child care matters. Extends the availability of the employer
	10	+	child care expenditure tax credit through July 1, 2027. Provides that
	11	+	under specified circumstances, an individual who: (1) is at least 15
	12	+	years of age; and (2) is a student at a school corporation that operates
	13	+	(Continued next page)
	14	+	Effective: Upon passage.
	15	+	Charbonneau, Alting, Yoder,
	16	+	Spencer, Pol Jr., Ford J.D.,
	17	+	Randolph Lonnie M
	18	+	(HOUSE SPONSORS — DEVON, HAMILTON, OLTHOFF, PIERCE K)
	19	+	January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Provider
	20	+	Services.
	21	+	January 29, 2025, reported favorably — Do Pass; reassigned to Committee on
	22	+	Appropriations.
	23	+	February 13, 2025, amended, reported favorably — Do Pass.
	24	+	February 17, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
	25	+	February 18, 2025, engrossed.
	26	+	February 20, 2025, read third time, passed. Yeas 44, nays 5.
	27	+	HOUSE ACTION
	28	+	March 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human
	29	+	Affairs.
	30	+	March 27, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and
	31	+	Means pursuant to Rule 126.3.
	32	+	April 3, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass.
	33	+	April 8, 2025, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
	34	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 Digest Continued
	35	+	a child care program; may volunteer as a caregiver for the child care
	36	+	program before completing the statutory requirements for individuals
	37	+	to act as a volunteer caregiver at a child care program. Adds two
	38	+	representatives of out-of-school-time programs to the membership of
	39	+	the early learning advisory committee. Provides for purposes of
	40	+	regulation of licensed child care centers that the office of the secretary
	41	+	of family and social services (office) shall: (1) ensure that: (A)
	42	+	Indiana's staff to child ratio for a specified age range is not more
	43	+	stringent than the average of the staff to child ratios permitted for that
	44	+	age range under the laws of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio;
	45	+	and (B) Indiana's maximum group size for a specified age range is not
	46	+	more stringent than the average of the maximum group sizes permitted
	47	+	for that age range under the laws of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and
	48	+	Ohio; and (2) annually publish on the office's website the: (A) staff to
	49	+	child ratio; and (B) maximum group size; that a licensed child care
	50	+	center is required to maintain for the specified age ranges. Provides
	51	+	exceptions to the bill's group size provisions for: (1) an indoor or
	52	+	outdoor area of a child care center that provides at least 75 square feet
	53	+	of space per child; and (2) a child care center's cafeteria. Provides that
	54	+	if the office has received at least five applications from child care
	55	+	providers wishing to participate in the micro center pilot program (pilot
	56	+	program) but has selected less than five applicants for participation in
	57	+	the pilot program, the office shall select additional applicants for
	58	+	participation in the pilot program such that at least five child care
	59	+	providers are participating in the pilot program.
	60	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 Reprinted
	61	+	April 9, 2025
1	62		First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
2	63		PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
3	64		Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
4	65		additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
5	66		Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
6	67		provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
7	68		word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
8	69		a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
9	70		Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
10	71		between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
11		-	SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 463
12		-	AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning human services.
	72	+	ENGROSSED
	73	+	SENATE BILL No. 463
	74	+	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
	75	+	human services.
13	76		Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
14		-	SECTION 1. IC 6-3.1-39.5-15, AS ADDED BY P.L.201-2023,
15		-	SECTION 103, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
16		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 15. This chapter expires July
17		-	1, 2025. 2027.
18		-	SECTION 2. IC 12-17.2-3.5-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2024,
	77	+	1 SECTION 1. IC 6-3.1-39.5-15, AS ADDED BY P.L.201-2023,
	78	+	2 SECTION 103, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	79	+	3 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 15. This chapter expires July
	80	+	4 1, 2025. 2027.
	81	+	5 SECTION 2. IC 12-17.2-3.5-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2024,
	82	+	6 SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	83	+	7 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) At least one (1) adult individual who
	84	+	8 maintains certification in a course of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
	85	+	9 applicable to all age groups of children cared for by a provider shall be
	86	+	10 present at all times when a child is in the care of the provider.
	87	+	11 (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the following apply to an
	88	+	12 individual who is employed or volunteers as a caregiver at a facility
	89	+	13 where a provider operates a child care program:
	90	+	14 (1) The individual shall maintain current certification in first aid
	91	+	15 applicable to all age groups of children cared for by the provider.
	92	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 2
	93	+	1 (2) If the individual is:
	94	+	2 (A) at least eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
	95	+	3 as a caregiver without supervision of another caregiver; or
	96	+	4 (B) less than eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
	97	+	5 as a caregiver only if the individual:
	98	+	6 (i) is at least fourteen (14) years of age; and
	99	+	7 (ii) is, at all times when child care is provided, directly
	100	+	8 supervised by a caregiver who is at least eighteen (18) years
	101	+	9 of age.
	102	+	10 (3) Before beginning employment or volunteer duties, the
	103	+	11 individual must receive a formal orientation to the facility and the
	104	+	12 child care program.
	105	+	13 (4) Beginning July 1, 2015, unless the provider is a parent,
	106	+	14 stepparent, guardian, custodian, or other relative to each child in
	107	+	15 the care of the provider, the individual annually must receive at
	108	+	16 least twelve (12) hours of continuing education approved by the
	109	+	17 division and related to the age appropriate educational
	110	+	18 development, care, and safety of children. The hours of
	111	+	19 continuing education required by this subdivision may include the
	112	+	20 training described in this chapter concerning child abuse
	113	+	21 detection and prevention, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
	114	+	22 and safe sleeping practices.
	115	+	23 (5) Not more than three (3) months after the individual begins
	116	+	24 employment or volunteer duties, the individual must receive
	117	+	25 training approved by the division concerning child abuse
	118	+	26 detection and prevention.
	119	+	27 (c) An individual who is at least fifteen (15) years of age and is
	120	+	28 a student at a school corporation that operates a child care
	121	+	29 program may volunteer as a caregiver for the child care program
	122	+	30 before completing the requirements under subsection (b) if the
	123	+	31 individual:
	124	+	32 (1) is supervised by an adult who is authorized under this
	125	+	33 article to provide child care services; and
	126	+	34 (2) completes the requirements under subsection (b) not later
	127	+	35 than three (3) months after the individual begins volunteering
	128	+	36 at the facility.
	129	+	37 (c) (d) A provider shall:
	130	+	38 (1) maintain at the facility where the provider operates a child
	131	+	39 care program documentation of all training and completion of
	132	+	40 continuing education required by this section; and
	133	+	41 (2) make the documentation available to the division upon
	134	+	42 request.
