HF 2294 (LSB 5803HH (11) 84)

HOUSE FILE 2294

BY  BERRY and KAJTAZOVIC

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a student veteran services coordinator grant program and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  35E.1  Definitions.
   For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1.  “Department” means the Iowa department of veterans affairs.
   2.  “Eligible college or university” means any of the following:
   a.  An institution as defined in section 262A.2. 
   b.  A community college as defined in section 260C.2.
   c.  A school as defined in section 261B.2.
   3.  “Student veteran services coordinator” means an employee of any private or state of Iowa college or university in this state designated by an eligible college or university to provide outreach and support services to veterans as provided in section 35E.2.
   4.  “Veteran” means a veteran, as defined in section 35.1, who is enrolled, is seeking to enroll, or was enrolled at any eligible college or university in this state in the previous two years, except that the requirement that the person be a resident of this state shall not apply.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  35E.2  Student veteran services coordinator.
   1.  An eligible college or university in this state may designate one employee as a student veteran services coordinator. 
   2.  The student veteran services coordinator shall:
   a.  Assist veterans seeking to apply for admission to the college or university.
   b.  Assist veterans in enrolling for courses.
   c.  Assist veterans in applying for and receiving service-connected education benefits.
   d.  Assist veterans in securing employment.
   e.  Assist the college or university in establishing a supportive community for veterans.
   3.  The department shall adopt rules establishing requirements for employment as a student veteran services coordinator designated pursuant to this section.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  35E.3  Student veteran services coordinator grant program.
   1.  A student veteran services coordinator grant program is created under the control of the department for the purpose of providing grants to eligible colleges and universities in this state.
   2.
  a.  An eligible college or university employing a student veteran services coordinator designated pursuant to section 35E.2 may apply to the department to receive a student veteran services coordinator grant pursuant to this section. 
   b.  An eligible college or university awarded a grant under this section shall receive a grant equal to a percentage of the first forty thousand dollars of actual salary of the student veteran services coordinator, determined as follows:
   (1)  For the first and second years, seventy-five percent.
   (2)  For the third and fourth years, fifty percent.
   (3)  For the fifth and sixth years, twenty-five percent.
   c.  An eligible college or university shall only receive a grant for the portion of a student veteran services coordinator’s salary dedicated to the performance of duties under section 35E.2, subsection 2.
   3.  An eligible college or university shall not be awarded more than six grants pursuant to this section.
   4.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department the amount necessary to pay each eligible college or university entitled to a grant under this section.
   5.  The department shall adopt rules governing the application, awarding, and distribution of grants under this section.
EXPLANATION
   This bill creates a student veteran services coordinator grant program to be administered by the department of veterans affairs.
   The bill provides that certain private and public colleges and universities may apply for a student veteran services coordinator grant to pay for a portion of the salary of a student veteran services coordinator. The bill provides that the grant shall be 75 percent of the first $40,000 in salary paid to the coordinator for the first and second year of employing such a coordinator, 50 percent of such salary in the third and fourth years, and 25 percent of such salary in the fifth and sixth years of employing such a coordinator. The bill provides that an eligible college or university shall not receive more than six grants as a part of the program. The bill provides for a standing unlimited appropriation from the general fund of the state to the department to provide such grants, and requires that the department of veterans affairs adopt rules to govern the application for, awarding, and distribution of grants.
   The bill provides that a student veteran services coordinator shall assist veterans seeking to apply for admission to the college or university, enroll in courses, apply for and receive service-connected education benefits, or secure employment. The student veteran services coordinator shall also assist the college or university in establishing a supportive community for veterans. The bill provides that the department shall adopt rules establishing requirements for employment as a student veteran services coordinator.