HF 271 (LSB 1065HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 271

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 97)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.231  Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program.
   1.  If moneys are appropriated by the general assembly for a fiscal year for the purpose provided in this section, the college student aid commission shall, in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development, develop and administer a scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are at least eighteen years of age and who are enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program in this state that has been approved by the United States department of education, to help offset the cost associated with the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program’s tuition and fees.
   2.  The amount awarded to an individual under this section shall not exceed five thousand dollars per academic year. An individual must file a new application and submit information as required by the college student aid commission annually on the basis of which the individual’s eligibility for a renewed award will be evaluated and determined.
   3.  The college student aid commission, in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development, shall establish the evaluation criteria to be used in evaluating applications for scholarships submitted under this section. Priority shall be given to applicants who are residents of Iowa.
   4.  The college student aid commission, in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
   5.  A comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program fund is established in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the college student aid commission, in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development, and shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and any other moneys received by the college student aid commission for deposit in the fund. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the college student aid commission for the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program. 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 the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship 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.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program.
   The bill requires the college student aid commission (commission), in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development (IVRS), to develop and administer a scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are at least 18 years of age and who are enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program in this state that has been approved by the United States department of education, to help offset the cost associated with the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program’s tuition and fees, if moneys are appropriated by the general assembly for a fiscal year for this purpose. The bill provides that the amount awarded to an individual under the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program shall not exceed $5,000 per academic year. The bill requires individuals to apply for the scholarship award annually.
   The bill requires the commission, in consultation with IVRS, to establish the criteria to be used when evaluating applications for scholarships submitted under the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program. The bill also requires the commission to give priority to applicants who are residents of Iowa.
   The bill requires the commission, in consultation with IVRS, to adopt rules to administer the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program.
   The bill establishes a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program fund in the state treasury under the control of the college student aid commission.