Senate panel to again take up bill to appoint schools chief

An Indiana Senate committee is set to consider a measure that makes the state superintendent of public instruction a person appointed by the governor instead of elected by voters, despite a similar proposal's 26-23 defeat in the Senate earlier this session.

A chamber rule says 26 or more no votes means that exact or "substantially similar" language cannot be considered again in the same session. But GOP Senate leader David Long said substantial amendments to the House's version could allow the full Senate to take it up again.

The Senate bill, written by Sn. James Buck, R-Kokomo, was shot down Feb. 20 after 17 Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the measure. The vote came shortly before the House approved the similar Republican-sponsored bill on a 68-29 vote.

House Speaker Brian Bosma said possible changes include altering the date of implementation and adding a residency or licensing requirement. He added none of those potential provisions are his "favorite" ideas, saying he liked the way it passed the House.

Changes are expected to be considered Monday in a legislative panel.

For decades, both Republicans and Democrats have undertaken efforts to change state law so that the superintendent would be selected by appointment, lawmakers say. But each time those efforts have been defeated.

Opponents say the proposal isn't democratic because it takes choice away from voters. Proponents say Indiana is one of only 13 states to elect the leader of the state Department of Education.