Senate File 250 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY SODDERS
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for cash payments to certain military veterans
2 working in skilled worker shortage areas.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2185SS 83
5 ak/nh/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 15.261 VETERANS EMPLOYMENT
1 2 INCENTIVES PROGRAM.
1 3 1. The department shall establish a program to provide
1 4 cash employment incentives to veterans to work in this state
1 5 in areas of employment with skilled worker shortages.
1 6 2. In order to receive the cash employment incentives
1 7 under this section, an applicant shall meet all of the
1 8 following requirements:
1 9 a. Be a veteran as defined in section 35.1 and have served
1 10 not less than twelve months cumulatively on active=duty
1 11 status.
1 12 b. Have graduated from a postsecondary educational
1 13 institution in this state. For the purposes of this section,
1 14 "postsecondary educational institution" means an accredited
1 15 higher education institution, as defined in section 261.92, an
1 16 Iowa community college, an institution of higher education
1 17 under the control of the state board of regents, a school of
1 18 cosmetology arts and sciences licensed under chapter 157, or a
1 19 barber school licensed under chapter 158.
1 20 c. Work continuously in a position or area of employment
1 21 in this state that has been identified by the department as
1 22 having a skilled worker shortage. An applicant may change
1 23 employers but must remain within the area of employment
1 24 designated as having a skilled worker shortage in order to
1 25 remain eligible for the cash employment incentives.
1 26 3. Beginning January 1, 2012, an applicant who meets the
1 27 conditions in subsection 2 shall be eligible for each of the
1 28 following cash employment incentives:
1 29 a. After a total of three years of employment, the
1 30 applicant may receive three thousand dollars.
1 31 b. After a total of five years of employment, the
1 32 applicant may receive two thousand dollars.
1 33 c. After a total of eight years of employment, the
1 34 applicant may receive five thousand dollars.
1 35 4. The department, in consultation with the department of
2 1 workforce development, shall designate by rule, and update
2 2 annually, areas of employment where a skilled worker shortage
2 3 exists. An applicant who takes a position or works in an area
2 4 designated as having a skilled worker shortage shall remain
2 5 eligible for the cash employment incentives for the duration
2 6 of the applicant's employment even if the department no longer
2 7 designates the position or area as having a shortage during
2 8 the full period the applicant is eligible for the employment
2 9 incentives.
2 10 5. This program is not an entitlement and any benefit is
2 11 subject to the availability of funds.
2 12 EXPLANATION
2 13 This bill requires the department of economic development
2 14 to develop a program to pay cash incentives to certain
2 15 veterans to work in the state in employment areas identified
2 16 as having a skilled worker shortage.
2 17 The bill requires that an applicant meet the following
2 18 conditions: be a veteran and have served at least 12 months
2 19 cumulatively on active=duty status; have graduated from a
2 20 postsecondary educational institution in this state; and work
2 21 continuously in this state in an employment position or area
2 22 that has been identified by the department of economic
2 23 development as having a skilled worker shortage.
2 24 The bill provides that beginning January 1, 2012, an
2 25 applicant that meets the conditions is eligible for the
2 26 following cash incentives: after three total years of
2 27 employment, $3,000; after five total years of employment,
2 28 $2,000; and after eight total years of employment, $5,000.
2 29 The department of economic development and the department
2 30 of workforce development shall identify by rule, and update
2 31 annually, areas of employment where a skilled worker shortage
2 32 exists in the state. However, an applicant who takes a
2 33 position or works in an area identified as having a skilled
2 34 worker shortage remains eligible for the cash incentives for
2 35 the duration of the applicant's eligibility for the incentives
3 1 even if the area the applicant works in is no longer
3 2 designated as having a shortage.
3 3 The bill states that this program is not an entitlement and
3 4 the cash incentives are subject to the availability of funds.
3 5 LSB 2185SS 83
3 6 ak/nh/5.1