Ind. Code ch. 20-20.5-22

Ind. Code ch. 20-20.5-22
in effect

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-1 "Local board"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "local board" refers to a: (1) local centralized school facilities board established under section 6(a) of this chapter; or (2) if applicable, local centralized school facilities and transportation board established under section 6(e) of this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-1.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-2 "Pilot program"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" means the centralized school facilities pilot program established by section 4 of this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-2.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-3 "School"

Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "school" means a: (1) charter school; or (2) nonpublic school with at least one (1) employee. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-3.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-4 Centralized school facilities pilot program established

Sec. 4. (a) The centralized school facilities pilot program is established to provide innovative approaches concerning the use, operation, and management of school facilities to promote: (1) enhanced learning environments; (2) unique learning opportunities; and (3) improved student academic and health outcomes; in accordance with the plan submitted to the general assembly by the secretary of education under IC 20-19-3-32 (before its repeal). (b) The pilot program is established for a three (3) year period consisting of the 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-4.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-5 Pilot program participation; application

Sec. 5. (a) A school corporation or school, in partnership with other school corporations, schools, or both other school corporations and schools, may apply to the department to participate in the pilot program. (b) The department: (1) may approve not more than a total of three (3) applications under this section to participate in the pilot program; and (2) shall establish the application process and criteria to participate in the pilot program. (c) The criteria established under subsection (b)(2) must require that school corporations and schools include information concerning the geographic boundaries of the area to which the application to participate in the pilot program applies. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-5.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-6 Local centralized school facilities board established; local board composition; local board requirements

Sec. 6. (a) Except as provided under subsection (e), not later than October 31, 2025, a local centralized school facilities board is established for participating school corporations and schools. (b) Each local board must be independent from any school corporation and school. (c) The local board consists of seven (7) members who: (1) are proportionately appointed as either representatives of participating school corporations, charter schools, or nonpublic schools described in section 3(2) of this chapter based on: (A) the total pupil enrollment of the participating school corporations; (B) the total pupil enrollment of participating charter schools; and (C) the total pupil enrollment of participating nonpublic schools; that are partnering under the pilot program; and (2) are members of the: (A) governing body of a participating school corporation; (B) charter school board of a participating charter school; or (C) equivalent of a governing body for a participating nonpublic school; described in subdivision (1). (d) Each local board must collaborate with individuals or entities that have expertise in the following: (1) Facility management, construction, or real estate. (2) Public finance or public debt issuance. (3) Demographic analysis and urban planning. (4) Organizational effectiveness, operations management, and implementing best practices. (5) Government contracts. (6) Budget development and oversight. (e) If a school corporation or school, in partnership with other school corporations, schools, or both other school corporations and schools, receives approval to participate in the: (1) pilot program; and (2) student transportation pilot program under IC 20-20.5-23; the school corporation or schools may elect to establish, not later than October 31, 2025, one (1) local centralized school facilities and transportation board consisting of the members described in subsection (c) that has the powers and duties and is subject to the requirements of a local centralized school facilities board under this chapter and local student transportation board under IC 20-20.5-23. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-6.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-7 Local board oversight and management of school facilities

Sec. 7. Notwithstanding any other state law or rule, each local board shall, during the pilot program, provide oversight and management of school facilities with a focus on best use and upkeep of assets funded by taxpayers. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-7.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-8 Local board; creation and implementation of pilot program plan; submission of pilot program plan to department

