HSB 716 (LSB 6882YC (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY BILL BY CHAIRPERSON VONDRAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for a waiver of resident tuition at community colleges for dependents of first responders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  261M.1  Short title.
   This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “First Responder Dependent Education Act”.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  261M.2  Definitions.
   1.  “Associate degree program” means a degree program offered by a community college that requires completion of at least sixty semester credit hours or an equivalent program of study. “Associate degree program” does not include a baccalaureate degree program.
   2.  “Dependent” means a child of a first responder who is claimed as a dependent for state or federal tax purposes for the most recent tax year.
   3.  “Emergency medical care provider” means an individual certified pursuant to section 147A.6.
   4.  “Fire fighter” means a paid or volunteer member of a fire department who is certified under section 100B.6.
   5.  “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical care provider.
   6.  “Law enforcement officer” means a person who is responsible for the prevention or detection of crime or the enforcement of the criminal, traffic, or highway laws of this state or any political subdivision of this state for more than one hundred hours per year, and who is authorized by law to make arrests.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  261M.3  Eligibility for tuition waiver.
   A community college shall grant a dependent of a first responder a waiver of resident tuition if the dependent does all of the following:
   1.  Meets all admission requirements of the community college.
   2.  Enrolls in the community college and pursues studies leading to any of the following:
   a.  An associate degree related to a career in public safety or emergency response.
   b.  A degree or credential in a high-demand job as determined by the workforce development board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 3.
   3.  Submits verification that the dependent’s parent or legal guardian is an active first responder in Iowa at the time of the dependent’s initial application for a waiver. Verification must include a certificate of satisfactory performance from the first responder’s supervisor within the employing agency.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  261M.4  Waiver amount and duration.
   1.  The amount of a waiver under this chapter shall be the amount of the dependent’s resident tuition remaining after subtracting all of the following received by the dependent:
   a.  Any federal grants.
   b.  Any state scholarships and grants.
   c.  Any awards from the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program under section 256.228.
   2.  An eligible dependent may receive the tuition waiver for no more than two academic years, provided the dependent continues to meet the requirements of this chapter and all policies of the community college on continued enrollment and progress toward completion of the applicable degree or program.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  261M.5  In-state residency requirement.
   1.  As a condition of receiving a tuition waiver under this chapter, a dependent shall remain a resident of the state of Iowa for a period of not less than five years following completion of the degree or program for which the waiver was received.
   2.  A dependent who voluntarily relocates outside the state before completing the required five-year period shall repay to the community college the prorated amount of tuition waived on the dependent’s behalf. The community college shall determine the prorated repayment amount based on the portion of the five-year residency obligation not completed.
   3.  Repayment under this section shall not be required if the dependent’s relocation is due to death, permanent disability, or other good cause as determined by the community college.
   4.  If a first responder dies in the line of duty after the dependent’s initial application for a waiver is submitted, the dependent shall remain eligible for the tuition waiver and shall not be subject to subsection 1.
   5.  A community college shall adopt procedures for monitoring compliance with this section and for administering repayment obligations.
    Sec. 6.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides for a waiver of resident tuition at community colleges for dependents of first responders. The bill defines first responder as a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical care provider.
   The bill requires a community college to grant a dependent of a first responder a waiver of resident tuition if the dependent meets admission requirements, enrolls in the community college and pursues studies leading to a specified degree or credential, and submits verification that the dependent’s parent or legal guardian is an active first responder in Iowa at the time of the dependent’s initial application for a waiver.
   The amount of a waiver under the bill is the amount of the dependent’s resident tuition remaining after subtracting federal grants, state scholarships and grants, and awards from the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program received by the dependent. The bill provides that an eligible dependent may receive the tuition waiver for no more than two academic years, provided the dependent continues to meet the requirements of the bill and all policies of the community college on continued enrollment and progress toward completion of the applicable degree or program.
   As a condition of receiving a tuition waiver, the bill requires the dependent to remain a resident of Iowa for a period of not less than five years following completion of the degree or program for which the waiver was received. The bill provides for repayment to a community college of the amount waived if a dependent voluntarily relocates outside the state and for exceptions to the repayment requirement.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.