HF 2030 (LSB 5674YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2030

BY  JONES and OSMUNDSON

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program within the department of education and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.20  Advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program.
   1.  The department shall develop and administer an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program to provide grants to teachers licensed by the board of educational examiners to offset the costs associated with obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners pursuant to section 256.146, subsection 21.
   2.  The department shall not provide more than twenty-five grants annually under this section unless surplus moneys are available.
   3.  The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section, including rules relating to grant application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria.
   4.  An advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program fund is established in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the department and shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and other moneys received by the department for deposit in the fund. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
    Sec. 2.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— ADVANCED DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For deposit in the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program fund established pursuant to section 256.20, if enacted:
   ...................................................................... $    335,000
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes the advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program within the department of education.
   The bill requires the department to develop and administer an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program to provide grants to teachers to offset the costs associated with obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners. The bill appropriates $335,000 from the general fund of the state to the department for FY 2024-2025 for purposes of the program.
   The bill prohibits the department from providing more than 25 grants annually under the program unless surplus moneys are available. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer the program. The bill establishes an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive grant program fund in the state treasury and appropriates moneys in the fund to the department for the program.