SB 248

                                                         Introduced Version
           SENATE BILL No. 248
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-23.
Synopsis: South Bend Community school corporation. Provides that
members of the governing body for the South Bend Community school
corporation (school corporation) serving on June 30, 2026, shall
become on July 1, 2026, an advisory board to the governing body for
the school corporation. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, members
of the governing body for the school corporation shall be appointed by
the secretary of education following a nomination process. Establishes
a commission to nominate individuals for the governing body.
Effective: Upon passage.
   Rogers, Raatz, Mishler, Donato
   January 8, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
2026  IN 248—LS 6981/DI 152
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 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.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   SENATE BILL No. 248
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 education.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 20-23-8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.184-2023,
2 SECTION 31, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "school
4 corporation" means a local public school corporation established under
5 the laws of Indiana. The term does not include a school corporation
6 covered by IC 20-23-12.1, IC 20-23-17, or IC 20-23-17.2, or
7 IC 20-23-20.
8    SECTION 2. IC 20-23-15-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
9 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
10 [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 0.5. This chapter does not
11 apply to the South Bend Community school corporation after June
12 30, 2026. A member elected to the South Bend Community school
13 corporation pursuant to this chapter before June 30, 2026, shall
14 serve as a member of the South Bend Community school
15 corporation advisory board pursuant to IC 20-23-20-5 until the
16 member's term expires or until the member's term terminates
17 under IC 20-23-20-6.
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1    SECTION 3. IC 20-23-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 UPON PASSAGE]:
4    Chapter 20. Appointment of Governing Body Members in South
5 Bend
6    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" means the
7 governing body nominating commission established by section 7 of
8 this chapter.
9    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fiscal body" has the meaning set
10 forth in IC 36-1-2-6.
11    Sec. 3. IC 20-23-8 does not apply to the South Bend Community
12 school corporation or the governing body of the South Bend
13 Community school corporation.
14    Sec. 4. (a) Beginning July 1, 2026, the governing body of the
15 South Bend Community school corporation consists of seven (7)
16 members appointed by the secretary of education from a list of
17 individuals nominated under section 9 of this chapter.
18    (b) An individual appointed under this section serves a four (4)
19 year term.
20    (c) A member of the governing body serves at the pleasure of the
21 appointing authority.
22    (d) A member of the governing body may be reappointed to
23 successive terms.
24    Sec. 5. The governing body serving on June 30, 2026, shall
25 become on July 1, 2026, an advisory board to the governing body
26 described in section 4 of this chapter. The members of the
27 governing body serving on June 30, 2026, shall on July 1, 2026,
28 become the members of the advisory board. Each member shall
29 serve on the advisory board until the term for which the member
30 was elected before July 1, 2026, expires or until the term
31 terminates under section 6 of this chapter. When the terms of all
32 members of the advisory board have expired, or terminated under
33 section 6 of this chapter, the advisory board is abolished. The
34 advisory board shall not possess any of the power and duties of the
35 governing body. A member of the advisory board may receive
36 compensation for serving on the advisory board.
37    Sec. 6. (a) If an individual seeks a nomination for appointment
38 by the secretary of education to one (1) of the positions of the
39 governing body described in section 4 of this chapter, the following
40 apply:
41(1) An individual seeking a nomination for appointment by
42the secretary of education to the governing body shall submit
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1      a resume to the commission at a time and in a manner
2      determined by the commission.
3      (2) An individual described in this subsection must reside
4      within the boundaries of St. Joseph County.
5    (b) A member of the advisory board described in section 5 of
6 this chapter may seek a nomination for appointment under
7 subsection (a). However, an advisory board member's term shall
8 immediately terminate upon seeking a nomination for
9 appointment.
10    Sec. 7. (a) There is established a governing body nominating
11 commission.
12    (b) The fiscal body shall provide all facilities, equipment,
13 supplies, and services necessary for the administration of the duties
14 imposed upon the commission. The members of the commission
15 shall serve without compensation. However, the fiscal body shall
16 reimburse members of the commission for their actual expenses
17 incurred in performing their duties.
18    Sec. 8. (a) The commission consists of the following nine (9)
19 members:
20      (1) One (1) member appointed by the mayor of South Bend,
21      who resides within the boundaries of the South Bend
22      Community school corporation.
23      (2) One (1) member appointed by the St. Joseph County board
24      of commissioners.
25      (3) One (1) member appointed by the South Bend Education
26      Alliance who resides within the boundaries of the South Bend
27      Community school corporation.
28      (4) One (1) member appointed by the Community Foundation
29      of St. Joseph County.
30      (5) One (1) member of the Ivy Tech Community College state
31      board of trustees appointed by the Ivy Tech Community
32      College state board of trustees.
33      (6) One (1) member appointed by the South Bend Regional
34      Chamber of Commerce, who resides within the boundaries of
35      the South Bend Community school corporation.
36      (7) One (1) member appointed by the South Bend-Elkhart
37      Regional Partnership, who resides within the boundaries of
38      the South Bend Community school corporation.
39      (8) One (1) member appointed by the Home Builders
40      Association of St. Joseph Valley, who resides within the
41      boundaries of the South Bend Community school corporation.
42      (9) One (1) member appointed by the South Bend Area
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1Realtors Association, who resides within the boundaries of the
2South Bend Community school corporation.
3     (b) A majority of the members appointed to the commission
4 constitutes a quorum.
5     (c) The members of the commission must reside within Indiana.
6     (d) The individual appointed under subsection (a)(6) shall serve
7 as the chairperson of the commission.
8     (e) All appointments to the commission shall be made not later
9 than April 1, 2026. This subsection expires January 1, 2027.
10     Sec. 9. The commission shall:
11(1) meet at the call of the chairperson to consider the resumes
12submitted under section 6 of this chapter;
13(2) interview individuals for nomination at the commission's
14discretion;
15(3) nominate at least ten (10) candidates for consideration for
16appointment under section 4 of this chapter; and
17(4) submit the names of the individuals nominated under
18subdivision (3) to the secretary of education for consideration
19for appointment under section 4 of this chapter not later than
20June 1, 2026, and before June 1 of each year thereafter in
21which the term of an individual described in section 4 of this
22chapter expires.
23     Sec. 10. (a) A vacancy in the office of a member of the governing
24 body shall be filled as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs
25 in the same manner by the appointing authority. The commission
26 shall nominate at least three (3) individuals per vacancy to the
27 secretary of education for consideration for appointment. An
28 individual filling a vacancy under this subsection serves until the
29 expiration of the term of the member whose position the individual
30 fills.
31     (b) A vacancy in the office of a member of the commission shall
32 be filled in the same manner by the appointing authority that
33 appointed the member whose office is vacant.
34     SECTION 4. An emergency is declared for this act.
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