Text: SF00410 Text: SF00412 Text: SF00400 - SF00499 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 260G.1 TITLE. 1 2 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 1 3 "Accelerated Career Education Program Act". 1 4 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 260G.2 DEFINITIONS. 1 5 When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 1 6 requires: 1 7 1. "Accelerated career education program" means the a 1 8 program established pursuant to section 260G.3. 1 9 2. "Agreement" means a program agreement referred to in 1 10 section 260G.3 between an employer and a community college. 1 11 3. "Board of directors" means the board of directors of a 1 12 community college. 1 13 4. "Community college" means a community college 1 14 established under chapter 260C or a consortium of two or more 1 15 community colleges. 1 16 5. "Employee" means a person employed in a program job. 1 17 6. "Employer" means a business or consortium of businesses 1 18 engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose 1 19 of manufacturing, processing, or assembling products, 1 20 construction, conducting research and development, or 1 21 providing services in interstate or intrastate commerce, but 1 22 excludes retail services. 1 23 7. "Highly skilled job" means a job with a broadly based, 1 24 high performance skill profile including advanced computation 1 25 and communication skills, technology skills, and workplace 1 26 behavior skills, and for which an applied technical education 1 27 is required. 1 28 8. "Participant" means an individual who is enrolled in an 1 29 accelerated career education program at a community college. 1 30 9. "Participant position" means the individual student 1 31 enrollment position available in an accelerated career 1 32 education program. 1 33 10. "Program capital costs" includes, but is not limited 1 34 to, costs related to any or all of the following: 1 35 a. Classroom and laboratory renovation. 2 1 b. New classroom and laboratory construction. 2 2 c. Site acquisition or preparation. 2 3 d. Instructional equipment and technology. 2 4 11. "Program costs" means all necessary and incidental 2 5 costs of providing program services. 2 6 12. "Program job" means a highly skilled job available 2 7 from an employer pursuant to a program agreement. 2 8 13. "Program job credit" means the credit as provided in 2 9 section 260G.5. 2 10 14. "Program job position" means a job position which is 2 11 planned or available for an employee by the employer pursuant 2 12 to a program agreement. 2 13 15. "Program services" includes, but is not limited to, 2 14 all of the following provided they are pursuant to a program 2 15 agreement: 2 16 a. Program needs assessment and development. 2 17 b. Job task analysis. 2 18 c. Curriculum development and revision. 2 19 d. Instruction. 2 20 e. Instructional materials and supplies. 2 21 f. Computer software and upgrades. 2 22 g. Instructional support. 2 23 h. Administrative and student services. 2 24 i. Related school to career training programs. 2 25 j. Skill assessment services and testing. 2 26 k. Contracted services. 2 27 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 260G.3 PROGRAM AGREEMENTS. 2 28 1. A community college may enter into an agreement with an 2 29 employer in the community college's merged area to establish 2 30 an accelerated career education program. The program shall be 2 31 developed by an employer, a community college, and any 2 32 employee of an employer who represents a program job. If a 2 33 bargaining agreement is in place, a representative of the 2 34 employee bargaining unit shall also take part in the 2 35 development of the program. 3 1 2. An agreement may include reasonable and necessary 3 2 provisions to implement the accelerated career education 3 3 program. If an agreement is entered into, the community 3 4 college and the employer shall notify the department of 3 5 revenue and finance as soon as possible. The community 3 6 college shall also file a copy of the agreement with the 3 7 department of economic development as required in section 3 8 260G.6. The agreement shall provide for program costs, 3 9 including deferred costs, which may be paid from any of the 3 10 following sources: 3 11 a. Program job credits which the employer receives based 3 12 on the number of program job positions agreed to by the 3 13 employer to be available under an agreement. 3 14 b. Cash or in-kind contributions by the employer toward 3 15 the program cost. At a minimum, the employer contribution 3 16 shall be twenty percent of the program costs. 3 17 c. Tuition, student fees, or special charges fixed by the 3 18 board of directors to defray program costs. 3 19 d. Guarantee by the employer of payments to be received 3 20 under paragraphs "a" and "b". 3 21 3. An agreement shall include a provision which specifies 3 22 the type and amount of funding sources which shall be used to 3 23 pay for program costs. 3 24 4. An agreement shall describe program services and 3 25 schedules for implementation. 3 26 5. The term of an agreement shall not exceed five years 3 27 from the date of the agreement. However, the agreement may be 3 28 renewed. 3 29 6. As part of the agreement, the employer shall agree to 3 30 interview graduating participants for full-time positions with 3 31 the employer and to provide future hiring preferences to 3 32 graduates of the accelerated career education program provided 3 33 for in the agreement. 3 34 7. As part of an agreement, if an employer has more than 3 35 four sponsored participants in the program, the employer shall 4 1 agree to offer a program job position of full-time employment 4 2 to at least twenty-five percent of those participants who 4 3 successfully complete the program. 