	135	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 3
	136	+	1 SECTION 3. IC 12-17.2-3.8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2024,
	137	+	2 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
	138	+	3 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. (a) The early learning advisory committee
	139	+	4 is established to do the following:
	140	+	5 (1) Establish child developmental and educational goals for
	141	+	6 Indiana's early learning system, including the development of
	142	+	7 standards and objectives for early education programs that receive
	143	+	8 state or federal funds.
	144	+	9 (2) Design and maintain an approach to measuring progress
	145	+	10 toward the goals established under subdivision (1) that include
	146	+	11 objective measures of academic quality.
	147	+	12 (3) Assess the attainment of the goals established under
	148	+	13 subdivision (1) and evaluate the efficacy of state and federal
	149	+	14 spending on Indiana's early learning system.
	150	+	15 (4) Assess whether the requirements for early education program
	151	+	16 licensure:
	152	+	17 (A) create an equitable standard for health and safety across all
	153	+	18 early education program types;
	154	+	19 (B) reinforce the goals established under subdivision (1); and
	155	+	20 (C) support the sustainability of Indiana's early learning
	156	+	21 system.
	157	+	22 (5) Conduct periodic statewide needs assessments concerning the
	158	+	23 quality and availability of early education programs for children
	159	+	24 from birth to the age of school entry, including the availability of
	160	+	25 high quality prekindergarten education for low income children
	161	+	26 in Indiana.
	162	+	27 (6) Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and
	163	+	28 coordination among federally and state funded child development,
	164	+	29 child care, and early childhood education programs and services,
	165	+	30 including governmental agencies that administer the programs
	166	+	31 and services.
	167	+	32 (7) Design early education workforce strategies, including
	168	+	33 recommendations on how to advance professional development.
	169	+	34 (8) Assess the capacity and effectiveness of pathways to support
	170	+	35 training and recruitment of early educators.
	171	+	36 (9) Not later than November 30 of each year, develop and make
	172	+	37 recommendations to the governor and, in an electronic format
	173	+	38 under IC 5-14-6, to the legislative council concerning the results
	174	+	39 of the committee's work under subdivisions (1) through (8).
	175	+	40 (10) Not later than May 1, 2024, commission a third party
	176	+	41 evaluation to assess existing regulations for child care providers
	177	+	42 and provide a report containing recommendations to:
	178	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 4
	179	+	1 (A) maintain health and safety standards;
	180	+	2 (B) streamline administrative burdens, program standards, and
	181	+	3 reporting requirements for child care providers;
	182	+	4 (C) provide flexibility for a child care provider with a Level 3
	183	+	5 or Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating to expand to
	184	+	6 other locations; and
	185	+	7 (D) assist accredited kindergarten through grade 12
	186	+	8 institutions in establishing and providing high quality onsite
	187	+	9 child care and early learning programs.
	188	+	10 Not later than July 1, 2024, the office of the secretary shall initiate
	189	+	11 the process of amending the rules adopted by the office under
	190	+	12 IC 12-17.2-7.2 in consideration of the recommendations of the
	191	+	13 third party evaluation. This subdivision expires January 1, 2025.
	192	+	14 (11) Not later than December 31, 2023, develop recommendations
	193	+	15 for implementing a revised paths to QUALITY program that:
	194	+	16 (A) maintains health and safety standards;
	195	+	17 (B) integrates objective measures of kindergarten readiness;
	196	+	18 (C) contemplates accredited kindergarten through grade 12
	197	+	19 institutions as onsite providers; and
	198	+	20 (D) incentivizes child care providers to increase wages for
	199	+	21 child care workers who complete education and training that
	200	+	22 result in a postsecondary degree or industry recognized
	201	+	23 credential.
	202	+	24 This subdivision expires July 1, 2024.
	203	+	25 (12) Not later than September 30, 2024, do the following:
	204	+	26 (A) Complete a study regarding compensation in Indiana for:
	205	+	27 (i) early childhood educators; and
	206	+	28 (ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs;
	207	+	29 by collecting compensation data throughout Indiana.
	208	+	30 (B) Create an online dashboard to allow access to
	209	+	31 compensation data.
	210	+	32 (C) Issue a report containing the committee's findings and
	211	+	33 recommendations on compensation in Indiana for:
	212	+	34 (i) early childhood educators; and
	213	+	35 (ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs.
	214	+	36 (b) The committee consists of the following thirteen (13) fifteen
	215	+	37 (15) members:
	216	+	38 (1) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
	217	+	39 (2) The secretary of family and social services or the secretary's
	218	+	40 designee.
	219	+	41 (3) Seven (7) Nine (9) members appointed by the governor as
	220	+	42 follows:
	221	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 5
	222	+	1 (A) A representative of an organization with an interest in
	223	+	2 training the early childhood education workforce.
	224	+	3 (B) A representative of a Head Start program under 42 U.S.C.
	225	+	4 9831 et seq.
	226	+	5 (C) A member of the general public who has an interest in
	227	+	6 early childhood education.
	228	+	7 (D) A representative of an early childhood education provider.
	229	+	8 (E) A representative from a school corporation who has an
	230	+	9 interest in strengthening the transition from early childhood
	231	+	10 education to elementary education.
	232	+	11 (F) A representative of business with an interest in early
	233	+	12 childhood education.
	234	+	13 (G) A representative of the nonprofit or philanthropic
	235	+	14 community with an interest in early childhood education.
	236	+	15 (H) A representative of an out-of-school-time program.
	237	+	16 (I) A representative of an organization with an interest in
	238	+	17 training individuals in the out-of-school time field and
	239	+	18 strengthening the out-of-school time field in Indiana
	240	+	19 statewide.
	241	+	20 (4) One (1) member who:
	242	+	21 (A) is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
	243	+	22 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	244	+	23 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	245	+	24 (5) One (1) member who:
	246	+	25 (A) is appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;
	247	+	26 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	248	+	27 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	249	+	28 (6) One (1) member who:
	250	+	29 (A) is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
	251	+	30 representatives;
	252	+	31 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	253	+	32 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	254	+	33 (7) One (1) member who:
	255	+	34 (A) is appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
	256	+	35 (B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
	257	+	36 (C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
	258	+	37 (c) Subject to section 5.1 of this chapter, members appointed under
	259	+	38 subsection (b)(3) through (b)(7) serve for three (3) year terms. The
	260	+	39 members of the committee serve at the pleasure of the appointing
	261	+	40 authority.
	262	+	41 (d) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to serve
	263	+	42 as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet at least six
	264	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 6
	265	+	1 (6) times each calendar year at the call of the chairperson.
