Ind. Code ch. 21-18-17.5

Ind. Code ch. 21-18-17.5
in effect

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-1 "Pilot program"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" means the education and career support services pilot program established by the commission under section 2 of this chapter. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-2 Establishment of pilot program

Sec. 2. The commission may establish an education and career support services pilot program to provide career and support services to adult students of state educational institutions. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-3 Participation in pilot program; selection of state educational institutions

Sec. 3. (a) A state educational institution may apply to the commission to participate in the pilot program. (b) The commission may select three (3) state educational institution campuses that are, to the extent possible, geographically located in Indiana as follows: (1) One (1) located in the northern one-third (1/3) of Indiana. (2) One (1) located in the central one-third (1/3) of Indiana. (3) One (1) located in the southern one-third (1/3) of Indiana. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-4 Education and career support services grant

Sec. 4. (a) The commission may provide an education and career support services grant each academic year, in an amount determined by the commission, to each state educational institution selected under section 3 of this chapter to implement and maintain the pilot program on the applicable campus of the state educational institution. (b) A state educational institution awarded an education and career support services grant under this section may use the grant only for the following: (1) The cost of employing education and career support coaches. (2) Awarding education partnership grants to an adult student who meets the requirements under section 5(b) of this chapter. (3) Costs associated with administering the pilot program. (4) Any other support services or costs with regard to an adult student that are approved by the commission. However, a grant awarded to a state educational institution under this section may not be used for tuition costs. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-5 Duties of participating state educational institutions

Sec. 5. (a) A state educational institution selected to participate in the pilot program shall do the following: (1) Select adult students who meet the requirements under subsection (b) to participate in the pilot program. (2) Employ education and career support coaches to advise, counsel, and provide information to adult students participating in the pilot program regarding: (A) local and statewide employment opportunities; (B) qualifications, credentials, certifications, or degrees required for the employment opportunities described in clause (A); (C) available transportation services, child care services, and housing; (D) state and federal programs that provide financial support and other services; (E) eligibility criteria for the programs described in clause (D); and (F) education partnership grants available under the pilot program for the services and housing described in clause (C) and any other support services or costs approved by the commission under section 4 of this chapter. (3) Establish eligibility criteria and award education partnership grants to an adult student who participates in the pilot program for costs associated with: (A) transportation services, child care services, and housing; and (B) any other support services or costs approved by the commission under section 4 of this chapter. (4) Determine the amount of an education partnership grant awarded under subsection (b). (5) Meet any other requirements to participate in the pilot program as established by the commission. (b) A state educational institution may select an adult student to participate in the pilot program if the adult student: (1) is completing: (A) an associate or bachelor's degree; or (B) a technical certificate; at a state educational institution campus selected under section 3 of this chapter; (2) is a member of a household with an annual income that does not exceed two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level; and (3) meets any other criteria established by the commission. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.9-2024, SEC.430.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-6 Use of grants

Sec. 6. The commission may pursue grants, from any available sources, to be used for the purpose of providing funds to state educational institutions to implement the pilot program under this chapter. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-7 Report to the commission; contents of report

Sec. 7. Not later than July 1, 2024, and not later than July 1 each year thereafter, each state educational institution that participates in the pilot program shall prepare and submit to the commission a report that includes the following information regarding the state educational institution: (1) The total number of education and career support coaches employed by the state educational institution during the academic year. (2) The total number of adult students who participated in the pilot program and the demographics of the adult students during the academic year. (3) The number and amount of each education partnership grant awarded during the academic year to adult students by the state educational institution under the pilot program and whether the grant was used for costs for: (A) transportation; (B) child care; (C) housing; (D) any other support services or costs approved by the commission under section 4 of this chapter; or (E) any of the items listed in clauses (A) through (D) for which the grant funds were awarded. (4) A list of the credentials, certifications, or degrees that adult students participating in the pilot program are pursuing. (5) The number of adult students who completed a credential, certification, or degree described in subdivision (4). (6) The total amount of the education and career support services grant that the state educational institution used for each of the following: (A) The cost of employing education and career support coaches. (B) Awarding education partnership grants under the pilot program. (C) The costs associated with administering the pilot program. (7) Any recommendations regarding expanding or improving the pilot program. (8) Any other information required by the commission. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.9-2024, SEC.431.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-8 Report to governor and legislative council; recommendations

Sec. 8. (a) The commission shall annually prepare a report that includes the following information: (1) A summary of the information submitted by each state educational institution under section 7 of this chapter. (2) Recommendations regarding expanding or improving the pilot program, including recommendations for expanding the pilot program to every state educational institution campus. (b) Not later than November 1, 2024, and not later than November 1 each year thereafter, the commission shall submit the report to the: (1) governor; and (2) legislative council; in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-17.5-9 Rules

Sec. 9. The commission may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter. As added by P.L.216-2023, SEC.1.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/21Fetched: 10/17/2026