Sec. 8. (a) Each local board shall create and implement a pilot program plan that includes measures to: (1) determine the: (A) term lengths of the members; and (B) member replacement processes; for the local board; (2) conduct school facility assessments for all applicable school facilities; (3) establish a process for the transfer to and receipt of funds, as applicable, by the local board from the participating school corporations and schools; (4) accept and use donations, gifts, or bequests for the purposes of this chapter; (5) improve the health and safety of students and teachers; (6) allow for additional flexibility and creativity in terms of what is considered a school facility, including considerations surrounding colocation with other schools, governmental entities, or community organizations; (7) enter into revenue sharing agreements and asset use agreements for all school facilities within the geographic boundaries described in the application under section 5(c) of this chapter for the three (3) year period of the pilot program; (8) address any existing excess capacity in school facilities; (9) inspire opportunities for partnership with other governmental entities or local nonprofit organizations to transform school facilities into broader community assets for residents; (10) implement best practices in facilities management and operations; (11) track qualitative and quantitative data to gauge the success of the pilot program; (12) collect and report data in a manner prescribed by the department regarding school facilities included in the pilot program; and (13) implement a maintenance plan and contract with vendors, as needed, for the duration of the pilot program. (b) Not later than July 1, 2028, each local board shall develop and submit to the department an implementation plan that includes the following: (1) Whether at the conclusion of the pilot program the: (A) participating school corporations and schools, as applicable, elect to continue operating with a local board; and (B) local board established under section 6 of this chapter should be maintained or a new local board should be established. (2) If a new local board should be established, the following components: (A) The appointment of members to the new local board, including the appointing authority for the members. (B) The term lengths of the members. (C) The member replacement process. (3) A process to ensure that the powers and duties under this chapter are maintained by the local board or transferred to the new local board after completion of the pilot program. (4) The transfer of all assets and related funding regarding school facilities to the local board or new local board. (5) The development and implementation of a long term asset management and sustainability plan. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-8.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-9 Local board; powers and duties; recommendations

Sec. 9. Notwithstanding any other state law or rule, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each local board established under section 6 of this chapter: (1) shall exercise the full powers and duties provided under the pilot program plan created under section 8(a) of this chapter; and (2) shall make recommendations regarding property tax levies approved by the governing bodies of the applicable participating school corporations. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-9.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-10 Contracts

Sec. 10. Each local board may contract with outside individuals and entities to create and implement the pilot program plan described in section 8(a) of this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-10.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-11 Pilot program withdrawal

Sec. 11. Subject to any agreement entered into by a school corporation or school, a school corporation or school may at any time opt out of participating in the pilot program if the school corporation or school provides notice to all school corporations and schools that the school corporation or school partnered with under this chapter at least one (1) year before the school corporation or school intends to terminate the partnership and its participation under this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-11.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-12 Department of local government finance; report to legislative council

Sec. 12. Not later than November 1, 2027, the department of local government finance, in consultation with the department, shall do the following: (1) Prepare a report that includes recommendations regarding legislation and procedures to transfer the duties and powers of a participating school corporation to a local board or new local board as described in section 8(b) of this chapter. (2) Submit the report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-12.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-13 Department of education; report to legislative council

Sec. 13. Not later than November 1, 2028, the department shall do the following: (1) Prepare a report that includes the following: (A) A summary regarding the: (i) school corporations and schools participating in the pilot program; (ii) implementation of the pilot program by each local board; (iii) results and outcomes regarding the pilot program; and (iv) implementation plans submitted by the local boards under section 8(b) of this chapter. (B) Any recommendations regarding: (i) legislation or procedures to further carry out the purposes of this chapter and an implementation plan submitted under section 8(b) of this chapter; and (ii) whether to extend the pilot program to additional applicants. (C) A plan to adopt best practices from the pilot program statewide. (2) Submit the report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-13.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-14 Department waiver of state law or rule

Sec. 14. The department shall waive any state law or rule requirement necessary to exempt participating school corporations and schools from requirements for purposes of participation in the pilot program under this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-14.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-15 Liberal construction

Sec. 15. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes of this chapter. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-15.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.

Ind. Code § 20-20.5-22-16 Conflicting laws

Sec. 16. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, to the extent the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any other general, special, or local law, the provisions of this chapter are controlling, and compliance with this chapter shall be treated as compliance with the conflicting law. [Pre-2026 Revision Citation: 20-20-52-16.] As added by P.L.74-2026, SEC.37.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026

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