Senate File 202 - Introduced SENATE FILE 202 BY SCHOENJAHN , SODDERS , KIBBIE , HANCOCK , McCOY , HORN , DEARDEN , FRAISE , DANDEKAR , GRONSTAL , BLACK , QUIRMBACH , BEALL , RAGAN , WILHELM , JOCHUM , BOLKCOM , BOWMAN , HOGG , DOTZLER , SENG , HATCH , DANIELSON , and COURTNEY A BILL FOR An Act relating to education and employment training by 1 establishing the pathways for academic career and employment 2 program and fund and the gap tuition assistance program and 3 fund. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh

S.F. 202 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 260H.1 Title. 1 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Pathways 2 for Academic Career and Employment Act” . 3 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 260H.2 Pathways for academic career 4 and employment program and fund. 5 1. A pathways for academic career and employment program 6 is established to provide grants to community colleges for the 7 development of projects in coordination with the department 8 of education, the department of economic development, Iowa 9 workforce development, regional advisory boards established 10 pursuant to section 84A.4, and community partners to implement 11 a simplified, streamlined, and comprehensive process, 12 along with customized support services, to enable eligible 13 participants to acquire effective academic and employment 14 training to secure gainful, quality, in-state employment. 15 2. There is established in the state treasury a pathways 16 for academic career and employment fund to be administered by 17 the department of economic development. The aggregate total 18 of moneys awarded from the fund shall not be more than five 19 million dollars during a fiscal year. Notwithstanding section 20 8.33, moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall 21 not revert to the general fund of the state. Notwithstanding 22 section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in 23 the fund shall be credited to the fund. 24 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 260H.3 Eligibility criteria. 25 1. Projects eligible for grants from the pathways for 26 academic career and employment fund shall be projects that 27 further the ability of members of target populations to secure 28 gainful, quality employment. For the purposes of this chapter, 29 “target population” includes: 30 a. Persons deemed low skilled for the purposes of attaining 31 gainful, quality, in-state employment. 32 b. Persons earning incomes at or below one hundred fifty 33 percent of the federal poverty level as defined by the most 34 recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the 35 -1- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 1/ 12

S.F. 202 United States department of health and human services. 1 c. Unemployed persons. 2 d. Underemployed persons. 3 e. Dislocated workers, including workers eligible for 4 services and benefits under the federal Trade Adjustment Act of 5 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-210, as determined by the department of 6 workforce development and the federal internal revenue service. 7 2. Projects eligible for grants from the pathways for 8 academic career and employment fund shall be projects that 9 further partnerships that link the community colleges to 10 industry and nonprofit organizations and projects that further 11 program outcomes as provided in section 260H.4. 12 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION . 260H.4 Program outcomes. 13 Projects eligible for grants from the pathways for academic 14 career and employment fund shall be programs which further the 15 following program outcomes: 16 1. Enabling the target populations to: 17 a. Acquire and demonstrate competency in basic skills. 18 b. Acquire and demonstrate competency in a specified 19 technical field. 20 c. Complete a specified level of postsecondary education. 21 d. Earn a national career readiness certificate. 22 e. Obtain employer-validated credentials. 23 f. Secure gainful employment in high-quality, local jobs. 24 2. Satisfaction of economic and employment goals including 25 but not limited to: 26 a. Economic and workforce development requirements in each 27 region served by the community colleges as defined by regional 28 advisory boards established pursuant to section 84A.4. 29 b. Needs of industry partners in areas including but not 30 limited to: 31 (1) Information technology. 32 (2) Health care. 33 (3) Advanced manufacturing. 34 (4) Transportation. 35 -2- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 2/ 12

S.F. 202 c. Economic development priorities identified by the state 1 or a state agency that are reinforced in the regional context. 2 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION . 260H.5 Program component requirements. 3 Program components of a pathways for academic career and 4 employment project implemented at a community college shall: 5 1. Include measurable and effective recruitment, 6 assessment, and referral activities designed for the target 7 populations. 8 2. Integrate basics skills and work-readiness training with 9 occupational skills training. 10 3. Combine customized supportive and case management 11 services with training services to help participants overcome 12 barriers to employment. 13 4. Provide training services at times, locations, and 14 through multiple, flexible modalities that are easily 15 understood and readily accessible to the target populations. 16 Such modalities shall support timeless entry, individualized 17 learning, and flexible scheduling, and may include online 18 remediation, learning lab and cohort learning communities, 19 tutoring, and modularization. 20 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION . 260H.6 Pipeline program. 21 Each community college receiving a grant from the pathways 22 for academic career and employment fund shall develop a 23 pipeline program in order to better serve the academic, 24 training, and employment needs of the target populations. A 25 pipeline program shall have the following goals: 26 1. To strengthen partnerships with community-based 27 organizations and industry representatives. 28 2. To improve and simplify the identification, recruitment, 29 and assessment of qualified participants. 30 3. To conduct and manage an outreach, recruitment, and 31 intake process, along with accompanying support services, 32 reflecting sensitivity to the time and financial constraints 33 and remediation needs of the target populations. 34 4. To conduct orientations for qualified participants 35 -3- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 3/ 12