4 4 8. An agreement shall provide for a wage level of no less 4 5 than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level for a 4 6 family of two as defined by the most recently revised poverty 4 7 income guidelines as published by the United States department 4 8 of health and human services at the time the agreement is 4 9 entered into. 4 10 9. An agreement shall allow an employer to decline to 4 11 satisfy any provisions in the agreement relating to 4 12 subsections 6 and 7 if an employer experiences an economic 4 13 downturn. For purposes of this subsection, "economic 4 14 downturn" may include a layoff of existing employees, reduced 4 15 employment levels, increased inventories, or reduced sales, if 4 16 specified in the agreement. 4 17 10. Participants shall agree to interview with the 4 18 employer following completion of the accelerated career 4 19 education program. 4 20 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 260G.4 PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND 4 21 DESIGNATION. 4 22 1. Any of the following community college programs are 4 23 eligible for designation and approval as an accelerated career 4 24 education program by the board of directors: 4 25 a. A credit career, vocational, or technical education 4 26 program resulting in the conferring of a certificate, diploma, 4 27 associate of science degree, or associate of applied science 4 28 degree, which increases program capacity to enroll added 4 29 participants. 4 30 b. A credit equivalent career, vocational, or technical 4 31 educational program consisting of not less than five hundred 4 32 forty contact hours of classroom and laboratory instruction 4 33 and resulting in the conferring of a certificate or other 4 34 recognized, competency-based credential, which increases 4 35 program capacity to enroll added participants. 5 1 2. Program costs shall be calculated or recalculated on an 5 2 annual basis based on the required program services and for a 5 3 specific number of participant positions. 5 4 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 260G.5 PROGRAM JOB CREDITS FROM 5 5 WITHHOLDING. 5 6 In order to develop and retain program jobs within the 5 7 state, an agreement entered into under section 260G.3 may 5 8 include a provision for program job credits based on program 5 9 jobs identified in the agreement. If a program provides that 5 10 part of the program costs are to be met by receipt of program 5 11 job credits, the method to be used shall be as follows: 5 12 1. Program job credits shall be based upon the program job 5 13 positions identified and agreed to in the agreement. 5 14 2. Eligibility for program job credits shall be based on 5 15 certification of program job positions and program job wages 5 16 by the employer at the time established in the agreement. An 5 17 amount up to twelve percent of the gross program job wage as 5 18 certified by the employer in the agreement shall be credited 5 19 from the total payment made by an employer pursuant to section 5 20 422.16. The employer shall receive a credit against all 5 21 withholding taxes due by the employer regardless of whether or 5 22 not the withholding by the employer of current program job 5 23 wages is less than twelve percent. The employer shall remit 5 24 the amount of the credit quarterly in the same manner as 5 25 withholding payments are reported to the department of revenue 5 26 and finance, to the community college to be allocated to and 5 27 when collected paid into a special fund of the community 5 28 college to pay, in part, the program costs. When the program 5 29 costs have been paid, the employer credits shall cease and any 5 30 moneys received after the program costs have been paid shall 5 31 be remitted to the treasurer of state to be deposited in the 5 32 general fund of the state. 5 33 3. The employer shall certify to the department of revenue 5 34 and finance that the program job credit is in accordance with 5 35 the agreement and shall provide other information the 6 1 department may require. 6 2 4. A community college shall certify to the department of 6 3 revenue and finance that the amount of the program job credit 6 4 is in accordance with an agreement and shall provide other 6 5 information the department may require. 6 6 5. Employees from an employer participating in an 6 7 agreement shall receive full credit for the amount withheld as 6 8 provided in section 422.16. 6 9 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 260G.6 MAXIMUM STATEWIDE PROGRAM 6 10 JOB CREDIT. 6 11 The total amount of program job credits from all employers 6 12 which shall be allocated for all accelerated career education 6 13 programs in the state in any one fiscal year shall not exceed 6 14 the sum of thirty-three million dollars. A community college 6 15 shall file a copy of each agreement with the department of 6 16 economic development. The department shall maintain an annual 6 17 record of the proposed program job credits under each 6 18 agreement for each fiscal year. Upon receiving a copy of an 6 19 agreement, the department shall allocate any available amount 6 20 of program job credits to the community college according to 6 21 the agreement sufficient for the fiscal year and for the term 6 22 of the agreement. When the total available program job 6 23 credits are allocated for a fiscal year, the department shall 6 24 notify all community colleges that the maximum amount has been 6 25 allocated and that further program job credits will not be 6 26 available for the remainder of the fiscal year. Once program 6 27 job credits have been allocated to a community college, the 6 28 full allocation shall be received by the community college 6 29 throughout the fiscal year and for the term of the agreement 6 30 even if the statewide program job credit maximum amount is 6 31 subsequently allocated and used. 6 32 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 260G.7 FACILITATOR. 