House File 899 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  FORD


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act requiring the state board of regents to establish an urban
  2    institute to assist minority students, and making an
  3    appropriation.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  5 TLSB 2790HH 82
  6 ak/je/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 262.9, Code 2007, is amended by adding
  1  2 the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  31.  a.  Assess existing program resources
  1  4 available for minority students.
  1  5    b.  Establish and operate an urban institute which
  1  6 maximizes and builds on existing resources.  Under the
  1  7 direction of the board of regents, the urban institute shall
  1  8 promote collaboration among the regents universities,
  1  9 community colleges, private colleges, high schools,
  1 10 communities, and government agencies to achieve the following
  1 11 goals:
  1 12    (1)  Address barriers to college enrollment and graduation
  1 13 rates of minority students.
  1 14    (2)  Assist minority college athletes to develop lifelong
  1 15 strategies to avoid contact with the criminal justice system.
  1 16    (3)  Provide support which assists communities and
  1 17 educational institutions to adapt to changing demographics and
  1 18 to improve the ability of communities and educational
  1 19 institutions to enhance the quality of life by assisting
  1 20 minorities to participate in and benefit from educational
  1 21 opportunities.
  1 22    (4)  Provide support to the department of workforce
  1 23 development in developing strategies to reduce disparities
  1 24 relating to hiring and retaining minority employees.
  1 25    Sec. 2.  URBAN INSTITUTE APPROPRIATION.  There is
  1 26 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the state
  1 27 board of regents for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007,
  1 28 and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount, or so much
  1 29 thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
  1 30 designated:
  1 31    For the urban institute established pursuant to section
  1 32 262.9, subsection 31:
  1 33 .................................................. $    500,000
  1 34    Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
  1 35 section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close
  2  1 of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available
  2  2 for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of
  2  3 the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2010.
  2  4                           EXPLANATION
  2  5    This bill requires the state board of regents to assess
  2  6 existing resources available for minority students and to
  2  7 establish and operate an urban institute which maximizes and
  2  8 builds on existing resources.  Under the direction of the
  2  9 board of regents, the urban institute will promote
  2 10 collaboration among the regents universities, community
  2 11 colleges, private colleges, high schools, communities, and
  2 12 government agencies to assist minority students in academic,
  2 13 athletic, community, and employment endeavors.  The bill
  2 14 includes a $500,000 appropriation from the general fund of the
  2 15 state for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007.
  2 16 LSB 2790HH 82
  2 17 ak:rj/je/5.1