S.F. 202 to describe regional labor market opportunities, employer 1 partners, and program requirements and expectations. 2 5. To describe the concepts of the project implemented with 3 funds from the pathways for academic career and employment fund 4 and the embedded educational and support resources available 5 through such project. 6 6. To outline the basic skills participants will learn and 7 describe the credentials participants will earn. 8 7. To describe success milestones and ways in which temporal 9 and instructional barriers have been minimized or eliminated. 10 8. To review how individualized and customized service 11 strategies for participants will be developed and provided. 12 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION . 260H.7 Career pathways and bridge 13 curriculum development program. 14 Each community college receiving a grant from the pathways 15 for academic career and employment fund shall develop a career 16 pathways and bridge curriculum development program in order 17 to better serve the academic, training, and employment needs 18 of the target populations. A career pathways and bridge 19 curriculum development program shall have the following goals: 20 1. The articulation of courses and modules, the mapping of 21 programs within career pathways, and establishment of bridges 22 between credit and noncredit programs. 23 2. The integration and contextualization of basic skills 24 education and skills training. This process shall provide for 25 seamless progressions between adult basic education and general 26 education development programs and continuing education and 27 credit certificate, diploma, and degree programs. 28 3. The development of career pathways that support the 29 attainment of industry-recognized credentials, diplomas, and 30 degrees through stackable, modularized program delivery. 31 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION . 260H.8 Rules. 32 The department of economic development, in coordination 33 with the community colleges, the department of education, and 34 Iowa workforce development, shall adopt rules pursuant to 35 -4- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 4/ 12

S.F. 202 chapter 17A and this chapter to implement the provisions of 1 this chapter. Regional advisory boards established pursuant 2 to section 84A.4 shall be consulted in the development and 3 implementation of rules to be adopted pursuant to this chapter. 4 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION . 261G.1 Title. 5 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Gap 6 Tuition Assistance Act” . 7 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION . 261G.2 Gap tuition assistance program 8 and fund. 9 1. A gap tuition assistance program is established to 10 provide grants for need-based tuition assistance to applicants 11 to enable completion of continuing education certificate 12 training programs for in-demand occupations. 13 2. There is established for the community colleges a 14 gap tuition assistance fund in the state treasury to be 15 administered by the college student aid commission. The 16 aggregate total of grants awarded shall not be more than five 17 million dollars during a fiscal year. Notwithstanding section 18 8.33, moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall 19 not revert to the general fund of the state. Notwithstanding 20 section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in 21 the fund shall be credited to the fund. 22 Sec. 11. NEW SECTION . 261G.3 Applicants for tuition 23 assistance —— eligibility criteria. 24 1. The college student aid commission shall adopt rules 25 pursuant to this chapter defining eligibility criteria for 26 persons applying to receive tuition assistance under this 27 chapter. 28 2. Eligibility for tuition assistance under this chapter 29 shall be based on financial need. Criteria to be assessed in 30 determining financial need shall include but is not limited to: 31 a. The applicant’s family income for the twelve months prior 32 to the date of application. 33 b. The applicant’s family size. 34 c. The applicant’s county of residence. 35 -5- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 5/ 12

S.F. 202 3. a. The college student aid commission shall only approve 1 an applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter if the 2 community college receiving the application determines the 3 applicant has a demonstrated capacity to achieve the following 4 outcomes: 5 (1) The ability to complete an eligible certificate 6 program. 7 (2) The ability to enter a postsecondary certificate, 8 diploma, or degree program for credit. 9 (3) The ability to gain full-time employment. 10 (4) The ability to maintain full-time employment over time. 11 b. The college student aid commission shall only approve 12 an applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter if the 13 community college receiving the application determines the 14 applicant has a strong likelihood of achieving the outcomes 15 described in paragraph “a” after considering factors including 16 but not limited to: 17 (1) Barriers that may prevent an applicant from completing 18 the certificate program. 19 (2) Barriers that may prevent an applicant from gaining 20 employment in an in-demand occupation. 21 4. Applicants may be found eligible for partial or total 22 tuition assistance. 23 5. Tuition assistance shall not be approved when the 24 college student aid commission determines that funding for an 25 applicant’s participation in an eligible certificate program is 26 available from any other public or private funding source. 27 Sec. 12. NEW SECTION . 261G.4 Applicants for tuition 28 assistance —— additional provisions. 29 1. An applicant for tuition assistance under this 30 chapter shall provide to the community college receiving the 31 application documentation of all sources of income. 32 2. Only an applicant eligible to work in the United States 33 shall be approved for tuition assistance under this chapter. 34 3. An application shall be valid for six months from the 35 -6- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 6/ 12