6 33 The department of economic development shall administer the 6 34 statewide allocations of program job credits to accelerated 6 35 career education programs. The department shall collect data 7 1 related to the programs and prepare an annual report regarding 7 2 the activities of the programs during the previous fiscal 7 3 year. The report shall be submitted to the governor and the 7 4 general assembly by December 31 of each year. 7 5 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION. 260G.8 CUSTOMER TRACKING SYSTEM. 7 6 All participants in an accelerated career education program 7 7 shall be included in the customer tracking system implemented 7 8 by the department of workforce development pursuant to section 7 9 84A.5 following program completion. 7 10 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION. 260G.9 PROGRAM CAPITAL FUNDS 7 11 ALLOCATION. 7 12 If moneys are appropriated by the general assembly to 7 13 support program capital costs, the moneys shall be allocated 7 14 on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to receive such 7 15 moneys a program agreement approved by the community college 7 16 board of directors must be in place, program capital cost 7 17 requests shall be approved by the Iowa economic development 7 18 board created in section 15.103, program capital cost requests 7 19 shall be approved or denied not later than sixty days 7 20 following receipt of the request by the department, and 7 21 employer contributions toward program capital costs shall be 7 22 certified and agreed to in the agreement. 7 23 EXPLANATION 7 24 This bill provides that a community college may enter into 7 25 an agreement with certain employers in the community college's 7 26 merged area to establish an accelerated career education 7 27 program. The bill provides that the program shall be 7 28 developed by an employer, a community college, and any 7 29 employee of an employer who represents a program job, and if a 7 30 bargaining agreement is in place, a representative of the 7 31 employee bargaining unit. 7 32 The bill provides that certain types of community college 7 33 programs are eligible for designation as an accelerated career 7 34 education program. The bill provides that, after entering the 7 35 agreement, the department of revenue and finance and the 8 1 department of economic development shall be notified of the 8 2 agreement. 8 3 The bill provides that the agreement shall specify the type 8 4 and amount of funding sources which will be used to pay for 8 5 the program costs. The bill provides that possible funding 8 6 sources include tax credits from withholding, cash or in-kind 8 7 contributions by the employer, and tuition, fees, or special 8 8 charges fixed by the community college. 8 9 The bill provides that as part of the agreement, the 8 10 employer shall agree to interview graduating participants in 8 11 the program and provide future hiring preferences. The bill 8 12 provides that as part of an agreement, if an employer has more 8 13 than four sponsored participants in the program, the employer 8 14 shall agree to offer a program job position to at least 25 8 15 percent of those participants who successfully complete the 8 16 program. The bill provides that an agreement may allow for an 8 17 employer to decline to satisfy job guarantee provisions of the 8 18 bill if the employer experiences an economic downturn. The 8 19 bill provides that an agreement shall provide for a wage level 8 20 of no less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a 8 21 family of two. The bill provides that participants in the 8 22 program shall agree to interview with the employer. 8 23 The bill provides that the method for using the tax credit 8 24 from withholding, which is one option for paying for the 8 25 program costs. The bill provides that an amount up to 12 8 26 percent of the gross wages of the program jobs in an agreement 8 27 shall be credited from the total payment made by the employer. 8 28 The credit shall be against all withholding taxes due by the 8 29 employer. The bill provides that the employer and community 8 30 college must make certain certifications to the department of 8 31 revenue and finance regarding how the credits are in 8 32 accordance with the program agreement. 8 33 The bill provides that the total amount of tax credits from 8 34 withholding which shall be allocated for statewide accelerated 8 35 career education programs in any one fiscal year shall not 9 1 exceed $33 million. The bill provides that the department of 9 2 economic development shall maintain an annual record of tax 9 3 credits allocated and shall allocate any available credits to 9 4 community colleges in accordance with any agreements. The 9 5 bill provides that once the maximum statewide amount has been 9 6 allocated, the department shall notify all community colleges 9 7 in the state of this fact and that further credits will not be 9 8 allocated during the fiscal year. 9 9 The bill provides that the department of economic 9 10 development shall collect data related to the programs and 9 11 prepare an annual report regarding the activities of the 9 12 programs for submission to the governor and the general 9 13 assembly. The bill provides that participants in the programs 9 14 shall be included in the customer tracking system implemented 9 15 by the department of workforce development. 9 16 The bill provides a method of allocation of moneys 9 17 appropriated by the general assembly for program capital 9 18 costs. The bill provides that the funding shall be on a 9 19 first-come, first-served basis, that a program agreement must 9 20 be in place, that the program capital cost requests must be 9 21 approved by the Iowa economic development board within 60 days 9 22 of the receipt of the request, and that employer contributions 9 23 toward program capital costs shall be certified and agreed to 9 24 in the agreement. 9 25 LSB 1816SV 78 9 26 tm/cf/24
Text: SF00410 Text: SF00412 Text: SF00400 - SF00499 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Wed Jan 12 05:55:00 CST 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Legislation/SF/00400/SF00411/990311.html
jhf