HF 2012 (LSB 5214YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2012

BY  INGELS

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing resident students who are admitted to and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to participate in the Iowa tuition grants program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.184A  Students participating in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program.
   1.  A tuition grant may be awarded to a resident of Iowa who is admitted and in attendance as a student in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program that has been approved by the United States department of education and that is provided by any of the following:
   a.  An accredited private institution.
   b.  A community college established under chapter 260C.
   c.  An institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents.
   2.  A resident of Iowa who is admitted and in attendance as a student in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program described in subsection 1 may receive tuition grants for not more than eight semesters of study, or the trimester or quarter equivalent.
   3.  a.  The amount of a tuition grant to a resident of Iowa who is admitted and in attendance as a student in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program described in subsection 1 shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the resident tuition and mandatory fees for two semesters, or the equivalent, of the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program provided by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning, as applicable.
   b.  In no case may the state’s total financial contribution to the student’s education, including financial aid under any other state program, exceed the tuition and mandatory fees associated with the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program that the student attends.
   4.  a.  A tuition grant may be made annually for the fall, spring, and summer semesters, or the trimester equivalent. Payments under the grant shall be allocated equally among the semesters or trimesters and shall be paid at the beginning of each semester or trimester upon certification by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, as applicable, that provides the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to which the student has been admitted and is in attendance.
   b.  If the student discontinues attendance before the end of any semester or trimester after receiving payment under the grant, the entire amount of any refund due that student, up to the amount of any payments made under the annual grant, shall be paid by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, as applicable, to the state.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.189, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   2.  The commission may require an accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents to promptly furnish any information which the commission may request in connection with the tuition grant program.
   3.  An Iowa tuition grants fund is established in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the commission and shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and other moneys received by the commission for deposit in the fund. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the commission for purposes of providing tuition grants to qualified students who are enrolled in accredited private institutions and for purposes of providing tuition grants to students who are admitted and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program described in section 256.184A, subsection 1. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for purposes of providing tuition grants to qualified students who are enrolled in accredited private institutions, and to students who are admitted and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program, for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund and are appropriated to the commission for purposes of administering any scholarship or grant program described in this subchapter VII, part 4.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes resident students who are admitted to and in attendance in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to participate in the Iowa tuition grants program.
   Under current law, only individuals who are residents of Iowa, who are admitted and in attendance as full-time or part-time students at certain specified accredited private institutions, and who establish financial need are allowed to receive a scholarship under the Iowa tuition grants program, which is administered by the college student aid commission (CSAC). The bill authorizes CSAC to award a tuition grant to a resident of Iowa who is admitted and in attendance as a student in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program that has been approved by the United States department of education and that is provided by an accredited private institution, a community college, or an institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents. Such a student may receive tuition grants for not more than eight semesters of study, or the trimester or quarter equivalent. The amount of a tuition grant to the student shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the resident tuition and mandatory fees for two semesters or the equivalent of the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program provided by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning, as applicable.
   The bill provides that a tuition grant to such a student may be made annually for the fall, spring, and summer semesters or the trimester equivalent. Payments under the grant are required to be allocated equally among the semesters or trimesters and to be paid at the beginning of each semester or trimester upon certification by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents that provides the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program to which the student has been admitted and is in attendance. If the student discontinues attendance before the end of any semester or trimester after receiving payment under the grant, the entire amount of any refund due that student, up to the amount of any payments made under the annual grant, shall be paid by the accredited private institution, community college, or institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents to the state.
   A comprehensive transition and postsecondary program is a degree, certificate, or nondegree program that is offered by a college, career school, or trade school and is designed to support students with intellectual disabilities who want to continue academic, career, and independent living instruction to prepare for gainful employment. A comprehensive transition and postsecondary program must be approved by the United States department of education.
   The bill makes conforming changes.