	266	+	2 (e) The division shall, in consultation with the department of
	267	+	3 education, staff the committee.
	268	+	4 (f) The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the funds of
	269	+	5 the division.
	270	+	6 (g) Each member of the committee who is not a state employee is
	271	+	7 entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b).
	272	+	8 The member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses
	273	+	9 as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
	274	+	10 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies
	275	+	11 and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration
	276	+	12 and approved by the budget agency.
	277	+	13 (h) Each member of the committee who is a state employee but who
	278	+	14 is not a member of the general assembly is entitled to reimbursement
	279	+	15 for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other
	280	+	16 expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as
	281	+	17 provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana
	282	+	18 department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
	283	+	19 (i) Each member of the committee who is a member of the general
	284	+	20 assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel
	285	+	21 allowances paid to legislative members of interim study committees
	286	+	22 established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage, and travel
	287	+	23 allowances paid under this section shall be paid from appropriations
	288	+	24 made to the legislative council or the legislative services agency.
	289	+	25 (j) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
	290	+	26 appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take
	291	+	27 action on any measure, including final reports.
	292	+	28 SECTION 4. IC 12-17.2-4-14.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	293	+	29 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	294	+	30 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 14.5. (a) As used in this
	295	+	31 section, "bordering state" means any of the following:
	296	+	32 (1) Illinois.
	297	+	33 (2) Kentucky.
	298	+	34 (3) Michigan.
	299	+	35 (4) Ohio.
	300	+	36 (b) As used in this section, "child care facility" means:
	301	+	37 (1) a child care center in Indiana; or
	302	+	38 (2) a facility comparable to a child care center in a bordering
	303	+	39 state.
	304	+	40 (c) As used in this section, a "comparator group size" for an age
	305	+	41 range set forth in subsection (g) is the largest group size that is
	306	+	42 allowed for that age range under the law governing licensure of
	307	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 7
	308	+	1 child care facilities in a bordering state.
	309	+	2 (d) As used in this section, a "comparator staff to child ratio"
	310	+	3 for an age range set forth in subsection (g) is the lowest staff to
	311	+	4 child ratio that is allowed for that age range under the law
	312	+	5 governing licensure of child care facilities in a bordering state.
	313	+	6 (e) As used in this section, "group" means a portion of the
	314	+	7 children for whom a child care facility is providing supervision
	315	+	8 who are generally assigned by the child care facility to be
	316	+	9 supervised:
	317	+	10 (1) in the same room or space; and
	318	+	11 (2) by the same staff member or members of the child care
	319	+	12 facility.
	320	+	13 (f) As used in this section, "staff to child ratio" means, for a
	321	+	14 specified age range, a fraction:
	322	+	15 (1) the numerator of which is one (1); and
	323	+	16 (2) the denominator of which is the maximum number of
	324	+	17 children within that age range that a child care facility may
	325	+	18 allow to be supervised by a single staff member of the child
	326	+	19 care facility under the laws of the state in which the child care
	327	+	20 facility is licensed.
	328	+	21 (g) The office of the secretary shall annually determine the
	329	+	22 comparator staff to child ratios and comparator group sizes for
	330	+	23 each of the following age ranges:
	331	+	24 (1) Less than twelve (12) months of age.
	332	+	25 (2) At least twelve (12) months of age but less than eighteen
	333	+	26 (18) months of age.
	334	+	27 (3) At least eighteen (18) months of age but less than
	335	+	28 twenty-four (24) months of age.
	336	+	29 (4) At least twenty-four (24) months of age but less than thirty
	337	+	30 (30) months of age.
	338	+	31 (5) At least thirty (30) months of age but less than thirty-six
	339	+	32 (36) months of age.
	340	+	33 (6) At least thirty-six (36) months of age but less than
	341	+	34 forty-eight (48) months of age.
	342	+	35 (7) At least forty-eight (48) months of age but less than sixty
	343	+	36 (60) months of age.
	344	+	37 (8) At least sixty (60) months of age but less than seventy-two
	345	+	38 (72) months of age.
	346	+	39 (9) Seventy-two (72) months of age or older.
	347	+	40 (h) The office of the secretary shall ensure that:
	348	+	41 (1) Indiana's staff to child ratio for an age range set forth in
	349	+	42 subsection (g) is not more stringent than the average
	350	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 8
	351	+	1 comparator staff to child ratio for that age range; and
	352	+	2 (2) Indiana's maximum group size for an age range set forth
	353	+	3 in subsection (g) is not more stringent than the average
	354	+	4 comparator group size for that age range.
	355	+	5 The office of the secretary shall annually evaluate the comparator
	356	+	6 staff to child ratios and comparator group sizes to determine the
	357	+	7 need for any changes to Indiana's staff to child ratios and
	358	+	8 maximum group sizes.
	359	+	9 (i) Not later than December 1 of each year, the office of the
	360	+	10 secretary shall publish on the website of the office of the secretary
	361	+	11 the:
	362	+	12 (1) staff to child ratio that a licensed child care center is
	363	+	13 required to maintain; and
	364	+	14 (2) maximum group size that a licensed child care center is
	365	+	15 required to maintain;
	366	+	16 for each age range set forth in subsection (g).
	367	+	17 (j) Except as provided in subsection (l) or (m), for the duration
	368	+	18 of each calendar year, a licensed child care center may maintain
	369	+	19 for each age range set forth in subsection (g) the:
	370	+	20 (1) staff to child ratio; and
	371	+	21 (2) maximum group size;
	372	+	22 that are posted on the website of the office of the secretary under
	373	+	23 subsection (i) as of December 1 of the immediately preceding year.
	374	+	24 (k) A student who:
	375	+	25 (1) is at least fifteen (15) years of age;
	376	+	26 (2) is exploring a career in childhood education;
	377	+	27 (3) provides care for children as a volunteer at a child care
	378	+	28 center; and
	379	+	29 (4) is, at all times at which the student provides care for
	380	+	30 children at the child care center, under the supervision of an
	381	+	31 adult who is authorized under this article to provide child
	382	+	32 care services;
	383	+	33 is a staff member of the child care center for purposes of the child
	384	+	34 care center's staff to child ratio under subsection (j).
	385	+	35 (l) The maximum group size for children in an age range under
	386	+	36 subsection (g), when supervised in an indoor or outdoor area of a
	387	+	37 child care center that provides at least seventy-five (75) square feet
	388	+	38 of space per child, is equal to three (3) times the maximum group
	389	+	39 size that would otherwise apply for that age range.
