THE RAATZ ROUNDUP
Submitted for use on Feb. 18, 2022
Word Count: 399
We have just finished week seven of the 2022 legislative session, and we only have three weeks remaining. Next week is the last week for bills to be heard in their respective committees, and if they are not heard, they will not move forward in the legislative process. Fortunately, two bills and one resolution that I sponsored have moved out of committee to be considered by the full Senate.
House Bill 1093 would require a school resource officer to undergo required training within a year of being appointed to their position. It would also require teachers to discuss testing results with parents at parent-teacher conferences or offer to discuss the results with parents in situations where the schools do not host parent-teacher conferences. This bill aims to ensure our schools have adequately trained officers protecting staff and students and guarantees parents have access to their child's teacher regarding test results.
House Bill 1094 would remove a barrier to Hoosier employers hiring high-school students for apprenticeships and internships. The bill requires the state government to partner with the private sector to offer worker's compensation and liability insurance coverage to businesses that hire students in work-based learning, since employers often say it's difficult to add students to their existing insurance plans.
House Joint Resolution 3 would remove the superintendent of public instruction, now secretary of education, from the gubernatorial line of succession. The superintendent of public instruction is sixth in line to take over as the governor of Indiana if the elected governor and lieutenant governor vacate their roles; however, this position was added to the line of succession when it was an elected position. Now, secretary of education is a governor-appointed position. Because it is no longer an elected position, I believe it is wise to remove the position from the line of succession to make sure that only an elected official can become governor.
These three pieces of legislation would make impactful changes in Indiana. I am glad to see them continuing in the legislative process, and I look forward to shepherding these through the Senate to hopefully become law.
For more information on my legislation or to watch the Senate session, visit iga.in.gov.
If you have any questions or concerns on these or other topics, feel free to contact me at Senator.Raatz@iga.in.gov or 317-233-0930.
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