House File 182 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 182 BY NUNN A BILL FOR An Act authorizing the adjutant general of Iowa to waive 1 certain requirements and limitations of the national guard 2 educational assistance program under certain conditions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2079YH (2) 87 kh/nh

H.F. 182 Section 1. Section 261.86, Code 2017, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. The adjutant general of Iowa, in 3 determining the eligibility of a national guard member under 4 subsection 1, paragraph “f” , may waive the limitations of 5 subsection 1 that require enrollment in an Iowa postsecondary 6 institution, and the limitations of subsection 3, paragraph 7 “a” , relating to semester hours or the equivalent, and 8 for national guard members who have met the educational 9 requirements for a baccalaureate degree, if the postsecondary 10 institution in which the national guard member is enrolled is 11 accredited by the higher learning commission and the degree 12 program in which the national guard member is enrolled is 13 included on the current critical manning list issued by the 14 national guard or a branch of the armed forces of the United 15 States. 16 Sec. 2. Section 261.86, subsection 4, Code 2017, is amended 17 to read as follows: 18 4. The eligibility of applicants and amounts of educational 19 assistance to be paid shall be certified by the adjutant 20 general of Iowa to the college student aid commission, and 21 all amounts that are or become due to a community college, 22 accredited private institution, or institution of higher 23 learning under the control of the state board of regents under 24 this section , or to a postsecondary institution as provided 25 under a waiver issued pursuant to subsection 3A, shall be 26 paid to the college or institution by the college student aid 27 commission upon receipt of certification by the president or 28 governing board of the educational institution as to accuracy 29 of charges made, and as to the attendance and academic progress 30 of the individual at the educational institution. The college 31 student aid commission shall maintain an annual record of the 32 number of participants and the dollar value of the educational 33 assistance provided. 34 EXPLANATION 35 -1- LSB 2079YH (2) 87 kh/nh 1/ 2

H.F. 182 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 This bill authorizes the adjutant general of Iowa to waive 3 certain requirements and limitations of the national guard 4 educational assistance program. 5 Currently, to be determined eligible for the program, 6 a national guard member must submit an application to the 7 adjutant general of Iowa, and be enrolled as an undergraduate 8 student in a community college, a regents university, or an 9 accredited private institution. An eligible member of the 10 national guard shall not receive educational assistance for 11 more than 120 semester, or the equivalent, credit hours of 12 undergraduate study, and a national guard member who has met 13 the educational requirements for a baccalaureate degree is 14 ineligible for educational assistance. The adjutant general’s 15 decision on eligibility is final. 16 The bill authorizes the adjutant general, in determining the 17 eligibility of a national guard member, to waive the provision 18 requiring enrollment in an Iowa postsecondary institution and 19 the limitations relating to semester hours or the equivalent 20 and for national guard members who have met the educational 21 requirements for a baccalaureate degree if the postsecondary 22 institution in which the national guard member is enrolled is 23 accredited by the higher learning commission and the degree 24 program in which the national guard member is enrolled is 25 included on the current critical manning list issued by the 26 national guard or a branch of the armed forces of the United 27 States. The bill makes corresponding changes to direct the 28 college student aid commission to pay the amounts due to a 29 postsecondary institution other than a community college, 30 accredited postsecondary institution in Iowa, or a regents 31 university if the adjutant general issues a waiver authorizing 32 a national guard member to enroll in such a postsecondary 33 institution. 34 -2- LSB 2079YH (2) 87 kh/nh 2/ 2