	390	+	40 (m) The maximum group size for children supervised in a child
	391	+	41 care center's cafeteria, regardless of the age range or ranges of the
	392	+	42 children under subsection (g), is equal to the number of seats
	393	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 9
	394	+	1 available to children in the cafeteria.
	395	+	2 SECTION 5. IC 12-17.2-7.6-3.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	396	+	3 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	397	+	4 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 3.1. If as of July 1, 2025:
	398	+	5 (1) at least five (5) licensees have applied to participate in the
	399	+	6 pilot program under section 3(c)(1) of this chapter; and
	400	+	7 (2) the office of the secretary has selected less than five (5) of
	401	+	8 the applicant licensees to participate in the pilot program
	402	+	9 under section 3(c)(2) of this chapter;
	403	+	10 the office of the secretary shall, not later than July 1, 2025, and
	404	+	11 subject to section 3(d) of this chapter, select additional applicant
	405	+	12 licensees for participation in the pilot program such that at least
	406	+	13 five (5) licensees are participating in the pilot program.
	407	+	14 SECTION 6. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
	408	+	15 SECTION, "office of the secretary" means the office of the
	409	+	16 secretary of family and social services established by IC 12-8-1.5-1.
	410	+	17 (b) Not later than July 1, 2025, the office of the secretary shall
	411	+	18 initiate the process of amending 470 IAC 3-4.7 in conformance with
	412	+	19 IC 12-17.2-4-14.5, as added by this act.
	413	+	20 (c) This SECTION expires January 1, 2026.
	414	+	21 SECTION 7. An emergency is declared for this act.
	415	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 10
	416	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	417	+	Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Health and Provider
	418	+	Services, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 463, has had the same
	419	+	under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the
	420	+	Senate with the recommendation that said bill DO PASS and be
	421	+	reassigned to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
	422	+	(Reference is to SB 463 as introduced.)
	423	+	CHARBONNEAU, Chairperson
	424	+	Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 1.
	425	+	_____
	426	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	427	+	Mr. President: The Senate Committee on Appropriations, to which
	428	+	was referred Senate Bill No. 463, has had the same under consideration
	429	+	and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the
	430	+	recommendation that said bill be AMENDED as follows:
	431	+	Page 1, delete lines 1 through 15.
	432	+	Page 2, delete lines 1 through 8.
	433	+	Page 8, delete lines 3 through 42.
	434	+	Delete page 9.
	435	+	Page 10, delete lines 1 through 33.
	436	+	Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
	437	+	and when so amended that said bill do pass.
	438	+	(Reference is to SB 463 as printed January 30, 2025.)
	439	+	MISHLER, Chairperson
	440	+	Committee Vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0.
	441	+	_____
	442	+	SENATE MOTION
	443	+	Mr. President: I move that Senate Bill 463 be amended to read as
	444	+	follows:
	445	+	Page 5, delete lines 25 through 32, begin a new paragraph and
	446	+	insert:
	447	+	"(c) As used in this section, the "comparator group size" for an
	448	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 11
	449	+	age range set forth in subsection (g) is the highest group size that
	450	+	is allowed for that age range at any time after July 1, 2025, under
	451	+	the law governing licensure of child care facilities in a bordering
	452	+	state.
	453	+	(d) As used in this section, the "comparator staff to child ratio"
	454	+	for an age range set forth in subsection (g) is the lowest staff to
	455	+	child ratio that is allowed for that age range at any time after July
	456	+	1, 2025, under the law governing licensure of child care facilities in
	457	+	a bordering state.".
	458	+	Page 6, delete lines 6 through 9, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	459	+	"(g) The office of the secretary shall publish the comparator
	460	+	staff to child ratio and comparator group size under subsections (j)
	461	+	through (k) for each of the following age ranges:".
	462	+	Page 6, line 26, delete "must" and insert "may".
	463	+	Page 6, line 27, after "that is" insert "greater than or".
	464	+	Page 6, line 28, delete "lowest".
	465	+	Page 6, line 28, delete "unless" and insert "as published on the
	466	+	website of the office of the secretary on December 1 of the
	467	+	immediately preceding calendar year.".
	468	+	Page 6, delete lines 29 through 31.
	469	+	Page 6, line 32, delete "must" and insert "may".
	470	+	Page 6, line 32, delete "maximum".
	471	+	Page 6, line 33, after "that is" insert "less than or".
	472	+	Page 6, line 34, delete "highest".
	473	+	Page 6, line 34, delete "unless the" and insert "as published on the
	474	+	website of the office of the secretary on December 1 of the
	475	+	immediately preceding calendar year.".
	476	+	Page 6, delete lines 35 through 42, begin a new paragraph and
	477	+	insert:
	478	+	"(j) Not later than December 1, 2025, the office of the secretary
	479	+	shall publish on the website of the office of the secretary the:
	480	+	(1) comparator staff to child ratio for purposes of subsection
	481	+	(h); and
	482	+	(2) comparator group size for purposes of subsection (i);
	483	+	for each age range set forth in subsection (g).
	484	+	(k) Not later than December 1, 2026, and not later than
	485	+	December 1 of each year thereafter, the office of the secretary
	486	+	shall:
	487	+	(1) revise the comparator staff to child ratio published on the
	488	+	website of the office of the secretary to reflect any decrease in
	489	+	the comparator staff to child ratio in the preceding calendar
	490	+	year; and
	491	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 12
	492	+	(2) revise the comparator group size published on the website
	493	+	of the office of the secretary to reflect any increase in the
	494	+	comparator group size in the preceding calendar year.".
	495	+	Page 7, delete lines 1 through 9.
	496	+	Page 7, line 26, delete "IC 4-22-2-37.1" and insert "IC 4-22-2-37.2".
	497	+	Page 7, line 31, after "means" insert "the".
	498	+	(Reference is to SB 463 as printed February 14, 2025.)
	499	+	GARTEN
	500	+	_____
	501	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	502	+	Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Family, Children and Human
	503	+	Affairs, to which was referred Senate Bill 463, has had the same under
	504	+	consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the House with
	505	+	the recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
	506	+	Page 1, between lines 4 and 5, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	507	+	"SECTION 2. IC 12-17.2-3.5-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2024,
19	508		SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
20	509		UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 8. (a) At least one (1) adult individual who
21	510		maintains certification in a course of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
22	511		applicable to all age groups of children cared for by a provider shall be
23	512		present at all times when a child is in the care of the provider.
24	513		(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the following apply to an
25	514		individual who is employed or volunteers as a caregiver at a facility
26	515		where a provider operates a child care program:
27	516		(1) The individual shall maintain current certification in first aid
28	517		applicable to all age groups of children cared for by the provider.
