This week, City-County Observer is looking at the bills introduced by local lawmakers. Here are the bills authored by Vaneta Becker.
Senate Bill 30 Adult-sized changing tables.
Co-Authored by: Sen. James Buck,
Requires the Indiana department of transportation to, not later than June 30, 2027, install and provide access to an adult-sized changing table in each safety rest area.
Senate Bill 34 Literacy endorsement.
Co-Authored by: Sen. Jean Leising, Sen. Susan Glick,
Provides that the department of education may not renew a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license issued to an individual unless the individual receives a literacy endorsement by completing 40 (instead of 80) hours of evidence based professional development. Removes written examination requirements to receive a literacy endorsement for individuals renewing a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license. Provides that the state board of education may not require certain individuals to take or pass a written examination to be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement.
Senate Bill 35 School curriculum.
Co-Authored by: Sen. Jean Leising, Sen. Susan Glick,
Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include print handwriting, cursive handwriting, and spelling in its curriculum.
Senate Bill 36 School counselors.
Co-Authored by: Sen. Jean Leising, Sen. Susan Glick,
Provides that, for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, a school shall ensure that at least 60% of a school counselor’s aggregate time performing the counselor’s job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school shall ensure that at least 80% of a school counselor’s aggregate time performing the counselor’s job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Exempts schools that have a school counselor/student ratio that is not more than one school counselor to 350 students from the school counselor time requirement provisions.
Senate Bill 96 Pharmacist administration of immunizations.
Authored by: Sen. Vaneta Becker.
Co-Authored by: Sen. Michael Young.
Allows a pharmacist to administer an immunization that is recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to a group of individuals under a drug order, under a prescription, or according to a protocol approved by a physician if certain conditions are met. (Current law allows a pharmacist to administer specified immunizations to a group of individuals under a drug order, under a prescription, or according to a protocol approved by a physician if certain conditions are met.)
Senate Bill 144 Political subdivision retirement plans.
Authored by: Sen. Vaneta Becker, Sen. James Tomes.
Requires a political subdivision offering an employee retirement plan to make an annual presentation regarding the employee retirement plan to the county council of each county in which the political subdivision is wholly or partially located.
Senate Bill 164 Licensed professional music therapists.
Authored by: Sen. Vaneta Becker.
Provides for the licensure of professional music therapists by the medical licensing board. Establishes a music therapy advisory council to advise the medical licensing board. Establishes requirements and procedures for an individual to be licensed as a professional music therapist. Prohibits a person who is not licensed as a music therapist from using certain titles or certain words in a title.
Senate Bill 203 Audit of state agencies.
Authored by: Sen. James Tomes, Sen. Vaneta Becker, Sen. Dan Dernulc.
Requires the legislative council to oversee the audit, by an independent public accounting firm, of all accounts, financial affairs, and compliance related matters of all state agencies. Requires the legislative council to direct the legislative services agency to issue requests for proposals for an independent public accounting firm or firms, as necessary, to audit the state agencies. Requires the legislative council to determine which and how many state agencies will be audited each year. Requires the legislative council to provide notice to a state agency that will be subject to audit 30 days prior to the audit. Provides that the legislative council may not authorize a subsequent audit of a state agency until all state agencies have been audited at least once. Provides that when all of the state agencies have been audited at least once, the legislative council may determine which and how many agencies will be audited annually for each calendar year thereafter on a random basis. Provides that the legislative council may authorize a subsequent audit of a state agency that the legislative council determines to be high risk. Requires the legislative council to determine the scope of an audit during the request for proposal process. Lists the state agencies that are subject to audit. Requires the legislative council to publish the results of the audit of each state agency on the general assembly’s website.