INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A state Senate committee has advanced a measure to exempt police departments at private colleges from following the same crime reporting requirements that Indiana public colleges must follow.

The Civil Law Committee voted 7-0 Monday to advance the measure supported by the University of Notre Dame and the 10 other private Indiana colleges with their own police departments.

The measure comes amid a court battle between ESPN and Notre Dame over the university’s refusal to release records about possible crimes involving student athletes. On Wednesday, a state appellate court will take up ESPN’s appeal of a lower court ruling in Notre Dame’s favor.

Hoosier State Press Association Director Steve Key says the bill would not require private colleges to report anything not already required under federal law.