29	518		(2) If the individual is:
30	519		(A) at least eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
31	520		as a caregiver without supervision of another caregiver; or
32	521		(B) less than eighteen (18) years of age, the individual may act
33	522		as a caregiver only if the individual:
34		-	SEA 463 — Concur 2
35	523		(i) is at least fourteen (14) years of age; and
36	524		(ii) is, at all times when child care is provided, directly
37	525		supervised by a caregiver who is at least eighteen (18) years
38	526		of age.
39	527		(3) Before beginning employment or volunteer duties, the
40	528		individual must receive a formal orientation to the facility and the
	529	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 13
41	530		child care program.
42	531		(4) Beginning July 1, 2015, unless the provider is a parent,
43	532		stepparent, guardian, custodian, or other relative to each child in
44	533		the care of the provider, the individual annually must receive at
45	534		least twelve (12) hours of continuing education approved by the
46	535		division and related to the age appropriate educational
47	536		development, care, and safety of children. The hours of
48	537		continuing education required by this subdivision may include the
49	538		training described in this chapter concerning child abuse
50	539		detection and prevention, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
51	540		and safe sleeping practices.
52	541		(5) Not more than three (3) months after the individual begins
53	542		employment or volunteer duties, the individual must receive
54	543		training approved by the division concerning child abuse
55	544		detection and prevention.
56	545		(c) An individual who is at least fifteen (15) years of age and is
57	546		a student at a school corporation that operates a child care
58	547		program may volunteer as a caregiver for the child care program
59	548		before completing the requirements under subsection (b) if the
60	549		individual:
61	550		(1) is supervised by an adult who is authorized under this
62	551		article to provide child care services; and
63	552		(2) completes the requirements under subsection (b) not later
64	553		than three (3) months after the individual begins volunteering
65	554		at the facility.
66	555		(c) (d) A provider shall:
67	556		(1) maintain at the facility where the provider operates a child
68	557		care program documentation of all training and completion of
69	558		continuing education required by this section; and
70	559		(2) make the documentation available to the division upon
71		-	request.
72		-	SECTION 3. IC 12-17.2-3.8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.92-2024,
73		-	SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
74		-	UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. (a) The early learning advisory committee
75		-	is established to do the following:
76		-	(1) Establish child developmental and educational goals for
77		-	SEA 463 — Concur 3
78		-	Indiana's early learning system, including the development of
79		-	standards and objectives for early education programs that receive
80		-	state or federal funds.
81		-	(2) Design and maintain an approach to measuring progress
82		-	toward the goals established under subdivision (1) that include
83		-	objective measures of academic quality.
84		-	(3) Assess the attainment of the goals established under
85		-	subdivision (1) and evaluate the efficacy of state and federal
86		-	spending on Indiana's early learning system.
87		-	(4) Assess whether the requirements for early education program
88		-	licensure:
89		-	(A) create an equitable standard for health and safety across all
90		-	early education program types;
91		-	(B) reinforce the goals established under subdivision (1); and
92		-	(C) support the sustainability of Indiana's early learning
93		-	system.
94		-	(5) Conduct periodic statewide needs assessments concerning the
95		-	quality and availability of early education programs for children
96		-	from birth to the age of school entry, including the availability of
97		-	high quality prekindergarten education for low income children
98		-	in Indiana.
99		-	(6) Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration and
100		-	coordination among federally and state funded child development,
101		-	child care, and early childhood education programs and services,
102		-	including governmental agencies that administer the programs
103		-	and services.
104		-	(7) Design early education workforce strategies, including
105		-	recommendations on how to advance professional development.
106		-	(8) Assess the capacity and effectiveness of pathways to support
107		-	training and recruitment of early educators.
108		-	(9) Not later than November 30 of each year, develop and make
109		-	recommendations to the governor and, in an electronic format
110		-	under IC 5-14-6, to the legislative council concerning the results
111		-	of the committee's work under subdivisions (1) through (8).
112		-	(10) Not later than May 1, 2024, commission a third party
113		-	evaluation to assess existing regulations for child care providers
114		-	and provide a report containing recommendations to:
115		-	(A) maintain health and safety standards;
116		-	(B) streamline administrative burdens, program standards, and
117		-	reporting requirements for child care providers;
118		-	(C) provide flexibility for a child care provider with a Level 3
119		-	or Level 4 paths to QUALITY program rating to expand to
120		-	SEA 463 — Concur 4
121		-	other locations; and
122		-	(D) assist accredited kindergarten through grade 12
123		-	institutions in establishing and providing high quality onsite
124		-	child care and early learning programs.
125		-	Not later than July 1, 2024, the office of the secretary shall initiate
126		-	the process of amending the rules adopted by the office under
127		-	IC 12-17.2-7.2 in consideration of the recommendations of the
128		-	third party evaluation. This subdivision expires January 1, 2025.
129		-	(11) Not later than December 31, 2023, develop recommendations
130		-	for implementing a revised paths to QUALITY program that:
131		-	(A) maintains health and safety standards;
132		-	(B) integrates objective measures of kindergarten readiness;
133		-	(C) contemplates accredited kindergarten through grade 12
134		-	institutions as onsite providers; and
135		-	(D) incentivizes child care providers to increase wages for
136		-	child care workers who complete education and training that
137		-	result in a postsecondary degree or industry recognized
138		-	credential.
139		-	This subdivision expires July 1, 2024.
140		-	(12) Not later than September 30, 2024, do the following:
141		-	(A) Complete a study regarding compensation in Indiana for:
142		-	(i) early childhood educators; and
143		-	(ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs;
144		-	by collecting compensation data throughout Indiana.
145		-	(B) Create an online dashboard to allow access to
146		-	compensation data.
147		-	(C) Issue a report containing the committee's findings and
148		-	recommendations on compensation in Indiana for:
149		-	(i) early childhood educators; and
150		-	(ii) caregivers at out-of-school-time programs.
151		-	(b) The committee consists of the following thirteen (13) fifteen
152		-	(15) members:
153		-	(1) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
154		-	(2) The secretary of family and social services or the secretary's
155		-	designee.
156		-	(3) Seven (7) Nine (9) members appointed by the governor as
157		-	follows:
158		-	(A) A representative of an organization with an interest in
159		-	training the early childhood education workforce.
160		-	(B) A representative of a Head Start program under 42 U.S.C.
161		-	9831 et seq.
162		-	(C) A member of the general public who has an interest in
163		-	SEA 463 — Concur 5
164		-	early childhood education.
165		-	(D) A representative of an early childhood education provider.
166		-	(E) A representative from a school corporation who has an
167		-	interest in strengthening the transition from early childhood
168		-	education to elementary education.
