HF 909 (LSB 1674HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 909

BY  COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 243)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the establishment of a veterans service organization grant program, and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  35A.23  Veterans service organization grant program.
   1.  A veterans service organization grant program is established under the administration and control of the department to award grants to veterans service organizations for the purpose of ensuring adequate staff are employed to assist veterans with claims.
   2.  A veterans service organization grant fund is created within the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund by the general assembly and any other moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the department for deposit in the fund. All moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for purposes of administering the program and providing grants under the program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
   3.  a.  In administering the program, the department shall award matching funds to veterans service organizations for the purpose of employing staff to assist veterans with claims.
   b.  To receive a grant, a veterans service organization shall demonstrate that moneys have been budgeted and will be expended by the veterans service organization in the amount required to provide matching funds for each staff position for which grant moneys are sought.
   c.  For purposes of this section, “veterans service organization” means an organization recognized pursuant to 38 C.F.R. §14.628(c).
   4.  The department shall adopt, as necessary, application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other rules pursuant to chapter 17A for purposes of implementing and administering the program.
    Sec. 2.  VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION GRANT FUND —— APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of veterans affairs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
   For deposit in the veterans service organization grant fund created in section 35A.23, as enacted by this Act:
   ...................................................................... $    250,000
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 a veterans service organization grant program under the administration of the department of veterans affairs for the purpose of providing matching funds to veterans service organizations, as defined in 38 C.F.R. §14.628(c). The moneys must be used for employing staff who assist veterans with claims. The bill requires the department to adopt application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other rules for implementing and administering the program.
   The bill creates a veterans service organization grant fund under the control of the department and appropriates $250,000 to the department for deposit in the fund.