2011 Legislative Efforts

Senate Bill 171 By Delph (click here to view the bill.)

History:

January 5, 2011 - Senate bill 0171 Authored by Senators Delph, Kruse and Schneider.

January 5, 2011 - First reading of bill.  Bill referred to the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development.

January 12, 2011 - Testimony taken in Senate Education Committee.

January 13, 2011 - Senator Mrvan added as coauthor of bill.

January 19, 2011 - Bill passed Senate Education Committee by vote of 6-3 with an amendment by Delph.  The following Senators voted yes: Kruse, Schneider, Buck, Leising, Mrvan and Yoder (Senator Yoder did say during the vote he was voting yes to keep the bill alive but felt the start date should be a bit earlier and hoped that would happen on the Senate Floor.) Senators Rogers, Skinner and Banks all voted no.

House Bill 1195 by Lehe & Neese
(click here to view the bill.)

2010 Legislative Session Summary

    The Indiana Senate passed SB 150 ,by a vote of 31-19, establishing a K-12 school start date of no earlier than the day after Labor Day.  The bill was sent late in the session to the     House of Representatives and failed to receive a hearing in the Education Committee. 
 
    Supporters of Save Indiana Summers were elated at the overwhelming support in the Senate and hope another year of educating legislators will produce more favorable support in the House and hopefully a bill more in line with our support of a start date no earlier than the fourth Monday in August. 
 
    We understand many like the post-Labor Day start date but feel it would limit school calendars and eliminate the flexibility of school administrators when drafting calendars that support the needs of the local community.  Establishing a threshold starting date of the fourth Monday in August provides 201 weekdays from the fourth Monday in August to May 31.  That’s plenty of time to schedule 180 days of student instruction and allow everyone to enjoy Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks and other traditional holidays as well.
 
We will continue to work to educate our elected officials and friends and neighbors and look forward to your suggestions, thoughts and help.

Indiana Senate Passes School Start Date Bill

Feb. 2, 2010 -- The Indiana Senate passed SB 150 establishing a post-Labor Day school start date around noon today!

Thank you to the hundreds of supporters who emailed their senators and made phone calls.  We were told by many senators hearing from constituents is what pushed them to support the bill.  This bill couldn't have passed without you all!

The bill passed the full senate with a vote of 31-19.  Click here to see which Senators supported our bill and who didn't.

I don't have information regarding the House Education Committee schedule for hearing the bill but will email you with that info the moment I receive it.  I will also forward a link to allow you to email all committee members within the next day or so.

Everyone said a group of parents couldn't pass this type of legislation, but look at us....we have passed the Senate and are on to the House!

January 27, 2010 -- Senate Education and Career Development Committee Passes School Start Date Bill 8-1.  Bill Moves to Full Senate for Consideration
 
The Senate Education and Career Development Committee today passed Senate Bill 150, relating to school start dates.  The bill is being sponsored by Senator Delph and co-sponsored by Senators Kruse, Schneider, Zachas, Young, Randolph, Hume.  The next stop for SB 150 is the full Senate.  Check back for updates.

Below is a listing of committee members and how they voted on the bill. 

Senator Dennis Kruse -- YES
District 14: Northeast Indiana – Steuben, DeKalb and Allen counties.
 
Senator Carlin Yoder  -- YES
District 12: Elkhart
 
Senator Jim Buck - YES
District 21: portions of Boone, Hamilton, Tipton and Howard Counties
 
Senator Randy Head -- YES
District 18: Counties Served: portions of Cass, Fulton, Kosciusko, Miami, Pulaski and Wabash Counties
 
Senator Luke Kenley -- ABSENT
District 20: Hamilton, Madison, Grant, Tipton
 
Senator Jean Leising -- YES
District 42: Decatur, Fayette, Rush, Shelby and a portion of Franklin County
 
Senator Earline Rogers -- NO
District 3: portions of Lake County
 
Senator Sue Errington -- YES
District 26: all of Delaware County except Van Buren Township and includes the city of Muncie
 
Senator Frank Mrvan -- ABSENT -
District 1: portions of Lake County.  District 1 communities include Hammond, Whiting, Munster, Highland, Dyer and Griffith
 
Senator Connie Sipes -- YES
District 46: portions of Clark and Floyd Counties
 
Senator Scott Schneider - YES
District 30: portions of Hamilton and Marion Counties
Senate Bill 150 proposes a post-Labor Day school start date.  The bill is being sponsored by the Senate Education Committee Chair, Dennis Kruse, Committee Member Scott Schneider and Senator Mike Delph.   
 
This year is a short session for the Indiana Legislature and all legislation must be passed by mid-March in order to be sent to the Governor to become law.   We have no time to waste, please email the committee today to express your support for the bill.

Thanks to the support of the American Camping Association we are able to offer our supporters the use of CapWiz to send emails to legislators.  Simply click on the following link and you can send an email to all committee members in less than one minute.  You can either create your own email, use the talking points provided to draft and email or send our sample email. The process is easy and effective!   http://www.capwiz.com/acacamps/issues/alert/?alertid=14521401

If you have questions or need help email me at info@SaveIndianaSummers.org.

Thank you.  Keep checking the website for updates and we will notify you of advocacy opportunities.
Tina Bruno
210-559-5277