169		-	(F) A representative of business with an interest in early
170		-	childhood education.
171		-	(G) A representative of the nonprofit or philanthropic
172		-	community with an interest in early childhood education.
173		-	(H) A representative of an out-of-school-time program.
174		-	(I) A representative of an organization with an interest in
	560	+	request.".
	561	+	Page 3, line 25, delete "fourteen" and insert "fifteen".
	562	+	Page 3, line 26, delete "(14)" and insert "(15)".
	563	+	Page 3, line 30, delete "Eight (8)" and insert "Nine (9)".
	564	+	Page 4, between lines 4 and 5, begin a new line double block
	565	+	indented and insert:
	566	+	"(I) A representative of an organization with an interest in
175	567		training individuals in the out-of-school time field and
176	568		strengthening the out-of-school time field in Indiana
177		-	statewide.
178		-	(4) One (1) member who:
179		-	(A) is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
180		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
181		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
182		-	(5) One (1) member who:
183		-	(A) is appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;
184		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
185		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
186		-	(6) One (1) member who:
187		-	(A) is appointed by the minority leader of the house of
188		-	representatives;
189		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
190		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
191		-	(7) One (1) member who:
192		-	(A) is appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
193		-	(B) is not a member of the general assembly; and
194		-	(C) shall serve as a nonvoting member.
195		-	(c) Subject to section 5.1 of this chapter, members appointed under
196		-	subsection (b)(3) through (b)(7) serve for three (3) year terms. The
197		-	members of the committee serve at the pleasure of the appointing
198		-	authority.
199		-	(d) The governor shall appoint a member of the committee to serve
200		-	as chairperson of the committee. The committee shall meet at least six
201		-	(6) times each calendar year at the call of the chairperson.
202		-	(e) The division shall, in consultation with the department of
203		-	education, staff the committee.
204		-	(f) The expenses of the committee shall be paid from the funds of
205		-	the division.
206		-	SEA 463 — Concur 6
207		-	(g) Each member of the committee who is not a state employee is
208		-	entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by IC 4-10-11-2.1(b).
209		-	The member is also entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses
210		-	as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
211		-	connection with the member's duties as provided in the state policies
212		-	and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration
213		-	and approved by the budget agency.
214		-	(h) Each member of the committee who is a state employee but who
215		-	is not a member of the general assembly is entitled to reimbursement
216		-	for traveling expenses as provided under IC 4-13-1-4 and other
217		-	expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties as
218		-	provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana
219		-	department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
220		-	(i) Each member of the committee who is a member of the general
221		-	assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel
222		-	allowances paid to legislative members of interim study committees
223		-	established by the legislative council. Per diem, mileage, and travel
224		-	allowances paid under this section shall be paid from appropriations
225		-	made to the legislative council or the legislative services agency.
226		-	(j) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members
227		-	appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take
228		-	action on any measure, including final reports.
229		-	SECTION 4. IC 12-17.2-4-14.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
230		-	CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
231		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 14.5. (a) As used in this
232		-	section, "bordering state" means any of the following:
233		-	(1) Illinois.
234		-	(2) Kentucky.
235		-	(3) Michigan.
236		-	(4) Ohio.
237		-	(b) As used in this section, "child care facility" means:
238		-	(1) a child care center in Indiana; or
239		-	(2) a facility comparable to a child care center in a bordering
240		-	state.
241		-	(c) As used in this section, a "comparator group size" for an age
242		-	range set forth in subsection (g) is the largest group size that is
243		-	allowed for that age range under the law governing licensure of
244		-	child care facilities in a bordering state.
245		-	(d) As used in this section, a "comparator staff to child ratio"
246		-	for an age range set forth in subsection (g) is the lowest staff to
247		-	child ratio that is allowed for that age range under the law
248		-	governing licensure of child care facilities in a bordering state.
249		-	SEA 463 — Concur 7
250		-	(e) As used in this section, "group" means a portion of the
251		-	children for whom a child care facility is providing supervision
252		-	who are generally assigned by the child care facility to be
253		-	supervised:
254		-	(1) in the same room or space; and
255		-	(2) by the same staff member or members of the child care
256		-	facility.
257		-	(f) As used in this section, "staff to child ratio" means, for a
258		-	specified age range, a fraction:
259		-	(1) the numerator of which is one (1); and
260		-	(2) the denominator of which is the maximum number of
261		-	children within that age range that a child care facility may
262		-	allow to be supervised by a single staff member of the child
263		-	care facility under the laws of the state in which the child care
264		-	facility is licensed.
265		-	(g) The office of the secretary shall annually determine the
	569	+	statewide.".
	570	+	Page 6, line 9, delete "(j)" and insert "(m)".
	571	+	Page 6, line 10, delete "(k)" and insert "(n)".
	572	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 14
	573	+	Page 6, between lines 31 and 32, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	574	+	"(i) A student who:
	575	+	(1) is at least fifteen (15) years of age;
	576	+	(2) is exploring a career in childhood education;
	577	+	(3) provides care for children as a volunteer at a child care
	578	+	center; and
	579	+	(4) is, at all times at which the student provides care for
	580	+	children at the child care center, under the supervision of an
	581	+	adult who is authorized under this article to provide child
	582	+	care services;
	583	+	is a staff member of the child care center for purposes of the child
	584	+	care center's staff to child ratio under subsection (h).".
	585	+	Page 6, line 32, delete "(i) A" and insert "(j) Except as provided
	586	+	with regard to specified areas of a child care center under
	587	+	subsections (k) and (l), a".
	588	+	Page 6, between lines 36 and 37, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	589	+	"(k) The maximum group size for children in an age range
	590	+	under subsection (g), when supervised in an indoor or outdoor area
	591	+	of a child care center that provides at least seventy-five (75) square
	592	+	feet of space per child, is equal to three (3) times the comparator
	593	+	group size for that age range.
	594	+	(l) The maximum group size for children supervised in a child
	595	+	care center's cafeteria, regardless of the age range or ranges of the
	596	+	children under subsection (g), is equal to the number of seats
	597	+	available to children in the cafeteria.".
	598	+	Page 6, line 37, delete "(j)" and insert "(m)".
	599	+	Page 6, line 41, delete "(i);" and insert "(j);".
	600	+	Page 7, line 1, delete "(k)" and insert "(n)".
	601	+	Page 7, between lines 22 and 23, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	602	+	"SECTION 5. IC 12-17.2-7.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
	603	+	CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS
	604	+	[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]:
	605	+	Chapter 7.7. Local Child Care Assistance Program
	606	+	Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "grant fund" means the local
	607	+	child care assistance grant fund established by section 6 of this
	608	+	chapter.
