HB 1108-1_ Filed 03/14/2002, 18:47
Adopted 03/14/2002

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

DIGEST FOR EHB 1108



Citations Affected: IC 5-1.4-1-10 ; IC 20-10.1-30.

Synopsis: Charter school financing and diplomas for certain veterans. Conference committee report for EHB 1108. Establishes a method for honorably discharged veterans of World War I and World War II who did not receive high school diplomas because they joined the military before graduating to receive diplomas. (This conference committee report deletes provisions concerning the education report card and adds provisions concerning high school diplomas for veterans.)

Effective: Upon passage; ; July 1, 2002.



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Adopted Rejected


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CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

MR. SPEAKER:
    Your Conference Committee appointed to confer with a like committee from the Senate upon Engrossed Senate Amendments to Engrossed House Bill No. 1108 respectfully reports that said two committees have conferred and agreed as follows to wit:

    that the House recede from its dissent from all Senate amendments and that the House now concur in all Senate amendments to the bill and that the bill be further amended as follows:

    Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SOURCE: IC 5-1.4-1-10; (02)CC110805.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 5-1.4-1-10 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 10. "Qualified entity" means the following:
        (1) A city.
        (2) A county.
        (3) A special taxing district located wholly within a county.
        (4) Any entity whose tax levies are subject to review and modification by a city-county legislative body under IC 36-3-6-9.
        (5) A political subdivision (as defined in IC 36-1-2-13 ) that is located wholly within a county:
            (A) that has a population of:
                (i) more than four hundred thousand (400,000) but less than seven hundred thousand (700,000); or
                (ii) more than two hundred thousand (200,000) but less than three hundred thousand (300,000); or
            (B) containing a city that:
                (i) is described in section 5(3) of this chapter; and
                (ii) has a public improvement bond bank under this article.
        (6) A charter school established under IC 20-5.5 that is sponsored by the executive of a consolidated city.
        (7)
Any authority created under IC 36 that leases land or facilities to any qualified entity listed in subdivisions (1) through (5). (6).
SOURCE: IC 20-10.1-30; (02)CC110805.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 20-10.1-30 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002]:
     Chapter 30. High School Diploma Program for Eligible Veterans
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "department of veterans' affairs" refers to the Indiana department of veterans' affairs established by IC 10-5-1-3.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "diploma" refers to a high school diploma.
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible veteran" refers to an individual who has the following qualifications:
        (1) Served as a member of the armed forces of the United States at any time during at least one (1) of the following periods:
            (A) Beginning April 6, 1917, and ending November 11, 1918 (World War I).
            (B) Beginning December 7, 1941, and ending December 31, 1946 (World War II).
        (2) Before the military service described in subdivision (1):
            (A) attended public or nonpublic high school in Indiana; and
            (B) was a student in good standing at the high school described in clause (A), to the satisfaction of the department of veterans' affairs.
        (3) Did not graduate or receive a diploma because of leaving the high school described in subdivision (2) for the military service described in subdivision (1).
        (4) Was honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States.
    Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "program" applies to the high school diploma program for eligible veterans established by section 6 of this chapter.
    Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "school corporation" includes a successor school corporation serving the area where a high school that no longer exists was once located.
    Sec. 6. The high school diploma program for eligible veterans is established to provide for the issuance of high school diplomas to certain veterans.
    Sec. 7. The department and the department of veterans' affairs shall jointly design a form for the application for issuance of a diploma under the program. The application form shall require at least the following information about an eligible veteran:
        (1) Personal identification information.
        (2) Military service information, including a copy of the eligible veteran's honorable discharge.
        (3) High school information, including the following:
            (A) Name and address, including county, of the last high school attended.
            (B) Whether the high school was a public or nonpublic school.
            (C) Years attended.
            (D) Year of leaving high school to begin military service.
            (E) Year in which the veteran would have graduated if the veteran had not left high school to begin military service.
        (4) If the high school attended was a public school, whether the veteran prefers receiving a diploma issued by:
            (A) the board; or
            (B) the governing body of the school corporation governing the high school.
    Sec. 8. The department of veterans' affairs shall do the following for individuals that the department of veterans' affairs has reason to believe may be eligible to apply for a diploma under the program:
        (1) Give notice of the program.
        (2) Describe the application procedure.
        (3) Furnish an application form.
    Sec. 9. The following individuals may apply for the issuance of a diploma to an eligible veteran under the program:
        (1) An eligible veteran, including an eligible veteran who has received a general education development diploma or a similar diploma.
        (2) An individual who is:
            (A) the surviving spouse of; or
            (B) otherwise related to;
        an eligible veteran who is deceased.
    Sec. 10. An applicant for a diploma under the program must submit a completed application form to the department of veterans' affairs.
    Sec. 11. Upon receipt of an application, the department of veterans' affairs shall do the following:
        (1) Verify the accuracy of the information in the application, in consultation with the department, if necessary.
        (2) Forward the verified application to the department.
    Sec. 12. Upon receipt of a verified application, the department shall do the following:
        (1) If the applicant:
            (A) expresses a preference in the application to receive a diploma issued by the board; or
            (B) attended a nonpublic high school before leaving high school for military service;
        the department shall present a diploma issued by the board.
        (2) If the applicant expresses a preference for receiving a diploma from the governing body of the school corporation containing the public high school that the eligible veteran left for military service, the department shall direct the governing body of the affected school corporation to issue and present the diploma.
    Sec. 13. (a) The department and governing bodies are encouraged but are not required to hold a ceremony to present a

diploma that is issued under the program.
    (b) Upon request of a governing body, the department, in cooperation with the department of veterans' affairs, shall assist the governing body to develop a variety of formats for appropriate ceremonies at which to award diplomas under the program.
    Sec. 14. (a) The board shall design a unique commemorative diploma for the board to issue to eligible veterans who:
        (1) attended a public high school and express in the application a preference for receiving a diploma that the board issues; or
        (2) attended a nonpublic high school.
    (b) The board shall design a unique commemorative diploma that a governing body may choose to issue under the program.
    Sec. 15. (a) A governing body may design a unique commemorative diploma for the governing body to issue under the program.
    (b) A governing body that issues a diploma under the program shall issue one (1) of the following types of diplomas:
        (1) The diploma described in subsection (a).
        (2) The diploma designed by the board under section 14(b) of this chapter.
        (3) The same diploma that the governing body issues to current graduates.
    Sec. 16. The department and the department of veterans' affairs shall work cooperatively to jointly administer this chapter.
    Sec. 17. A fee may not be charged to process an application or to award a diploma under this chapter.
    Sec. 18. The department and the department of veterans' affairs may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter
.

SOURCE: ; (02)CC110805.3. -->     SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.
    (Reference is to EHB 1108 as printed February 15, 2002.)




Conference Committee Report

on

Engrossed House Bill 1108



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S

igned by:


    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Representative Porter Senator Lubbers
    Chairperson

    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Representative Hoffman Senator Breaux

    House Conferees    Senate Conferees


CC110805/DI 71
2002