Reprinted

January 30, 2008





HOUSE BILL No. 1184

_____


DIGEST OF HB 1184 (Updated January 29, 2008 5:25 pm - DI 109)



Citations Affected: IC 20-20.

Synopsis: Scholarships for teachers. Establishes the teacher recruitment program and fund: (1) to encourage and promote qualified African American and Hispanic male teachers to pursue a career in teaching in accredited schools in Indiana; (2) to enhance the number of individuals who may serve as role models for African American and Hispanic students in Indiana; and (3) to rectify the shortage of African American and Hispanic male teachers teaching in accredited schools in Indiana. Requires the state student assistance commission to administer the fund.

Effective: July 1, 2008.





Smith V, Crawford , Porter , Behning




    January 10, 2008, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
    January 22, 2008, amended, reported _ Do Pass. Reassigned to Committee on Ways and Means.
    January 24, 2008, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
    January 29, 2008, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.





Reprinted

January 30, 2008

Second Regular Session 115th General Assembly (2008)


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.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1184



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education and to make an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 20-20-22.2; (08)HB1184.3.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 20-20-22.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008]:
     Chapter 22.2. Teacher Recruitment Program
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "applicant" means an individual who applies for a cash payment under this chapter.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the state student assistance commission established by IC 21-11-2-1.
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the teacher recruitment fund established by section 10 of this chapter.
    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the teacher recruitment program established under section 5 of this chapter.
    Sec. 5. The teacher recruitment program is established.
    Sec. 6. (a) The commission shall administer the program established under this chapter.
    (b) The purpose of the program is:
        (1) to encourage and promote qualified African American and

Hispanic male teachers to pursue a career in teaching in accredited elementary and secondary schools with predominately African American and Hispanic student populations in Indiana;
        (2) to enhance the number of individuals who may serve as role models for African American and Hispanic students in Indiana; and
        (3) to rectify the shortage of African American and Hispanic male teachers teaching in accredited elementary and secondary schools in Indiana.
    Sec. 7. (a) To qualify for the program, an applicant must furnish evidence to the commission of the following:
        (1) The applicant is an Indiana resident.
        (2) The applicant is an African American or Hispanic male.
        (3) The applicant is currently teaching at an accredited elementary or secondary school with a predominately African American or Hispanic student population located in Indiana.
        (4) The applicant holds a current Indiana teacher's license that has not been suspended or revoked.
        (5) The applicant has completed at least one (1) year of teaching service with satisfactory performance ratings in an accredited elementary or secondary school with a predominately African American or Hispanic student population located in Indiana.
        (6) The applicant has provided the teaching service described in subdivision (5) in instructional activities during full instructional days during the school year and not as a substitute teacher.
        (7) The applicant complies with all other eligibility criteria established by the commission.
    (b) An applicant for the program must apply to the commission on a form prescribed and provided by the commission.
    (c) An applicant shall verify all information submitted with the application for payments.
    (d) The commission shall review an applicant's application and determine whether the applicant qualifies for the payment under this chapter.
    (e) The commission shall publish and make available to all:
        (1) applicants; and
        (2) members of the public upon request;
a copy of its rules establishing the eligibility criteria for the payments.


    Sec. 8. The department shall make available the information published by the commission under section 7(e) of this chapter to all students enrolled in an accredited secondary school located in Indiana.
    Sec. 9. Each college and university located in Indiana shall make available the information published by the commission under section 7(e) to all its students.
    Sec. 10. (a) The teacher recruitment fund is established to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
    (b) The commission shall administer the fund.
    (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
    (d) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
    (e) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund but remains available to be used for purposes of this chapter during the next fiscal year.
    Sec. 11. (a) The money in the fund shall be used to provide annual cash payments to teachers who qualify under section 7(a) of this chapter.
    (b) The commission may authorize payments in accordance with rules adopted under this chapter.
    (c) The maximum amount that may be paid in a calendar year to an individual teacher is four thousand dollars ($4,000).
    (d) The total amount that may be paid in all calendar years that qualify for payments under this chapter to any one (1) individual teacher is twelve thousand dollars ($12,000).
    (e) If there is not enough money in the fund to pay all teachers who qualify for payments, the commission shall pay a pro rata amount of the requested payment for each applicant under rules adopted by the commission under this chapter.
    Sec. 12. The commission shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 that are consistent with this chapter and reasonably required for the conduct of the commission's responsibilities and duties under this chapter.
    Sec. 13. The commission may deny the payments available under this chapter to an applicant who:
        (1) is convicted of:
            (A) a felony; or
            (B) a crime involving moral turpitude; or
        (2) provides false or forged information to the commission in connection with an application to obtain payments.