	609	+	Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "matching grant" means funds
	610	+	transferred by the office of the secretary from the general account
	611	+	of the grant fund to a county's county match account in the grant
	612	+	fund.
	613	+	Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "program" means the local child
	614	+	care assistance program established by section 4 of this chapter.
	615	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 15
	616	+	Sec. 4. (a) The local child care assistance program is established
	617	+	for the purpose of providing a county with assistance in expanding
	618	+	the availability of child care in the county.
	619	+	(b) The office of the secretary shall administer the program.
	620	+	Sec. 5. (a) A county may apply to the office of the secretary, in
	621	+	a manner prescribed by the office of the secretary, to participate
	622	+	in the program.
	623	+	(b) The office of the secretary may make any of the following
	624	+	assistance available to a county participating in the program:
	625	+	(1) Matching grants.
	626	+	(2) Technical, analytical, and communications assistance.
	627	+	(3) Training.
	628	+	(4) Guidance regarding licensure of child care providers.
	629	+	(5) Any other assistance the office of the secretary chooses to
	630	+	offer through the program.
	631	+	Sec. 6. (a) The local child care assistance grant fund is
	632	+	established for the purpose of receiving and disbursing funds for
	633	+	purposes of the program.
	634	+	(b) The office of the secretary shall administer the grant fund.
	635	+	(c) The grant fund consists of:
	636	+	(1) appropriations to the grant fund by the general assembly;
	637	+	(2) grants, gifts, and donations intended for deposit in the
	638	+	grant fund; and
	639	+	(3) funds transferred to the grant fund by counties
	640	+	participating in the program.
	641	+	(d) A general account is established within the grant fund for
	642	+	purposes of receiving and disbursing funds described in subsection
	643	+	(c)(1) and (c)(2) that are deposited in the grant fund.
	644	+	(e) The office of the secretary shall establish a county match
	645	+	account within the grant fund for each county that participates in
	646	+	the program for purposes of receiving and disbursing funds
	647	+	transferred to the grant fund by the county.
	648	+	(f) The expenses of administering the grant fund shall be paid
	649	+	from money in the grant fund.
	650	+	(g) Funds remaining in the grant fund at the end of a state fiscal
	651	+	year do not revert to the state general fund.
	652	+	Sec. 7. (a) Subject to the available balance in the general
	653	+	account of the grant fund, the office of the secretary shall, on the
	654	+	first day of each month:
	655	+	(1) transfer from the general account of the grant fund to a
	656	+	county's county match account in the grant fund one dollar
	657	+	($1) for every one dollar ($1) deposited by the county in the
	658	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 16
	659	+	county's county match account in the immediately preceding
	660	+	month; and
	661	+	(2) after making the transfer under subdivision (1), disburse
	662	+	the money in the county's county match account to the county.
	663	+	(b) A county that requests a matching grant through the
	664	+	program shall, as a condition of receiving the matching grant,
	665	+	enter into a memorandum of understanding with the office of the
	666	+	secretary that prescribes the purposes for which the county may
	667	+	use matching grants received by the county.
	668	+	(c) A county may accept private funds for deposit in the county's
	669	+	county match account. The office of the secretary shall not include
	670	+	private funds deposited by a county in the county's county match
	671	+	account in the calculation of the amount transferred by the office
	672	+	of the secretary to the county's county match account under
	673	+	subsection (a).
	674	+	Sec. 8. Not later than March 1 of each year, a county that
	675	+	received one (1) or more matching grants in the immediately
	676	+	preceding calendar year shall submit a report to the office of the
	677	+	secretary that includes:
	678	+	(1) an accounting of the purposes for which the county used
	679	+	the matching grants received by the county in the immediately
	680	+	preceding calendar year;
	681	+	(2) a proposed plan for the county's use of future matching
	682	+	grants received by the county; and
	683	+	(3) any additional information required by the office of the
	684	+	secretary.
	685	+	Sec. 9. If the office of the secretary determines that a county is
	686	+	not complying with the memorandum of understanding entered
	687	+	into by the county under this chapter, the office of the secretary
	688	+	shall:
	689	+	(1) provide written notice to the county that:
	690	+	(A) the office of the secretary has determined that the
	691	+	county is not in compliance with the county's
	692	+	memorandum of understanding; and
	693	+	(B) the county must demonstrate that it is in compliance
	694	+	with the memorandum of understanding not later than
	695	+	thirty (30) days after the date of the notice; and
	696	+	(2) suspend matching grants to the county if the county does
	697	+	not demonstrate to the office of the secretary that the county
	698	+	is in compliance with the memorandum of understanding not
	699	+	later than thirty (30) days after the date of the notice.
	700	+	Sec. 10. Not later than July 1, 2026, and July 1 of each year
	701	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 17
	702	+	thereafter, the office of the secretary shall submit a report to the
	703	+	legislative council that provides the following information
	704	+	regarding the program for the preceding calendar year:
	705	+	(1) The counties that participated in the program.
	706	+	(2) The counties that received matching grants, and the total
	707	+	amount of the matching grants received by each county.
	708	+	(3) A summary of the assistance other than matching grants
	709	+	that was provided to counties through the program.
	710	+	(4) A summary of the purposes for which counties reported
	711	+	using matching grants under section 8 of this chapter.
	712	+	(5) The office of the secretary's assessment of the effectiveness
	713	+	of the program in expanding the availability of child care in
	714	+	Indiana.
	715	+	(6) Any changes to the program the office of the secretary
	716	+	recommends to increase the effectiveness of the program in
	717	+	expanding the availability of child care in Indiana.
	718	+	The report must be submitted in an electronic format under
	719	+	IC 5-14-6.".
	720	+	Page 7, line 26, delete "Not later than" and insert "Beginning".
	721	+	Page 7, line 26, delete "shall" and insert "may".
	722	+	Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
	723	+	and when so amended that said bill do pass.
	724	+	(Reference is to SB 463 as reprinted February 18, 2025.)
	725	+	DEVON
	726	+	Committee Vote: yeas 9, nays 3.
	727	+	_____
	728	+	COMMITTEE REPORT
	729	+	Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was
	730	+	referred Engrossed Senate Bill 463, has had the same under
	731	+	consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the House with
	732	+	the recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
	733	+	Page 9, delete lines 18 through 42.
	734	+	Delete pages 10 through 11.
	735	+	Page 12, delete lines 1 through 14.
	736	+	Renumber all SECTIONS consecutively.
	737	+	and when so amended that said bill do pass.
	738	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 18
	739	+	(Reference is to ESB 463 as printed March 27, 2025.)
