256.230  Iowa workforce grant and incentive program.
  1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
  a.  “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
  b.  “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents.
  c.  “Eligible program” means any of the following:
  (1)  A program of study or an academic major jointly approved by the workforce development board and the state board of regents pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 17. If a job is removed from the list created under section 84A.1B, subsection 17, an eligible student who received a grant for a program based on that job shall continue to receive the grant until the eligible program is completed as long as the student continuously enrolls and continues to meet all other eligibility requirements.
  (2)  A teacher preparation program that leads to a bachelor’s degree, or initial or intern teaching license issued under this chapter.
  d.  “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who has established financial need and who meets all of the following requirements:
  (1)  Completes and submits application forms required by the commission, including the free application for federal student aid, by the deadline prescribed by the commission.
  (2)  Enrolls in at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, in an eligible program.
  (3)  Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution.
  e.  “Financial need” means the difference between the student’s financial resources available, including those available from the student’s parents as determined by a completed parents’ confidential statement, and the student’s anticipated expenses while attending an eligible institution.
  f.  “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
  g.  “Part-time” means enrollment in at least three semester hours or the equivalent but less than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
  2.  Student eligibility.  An eligible institution shall report promptly to the commission information requested to establish or verify student eligibility.
  3.  Grant limitations — requirements.
  a.  A full-time eligible student may receive an Iowa workforce grant for not more than four semesters, or the equivalent, or until the eligible student completes the eligible program, whichever occurs first. A part-time eligible student may receive the grant for not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated basis, or until the eligible student completes the eligible program, whichever occurs first.
  b.  The amount of an Iowa workforce grant to a full-time eligible student shall not exceed two thousand dollars per semester, or the equivalent. The amount of an Iowa workforce grant to a part-time eligible student shall be equal to the amount that would be awarded to a full-time student except that the commission shall prorate the amount based on the recipient student’s semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
  c.  An Iowa workforce grant shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an eligible student each year. Payments under the grant shall be allocated equally among the semesters, or the equivalent, and paid upon certification by the eligible institution that the student meets the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “d”.
  d.  If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving grant payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient, up to the full amount of grant payments made during that semester, or the equivalent, shall be paid by the eligible institution to the commission.
  4.  Annual submission of applications.  To receive a renewal of a grant awarded under this section, an eligible student must annually submit a new application to the commission for reevaluation of eligibility.
  5.  Priority for grant awards.  In making awards under this section, the commission shall give priority to:
  a.  Applicants who received an award under this section in the prior academic year.
  b.  Applicants with the least financial ability to pay, using a metric that ranks relative financial ability among all applicants.
  6.  Iowa workforce incentive payment.  Notwithstanding the grant limitations in subsection 3, an individual who was an eligible student who received an Iowa workforce grant in the academic year in which the eligible program is completed, and who accepts and begins employment in an aligned occupation in this state within six months of completing the eligible program, may apply for one incentive payment of up to two thousand dollars. The incentive payment shall be paid upon completion of twelve consecutive months of full-time employment in the aligned occupation in this state, following completion of the eligible program.
  7.  Commission’s duties and responsibilities.  Subject to an appropriation of moneys by the general assembly for purposes of this section, the commission shall administer the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and shall do all of the following:
  a.  Provide application forms for distribution to students by eligible institutions.
  b.  Adopt rules under chapter 17A for administration of this section, including establishing the duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the program, defining residence and satisfactory academic progress for purposes of the program, determining financial need, and establishing procedures for grant and incentive payment application, processing, and approval. The rules shall provide for determining the priority awarding of grants and incentives if moneys available for purposes of this section are insufficient to pay all eligible applicants.
  c.  Approve and award grants and incentive payments on an annual basis.
  8.  Fund created.  An Iowa workforce grant and incentive program fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the commission. All moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated to the commission to be used for grants and incentive payments awarded as provided in this section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
2023 Acts, ch 111, §13
Referred to in §84A.1B