Sec. 23.2. (a) Not later than October 1, 2021, the department shall issue a request for information in compliance with IC 5-23-4.5 for the purposes of exploring potential opportunities to improve the efficiency of noninstructional school services.
(b) The request for information must include questions related to the following:
(1) The governance structure of the entities managing the operations of the:
(A) school buildings; and
(B) transportation.
(2) The funding streams necessary to cover the cost of operating the:
(A) school buildings; and
(B) transportation.
(3) The strategies for addressing existing debt related to the:
(A) school buildings; and
(B) transportation.
(4) The optimal geographic groupings for the operation of the:
(A) school buildings; and
(B) transportation.
(5) The strategies that could limit the impact of any changes affecting current employees.
(c) The department shall set the deadline for submissions of responses to the request for information under this section, which may not be later than February 1, 2022.
(d) Subject to IC 5-23-4.5-3, the department shall prepare a report that includes:
(1) information regarding the responses to the request for information under this section, including a copy of a response to the request for information if the person who submitted the response waived confidentiality in writing;
(2) any recommendations by the department regarding the request for information or the responses to the request for information; and
(3) any other information that the department determines is relevant to the request for information.
(e) Not later than March 1, 2022, the department shall do the following:
(1) Provide, through the United States mail or by electronic means, to each governing body of a school corporation a copy of the report.
(2) Submit the report to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
(f) This section expires July 1, 2023.
As added by P.L.186-2021, SEC.1.