	740	+	THOMPSON
	741	+	Committee Vote: yeas 24, nays 0.
	742	+	_____
	743	+	HOUSE MOTION
	744	+	Mr. Speaker: I move that Engrossed Senate Bill 463 be amended to
	745	+	read as follows:
	746	+	Page 6, line 40, delete "the" and insert "a".
	747	+	Page 6, line 41, delete "highest" and insert "largest".
	748	+	Page 6, line 42, delete "at any time after July 1, 2025,".
	749	+	Page 7, line 3, delete "the" and insert "a".
	750	+	Page 7, line 5, delete "at any time after July".
	751	+	Page 7, line 6, delete "1, 2025,".
	752	+	Page 7, delete lines 23 through 25, begin a new paragraph and
	753	+	insert:
	754	+	"(g) The office of the secretary shall annually determine the
266	755		comparator staff to child ratios and comparator group sizes for
267		-	each of the following age ranges:
268		-	(1) Less than twelve (12) months of age.
269		-	(2) At least twelve (12) months of age but less than eighteen
270		-	(18) months of age.
271		-	(3) At least eighteen (18) months of age but less than
272		-	twenty-four (24) months of age.
273		-	(4) At least twenty-four (24) months of age but less than thirty
274		-	(30) months of age.
275		-	(5) At least thirty (30) months of age but less than thirty-six
276		-	(36) months of age.
277		-	(6) At least thirty-six (36) months of age but less than
278		-	forty-eight (48) months of age.
279		-	(7) At least forty-eight (48) months of age but less than sixty
280		-	(60) months of age.
281		-	(8) At least sixty (60) months of age but less than seventy-two
282		-	(72) months of age.
283		-	(9) Seventy-two (72) months of age or older.
284		-	(h) The office of the secretary shall ensure that:
	756	+	each of the following age ranges:".
	757	+	Page 7, delete line 42, begin a new paragraph and insert:
	758	+	"(h) The office of the secretary shall ensure that:
285	759		(1) Indiana's staff to child ratio for an age range set forth in
286	760		subsection (g) is not more stringent than the average
287	761		comparator staff to child ratio for that age range; and
288	762		(2) Indiana's maximum group size for an age range set forth
289	763		in subsection (g) is not more stringent than the average
290	764		comparator group size for that age range.
291	765		The office of the secretary shall annually evaluate the comparator
292		-	SEA 463 — Concur 8
293	766		staff to child ratios and comparator group sizes to determine the
294	767		need for any changes to Indiana's staff to child ratios and
295	768		maximum group sizes.
296	769		(i) Not later than December 1 of each year, the office of the
297	770		secretary shall publish on the website of the office of the secretary
298	771		the:
299	772		(1) staff to child ratio that a licensed child care center is
300	773		required to maintain; and
301	774		(2) maximum group size that a licensed child care center is
302	775		required to maintain;
	776	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119 19
303	777		for each age range set forth in subsection (g).
304	778		(j) Except as provided in subsection (l) or (m), for the duration
305	779		of each calendar year, a licensed child care center may maintain
306	780		for each age range set forth in subsection (g) the:
307	781		(1) staff to child ratio; and
308	782		(2) maximum group size;
309	783		that are posted on the website of the office of the secretary under
310		-	subsection (i) as of December 1 of the immediately preceding year.
311		-	(k) A student who:
312		-	(1) is at least fifteen (15) years of age;
313		-	(2) is exploring a career in childhood education;
314		-	(3) provides care for children as a volunteer at a child care
315		-	center; and
316		-	(4) is, at all times at which the student provides care for
317		-	children at the child care center, under the supervision of an
318		-	adult who is authorized under this article to provide child
319		-	care services;
320		-	is a staff member of the child care center for purposes of the child
321		-	care center's staff to child ratio under subsection (j).
322		-	(l) The maximum group size for children in an age range under
323		-	subsection (g), when supervised in an indoor or outdoor area of a
324		-	child care center that provides at least seventy-five (75) square feet
325		-	of space per child, is equal to three (3) times the maximum group
326		-	size that would otherwise apply for that age range.
327		-	(m) The maximum group size for children supervised in a child
328		-	care center's cafeteria, regardless of the age range or ranges of the
329		-	children under subsection (g), is equal to the number of seats
330		-	available to children in the cafeteria.
331		-	SECTION 5. IC 12-17.2-7.6-3.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
332		-	CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
333		-	[EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 3.1. If as of July 1, 2025:
334		-	(1) at least five (5) licensees have applied to participate in the
335		-	SEA 463 — Concur 9
336		-	pilot program under section 3(c)(1) of this chapter; and
337		-	(2) the office of the secretary has selected less than five (5) of
338		-	the applicant licensees to participate in the pilot program
339		-	under section 3(c)(2) of this chapter;
340		-	the office of the secretary shall, not later than July 1, 2025, and
341		-	subject to section 3(d) of this chapter, select additional applicant
342		-	licensees for participation in the pilot program such that at least
343		-	five (5) licensees are participating in the pilot program.
344		-	SECTION 6. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
345		-	SECTION, "office of the secretary" means the office of the
346		-	secretary of family and social services established by IC 12-8-1.5-1.
347		-	(b) Not later than July 1, 2025, the office of the secretary shall
348		-	initiate the process of amending 470 IAC 3-4.7 in conformance with
349		-	IC 12-17.2-4-14.5, as added by this act.
350		-	(c) This SECTION expires January 1, 2026.
351		-	SECTION 7. An emergency is declared for this act.
352		-	SEA 463 — Concur President of the Senate
353		-	President Pro Tempore
354		-	Speaker of the House of Representatives
355		-	Governor of the State of Indiana
356		-	Date: Time:
357		-	SEA 463 — Concur
	784	+	subsection (i) as of December 1 of the immediately preceding
	785	+	year.".
	786	+	Page 8, delete lines 1 through 4.
	787	+	Page 8, line 5, delete "(i)" and insert "(k)".
	788	+	Page 8, line 15, delete "(h)." and insert "(j).".
	789	+	Page 8, delete lines 16 through 22.
	790	+	Page 8, line 23, delete "(k)" and insert "(l)".
	791	+	Page 8, line 26, delete "comparator group" and insert "maximum
	792	+	group size that would otherwise apply".
	793	+	Page 8, line 27, delete "size".
	794	+	Page 8, line 28, delete "(l)" and insert "(m)".
	795	+	Page 8, delete lines 32 through 42.
	796	+	Page 9, delete lines 1 through 5.
	797	+	(Reference is to ESB 463 as printed April 3, 2025.)
	798	+	GOSS-REAVES
	799	+	ES 463—LS 7491/DI 119