S.F. 202 date of signature on the application. 1 4. A person shall not be approved for tuition assistance 2 under this chapter for more than one eligible certificate 3 program. 4 5. Eligibility for tuition assistance under this chapter 5 shall not be construed to guarantee enrollment in any community 6 college certificate program. 7 Sec. 13. NEW SECTION . 261G.5 Eligible costs. 8 Costs of a certificate program eligible for coverage by 9 tuition assistance shall include but are not limited to: 10 1. Tuition. 11 2. Direct training costs. 12 3. Required books and equipment. 13 4. Fees. 14 Sec. 14. NEW SECTION . 261G.6 Eligible certificate programs. 15 For the purposes of this chapter, “eligible certificate 16 program” means a program meeting all of the following criteria: 17 1. The program is not offered for credit, but is aligned 18 with a certificate, diploma, or degree for credit, and does any 19 of the following: 20 a. Offers a state, national, or locally recognized 21 certificate. 22 b. Offers preparation for a professional examination or 23 licensure. 24 c. Provides endorsement for an existing credential or 25 license. 26 d. Represents recognized skill standards defined by an 27 industrial sector. 28 e. Offers a similar credential or training. 29 2. The program offers training or a credential in an 30 in-demand occupation. For the purposes of this chapter, 31 “in-demand occupation” includes occupations in the following 32 industries: 33 a. Information technology. 34 b. Health care. 35 -7- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 7/ 12

S.F. 202 c. Advanced manufacturing. 1 d. Transportation. 2 e. Any other industry designated as in-demand by a regional 3 advisory board established pursuant to section 84A.4. 4 Sec. 15. NEW SECTION . 261G.7 Initial assessment. 5 An applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter shall 6 complete an initial assessment administered by the community 7 college receiving the application to determine the applicant’s 8 readiness to complete an eligible certificate program. The 9 assessment shall include assessments for completion of a 10 national career readiness certificate, including the areas of 11 reading for information, applied mathematics, and locating 12 information. An applicant must achieve a bronze-level 13 certificate or the minimum score required for an eligible 14 certificate program, whichever is higher, in order to be 15 approved for tuition assistance. An applicant shall complete 16 any additional assessments and occupational research required 17 by an eligible certificate program. 18 Sec. 16. NEW SECTION . 261G.8 Program interview. 19 An applicant for tuition assistance under this chapter shall 20 meet with a member of the staff for an eligible certificate 21 program offered by the community college receiving the 22 application. The staff member shall discuss the relevant 23 industry, any applicable occupational research, and any 24 applicable training relating to the eligible certificate 25 program. The discussion shall include an evaluation of 26 the applicant’s capabilities, needs, family situation, work 27 history, educational background, attitude and motivation, 28 employment skills, vocational potential, and employment 29 barriers. The discussion shall also include potential start 30 dates, support needs, and other requirements for an eligible 31 certificate program. 32 Sec. 17. NEW SECTION . 261G.9 Participation requirements. 33 1. A participant in an eligible certificate program who 34 receives tuition assistance pursuant to this chapter shall do 35 -8- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 8/ 12

S.F. 202 all of the following: 1 a. Maintain regular contact with staff members for the 2 certificate program to document the applicant’s progress in the 3 program. 4 b. Sign a release form to provide relevant information to 5 community college faculty or case managers. 6 c. Discuss with staff members for the certificate program 7 any issues that may impact the participant’s ability to 8 complete the certificate program, obtain employment, and 9 maintain employment over time. 10 d. Attend all required courses regularly. 11 e. Provide documentation of completion of the certificate 12 program to the college student aid commission. 13 f. Meet with staff members for the certificate program to 14 develop a job search plan. 15 g. Provide information to the college student aid commission 16 relating to employment status as required by the college 17 student aid commission. 18 2. The college student aid commission may terminate tuition 19 assistance for a participant who fails to meet the requirements 20 of this section. 21 Sec. 18. NEW SECTION . 261G.10 Oversight. 22 1. The college student aid commission, in coordination 23 with the community colleges, shall establish a steering 24 committee. The steering committee shall determine if the 25 performance measures of the gap tuition assistance program 26 are being met and shall take necessary steps to correct any 27 deficiencies. The steering committee shall meet at least 28 quarterly to evaluate and monitor the performance of the gap 29 tuition assistance program. 30 2. The college student aid commission, in coordination 31 with the community colleges, shall develop a common intake 32 tracking system that shall be implemented consistently by each 33 participating community college. 34 3. The steering committee shall designate one community 35 -9- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 9/ 12

