House File 44HOUSE FILE BY TYMESON, BOAL, and CHAMBERS Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to postsecondary education opportunities by 2 establishing a jump=start grant program for the postsecondary 3 education expenses of students who graduate early from high 4 school and by requiring school districts to publicize 5 available postsecondary education opportunities. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 1332YH 82 8 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, 2007, 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, an institution 1 13 of higher learning under the control of the board of regents, 1 14 or an accredited private institution. 1 15 3. GRANT AMOUNT. The amount of the grant awarded to an 1 16 eligible student shall be as follows: 1 17 a. To a full=time student, an amount equal to the state 1 18 cost per pupil or five thousand dollars, whichever is greater. 1 19 b. To a part=time student, an amount equivalent to the 1 20 amount paid to a full=time student, but prorated based on the 1 21 number of semester hours, or the trimester or quarter 1 22 equivalent, for which the part=time student is enrolled. 1 23 4. EXCESS GRANT MONEYS. Notwithstanding subsection 3, if 1 24 the grant amount exceeds the amount necessary to pay the 1 25 student's educational expenses for an academic year, the 1 26 commission shall retain the excess grant moneys for the 1 27 student's educational expenses for not more than the following 1 28 two consecutive academic years. If the student fails to 1 29 enroll and attend a community college, an institution of 1 30 higher learning under the control of the board of regents, or 1 31 an accredited private institution by June 30 of the third 1 32 consecutive academic year, the grant moneys retained for the 1 33 student by the commission shall revert to the general fund of 1 34 the state. 1 35 5. REFUND. If the student discontinues attendance before 2 1 the end of any term after receiving payment of the grant, the 2 2 entire amount of any refund due that student, up to the amount 2 3 of any payments made under the annual grant, shall be paid by 2 4 the institution to the state. 2 5 6. DEFINITIONS. As used in this section, unless the 2 6 context otherwise requires: 2 7 a. "Accredited private institution" means an institution 2 8 of higher education as defined in section 261.9, subsection 1. 2 9 b. "Commission" means the college student aid commission. 2 10 c. "Community college" means a community college 2 11 established under chapter 260C. 2 12 d. "Educational expenses for an academic year" means the 2 13 following: 2 14 (1) Tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying 2 15 the same academic workload as determined by the institution, 2 16 and including costs for rental or purchase of any equipment, 2 17 materials, or supplies required of all students in the same 2 18 course of study. 2 19 (2) An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and 2 20 miscellaneous personal expenses, including a reasonable 2 21 allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal 2 22 computer, for a student enrolled at an accredited private 2 23 institution, community college, or board of regents' 2 24 university in a course of study including at least six 2 25 semester hours, or the trimester or quarter equivalent of six 2 26 semester hours. 2 27 (3) An allowance, as determined by the appropriate 2 28 accredited postsecondary educational institution, for room and 2 29 board costs incurred by the student which shall be based on 2 30 the expenses reasonably incurred for room and board at the 2 31 institution by a student without dependents. 2 32 e. "Full=time student" means an individual who is enrolled 2 33 at an accredited private institution, community college, or 2 34 board of regents' university for at least twelve semester 2 35 hours, or the trimester or quarter equivalent. 3 1 f. "Part=time student" means an individual who is enrolled 3 2 at an accredited private institution, community college, or 3 3 board of regents' university for at least three semester 3 4 hours, or the trimester or quarter equivalent, but for less 3 5 than twelve semester hours, or the trimester or quarter 3 6 equivalent. 3 7 7. ELIGIBILITY ESTIMATION. The department of education 3 8 shall annually provide to the general assembly an estimate of 3 9 the number of sophomore high school students in Iowa who, in 3 10 the next succeeding school year, will be eligible to receive a 3 11 high school diploma. 3 12 8. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 13 chapter 17A to administer this section. 3 14 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 279.65 PUBLICIZE HIGHER EDUCATION 3 15 OPTIONS. 3 16 The board of directors of each school district shall 3 17 publicize in, at a minimum, the school district's student 3 18 handbook and on the school district's web page, the higher 3 19 education opportunities available to students enrolled in the 3 20 school district, including opportunities provided under the 3 21 jump=start grant program established in section 261.89 and 3 22 under the postsecondary enrollment options Act, chapter 261C, 3 23 and the availability of classes offered under 3 24 district=to=community college sharing agreements. 3 25 EXPLANATION 3 26 This bill establishes a jump=start grant program for Iowa 3 27 high school students who, on or after July 1, 2007, receive a 3 28 diploma from a public high school by the end of their junior 3 29 year. The students must be residents of Iowa who are admitted 3 30 and in attendance as full=time or part=time resident students 3 31 at an accredited Iowa postsecondary institution. The program 3 32 is to be administered by the college student aid commission. 3 33 The amount of the grant awarded to a full=time student is 3 34 an amount equal to the state cost per pupil or $5,000, 3 35 whichever is greater. The amount to a part=time student is 4 1 prorated. However, if the grant amount exceeds the amount 4 2 necessary to pay the student's educational expenses for an 4 3 academic year, the commission is directed to retain the excess 4 4 grant moneys for the student's educational expenses in the 4 5 next two consecutive academic years. If the student fails to 4 6 enroll and attend an accredited Iowa postsecondary institution 4 7 by June 30 of the third consecutive academic year, the grant 4 8 moneys retained for the student's use by the commission revert 4 9 to the general fund of the state. 4 10 The bill directs the department of education to annually 4 11 provide the general assembly with an estimate of the number of 4 12 high school sophomores in Iowa who, in the next succeeding 4 13 school year, will be eligible to receive a high school 4 14 diploma. 4 15 The bill also requires the board of directors of a school 4 16 district to publicize in, at a minimum, the school district's 4 17 student handbook and on the school district's web page, the 4 18 higher education opportunities available to students, 4 19 including opportunities under the jump=start grant program and 4 20 under the postsecondary enrollment options Act, and classes 4 21 offered under district=to=community college sharing 4 22 agreements. 4 23 LSB 1332YH 82 4 24 kh:rj/sh/8