House Study Bill 590
HOUSE FILE
BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION BILL BY
CHAIRPERSON TYMESON)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act establishing a jump=start grant program for the
2 postsecondary education expenses of Iowa students who receive
3 high school diplomas prior to enrollment as high school
4 seniors.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
6 TLSB 5126YC 81
7 kh/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 261.89 JUMP=START GRANT PROGRAM.
1 2 1. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. A jump=start grant program is
1 3 established to be administered by the commission.
1 4 2. ELIGIBILITY. A grant under the jump=start grant
1 5 program may be awarded to a resident of Iowa who meets the
1 6 following criteria:
1 7 a. On or after July 1, 2006, received a high school
1 8 diploma from a school district not later than the end of the
1 9 semester or school year in which the student is enrolled as a
1 10 junior.
1 11 b. Is admitted and in attendance as a full=time or part=
1 12 time resident student at a community college as defined in
1 13 section 260C.2, an institution of higher learning under the
1 14 control of the board of regents, or an accredited private
1 15 institution as defined in section 261.9.
1 16 3. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of the grant awarded to an
1 17 eligible student shall be as follows:
1 18 a. To a full=time student, an amount equal to the state
1 19 cost per pupil or five thousand dollars, whichever is greater.
1 20 b. To a part=time student, an amount equivalent to the
1 21 amount paid to a full=time student, but prorated based on the
1 22 number of semester hours, or the trimester or quarter
1 23 equivalent, for which the part=time student is enrolled.
1 24 4. EXCESS GRANT MONEYS. Notwithstanding subsection 3, if
1 25 the grant amount exceeds the amount necessary to pay the
1 26 student's educational expenses for an academic year, the
1 27 commission shall retain the excess grant moneys for the
1 28 student's educational expenses for not more than the two
1 29 consecutive academic years. If the student fails to enroll
1 30 and attend a community college as defined in section 260C.2,
1 31 an institution of higher learning under the control of the
1 32 board of regents, or an accredited private institution as
1 33 defined in section 261.9 by June 30 of the third consecutive
1 34 academic year, the grant moneys retained for the student by
1 35 the commission shall revert to the general fund of the state.
2 1 5. REFUND. If the student discontinues attendance before
2 2 the end of any term after receiving payment of the grant, the
2 3 entire amount of any refund due that student, up to the amount
2 4 of any payments made under the annual grant, shall be paid by
2 5 the institution to the state.
2 6 6. DEFINITIONS. As used in this division, unless the
2 7 context otherwise requires:
2 8 a. "Commission" means the college student aid commission.
2 9 b. "Educational expenses for an academic year" means the
2 10 following:
2 11 (1) Tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying
2 12 the same academic workload as determined by the institution,
2 13 and including costs for rental or purchase of any equipment,
2 14 materials, or supplies required of all students in the same
2 15 course of study.
2 16 (2) An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and
2 17 miscellaneous personal expenses, including a reasonable
2 18 allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal
2 19 computer, for a student enrolled at an accredited private
2 20 institution, community college, or board of regents'
2 21 university in a course of study including at least six
2 22 semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent of six
2 23 semester hours.
2 24 (3) An allowance, as determined by the appropriate
2 25 accredited postsecondary educational institution, for room and
2 26 board costs incurred by the student which shall be based on
2 27 the expenses reasonably incurred for room and board at the
2 28 institution by a student without dependents.
2 29 c. "Full=time student" means an individual who is enrolled
2 30 at an accredited private institution, community college, or
2 31 board of regents university for at least twelve semester hours
2 32 or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
2 33 d. "Part=time student" means an individual who is enrolled
2 34 at an accredited private institution, community college, or
2 35 board of regents university for at least three semester hours
3 1 or the trimester or quarter equivalent, but for less than
3 2 twelve semester hours or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
3 3 7. ELIGIBILITY ESTIMATION. The department of education
3 4 shall annually provide to the general assembly an estimate of
3 5 the number of sophomore high school students in Iowa who, in
3 6 the next succeeding school year, will be eligible to receive a
3 7 high school diploma.
3 8 8. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to
3 9 chapter 17A to administer this division.
3 10 EXPLANATION
3 11 This bill establishes a jump=start grant program for Iowa
3 12 high school students who, on or after July 1, 2006, receive a
3 13 diploma from a public high school by the end of their junior
3 14 year. The students must be residents of Iowa who are admitted
3 15 and in attendance as a full=time or part=time resident student
3 16 at an accredited Iowa postsecondary institution. The program
3 17 is to be administered by the college student aid commission.
3 18 The amount of the grant awarded to a full=time student is
3 19 an amount equal to the state cost per pupil or $5,000,
3 20 whichever is greater. The amount to a part=time student is
3 21 prorated. However, if the grant amount exceeds the amount
3 22 necessary to pay the student's educational expenses for an
3 23 academic year, the commission is directed to retain the excess
3 24 grant moneys for the student's educational expenses in the
3 25 next two consecutive academic years. If the student fails to
3 26 enroll and attend an accredited Iowa postsecondary institution
3 27 by June 30 of the third consecutive academic year, the grant
3 28 moneys retained for the student's use by the commission revert
3 29 to the general fund of the state.
3 30 The bill directs the department of education to annually
3 31 provide the general assembly with an estimate of the number of
3 32 high school sophomores in Iowa who, in the next succeeding
3 33 school year, will be eligible to receive a high school
3 34 diploma.
3 35 LSB 5126YC 81
4 1 kh:rj/sh/8.1