S.F. 202 college to serve as the lead community college for the gap 1 tuition assistance program. The lead community college shall 2 coordinate statewide oversight, evaluation, and reporting 3 efforts for the gap tuition assistance program. 4 Sec. 19. NEW SECTION . 261G.11 Rules. 5 The college student aid commission, in consultation with the 6 community colleges, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A 7 and this chapter to implement the provisions of this chapter. 8 EXPLANATION 9 This bill establishes the pathways for academic career and 10 employment program and fund to provide grants to community 11 colleges for the development of projects in coordination 12 with the department of education, the department of economic 13 development, Iowa workforce development, regional advisory 14 boards established pursuant to Code section 84A.4, and 15 community partners to implement a simplified, streamlined, 16 and comprehensive process to enable eligible participants to 17 acquire effective academic and employment training to secure 18 gainful, quality, in-state employment. The fund is to be 19 administered by the department of economic development. The 20 fund may pay out up to $5 million per fiscal year in grants. 21 The bill provides that notwithstanding Code section 8.33, 22 moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year will not revert 23 to the general fund of the state, and notwithstanding Code 24 section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys 25 in the fund will be credited to the fund. The bill sets out 26 criteria for community college projects eligible to receive 27 grants. Eligible projects must further the ability of certain 28 target populations of underserved persons to secure gainful, 29 quality, in-state employment. 30 The bill also requires eligible projects to further 31 partnerships that link the community colleges to industry and 32 nonprofit organizations. The bill sets out certain program 33 outcomes relating to target populations and economic and 34 employment criteria which eligible projects must satisfy. The 35 -10- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 10/ 12

S.F. 202 bill sets out certain program components which an eligible 1 project must include. The bill provides for two programs, a 2 pipeline program and a career pathways and bridge curriculum 3 development program, which participating community colleges 4 must adopt, and sets out certain features of those programs. 5 The bill directs the department of economic development, 6 in coordination with community colleges, the department of 7 education, and Iowa workforce development, to adopt rules 8 pursuant to Code chapter 17A to implement the program. 9 The bill provides that the rulemaking should be done in 10 consultation with regional advisory boards established pursuant 11 to Code section 84A.4. 12 The bill also establishes the gap tuition assistance program 13 and fund to provide need-based tuition assistance to applicants 14 to enable completion of continuing education certificate 15 training programs for in-demand occupations. The bill 16 establishes the fund in the treasury for community colleges. 17 The fund is to be administered by the college student aid 18 commission and may pay out up to $5 million per fiscal year in 19 grants. The bill provides that notwithstanding Code section 20 8.33, moneys in the fund at the end of a fiscal year will not 21 revert to the general fund of the state, and notwithstanding 22 Code section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on 23 moneys in the fund will be credited to the fund. 24 The bill sets out criteria for eligible applicants based 25 on financial need. The bill provides that applicants must 26 demonstrate a capacity for and likelihood of achieving certain 27 outcomes. The bill prohibits the approval of a grant for an 28 applicant who has other sources of funding available. The bill 29 sets out what costs are eligible for coverage by a grant. The 30 bill defines what certificate programs are eligible for grant 31 funding. The bill requires such programs to be in certain 32 in-demand occupations. The bill requires an applicant to 33 undergo an initial assessment and an interview with a staff 34 member of the certificate program to be pursued before a grant 35 -11- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 11/ 12

S.F. 202 can be approved. The bill sets out various requirements for 1 approved participants in an eligible certificate program and 2 provides that failure to meet the requirements can result 3 in termination of the assistance. The bill provides for 4 oversight functions for the program, including the formation of 5 a steering committee and the designation of a lead community 6 college to coordinate oversight functions. The bill directs 7 the college student aid commission, in consultation with 8 community colleges, to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A 9 to implement the program. 10 -12- LSB 1947XS (3) 84 je/nh 12/ 12