SF 309 (LSB 1215XS (4) 91)

SENATE FILE 309

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program within the college student aid commission and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.211A  Dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program.
   1.  Definitions. For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
   b.  “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher learning governed by the state board of regents or a community college as defined in section 260C.2.
   c.  “Eligible student” means a resident of this state who meets all of the following requirements:
   (1)  Was claimed by a veteran with a disability as a dependent on the veteran with a disability’s internal revenue service tax filing for the previous tax year
   (2)  Is less than twenty-seven years of age.
   (3)  Completes and submits application forms required by the commission, including the free application for federal student aid, by the deadline prescribed by the commission.
   (4)  Enrolls in an eligible institution.
   (5)  Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution.
   d.  “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
   e.  “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
   f.  “Veteran with a disability” means a resident of this state who is a veteran, as defined in section 35.1, with a permanent service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent, as certified by the United States department of veterans affairs.
   2.  Program established. A dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program is established to be administered by the commission for purposes of providing tuition grants to eligible institutions in which eligible students are enrolled to help such eligible students afford the costs of tuition and mandatory fees associated with attending the eligible institution.
   3.  Grants —— limitations and requirements.
   a.  (1)  A full-time eligible student may receive a grant under the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program annually for not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first.
   (2)  A part-time eligible student may receive a grant under the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program annually for not more than twelve semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated basis, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first.
   b.  (1)  The amount of a dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant for a full-time eligible student shall be the lesser of ten thousand dollars per year or the actual cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged by the eligible institution to the eligible student for the applicable academic year.
   (2)  The amount of a dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant for a part-time eligible student shall be equal to the amount that would be awarded to a full-time eligible student except that the commission shall prorate the amount based on the part-time eligible student’s semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
   c.  A dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an eligible student each year. Payments under the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program shall be allocated equally among the semesters, or the equivalent, and paid to the eligible institution upon certification by the eligible institution that the student meets the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “c”.
   d.  If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving grant payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient, up to the full amount of grant payments made during that semester, or the equivalent, shall be paid by the eligible institution to the commission.
   4.  Commission’s duties and responsibilities. The commission shall administer the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program and shall do all of the following:
   a.  Provide application forms for distribution to students by eligible institutions.
   b.  Adopt rules under chapter 17A for administration of this section, including but not limited to establishing the duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program; defining residence and satisfactory academic progress for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures for grant application, processing, and approval. The rules shall require the commission to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis.
   c.  Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
   5.  Fund created. A dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program fund is created in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the commission. All moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and made available to the commission to be used for scholarships awarded as provided under this section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this section in subsequent fiscal years.
    Sec. 2.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— DEPENDENT OF A DISABLED VETERAN TUITION GRANT PROGRAM.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of education 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 dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program fund created in section 256.211A, if enacted by this Act:
   ...................................................................... $    500,000
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 the dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program within the college student aid commission (commission) for purposes of providing tuition grants to eligible institutions in which eligible students are enrolled to help such eligible students afford the costs of tuition and mandatory fees associated with attending the eligible institution.
   The bill provides that a full-time eligible student may receive a grant under the program annually for not more than eight semesters, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first. Additionally, the bill provides that a part-time eligible student may receive a grant under the program annually for not more than 12 semesters, on a prorated basis, or until the eligible student earns an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree from the eligible institution, whichever occurs first. The bill establishes that a tuition grant under the program shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an eligible student each year. The bill requires that payments under the program be allocated equally among the semesters and paid to the eligible institution upon certification by the eligible institution that the student meets the applicable requirements. The bill provides that if a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end of any semester, after receiving grant payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient, up to the full amount of grant payments made during that semester, or the equivalent, shall be paid by the eligible institution to the commission.
   The bill requires the commission to provide application forms for distribution to students by eligible institutions, adopt rules under Code chapter 17A for administration of the program, and approve and award grants on an annual basis. The commission is required to award grants on a first-come, first-served basis.
   The bill establishes a dependent of a disabled veteran tuition grant program fund in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the commission and appropriates $500,000 to the department of education in FY 2025-2026 for deposit in the fund.
   The bill defines “commission”, “eligible institution”, “eligible student”, “full-time”, “part-time”, and “veteran with a disability”.