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Senate Study Bill 3087 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1creating a future ready Iowa Act to strengthen workforce
2development by establishing a registered apprenticeship
3development program, a volunteer mentoring program, a summer
4youth intern program, summer postsecondary courses for high
5school students that are aligned with high-demand career
6pathways, an employer innovation fund, and future ready Iowa
7skilled workforce scholarship and grant programs and funds,
8and including effective date provisions.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2TITLE OF ACT
3 Section 1. TITLE OF ACT. This Act shall be known and may be
4cited as the “Future Ready Iowa Act”.
5DIVISION II
6ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT authority — FUTURE READY IOWA REGISTERED
7APPRENTICESHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
8 Sec. 2. Section 15.106A, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
92018, is amended to read as follows:
10a. That through this section and section 15.106B, the
11authority has been granted broad general powers and specific
12program powers over all of the authority’s statutory programs,
13including but not limited to the programs created pursuant to
14chapters 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15E, and 15J.
15 Sec. 3. Section 15B.4, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
16following new subsection:
17 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. An apprenticeship sponsor receiving
18financial assistance under this chapter is ineligible for
19financial assistance under section 15C.1 during the same fiscal
20year.
21 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 15C.1 Future ready Iowa registered
22apprenticeship development program.
231. Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless the
24context otherwise requires:
25a. “Applicant” means a new or existing apprenticeship
26sponsor located in Iowa that has established an apprenticeship
27program involving an eligible apprenticeable occupation that is
28located in Iowa and approved by the United States department of
29labor, office of apprenticeship.
30b. “Apprentice” means a person who is at least sixteen
31years of age, except where a higher minimum age is required by
32law, who is employed in an apprenticeable occupation, and is
33registered in Iowa with the United States department of labor,
34office of apprenticeship.
35c. “Apprenticeable occupation” means an occupation approved
-1-1for apprenticeship by the United States department of labor,
2office of apprenticeship.
3d. “Apprenticeship program” means a program registered
4with the United States department of labor, office of
5apprenticeship, which includes terms and conditions for the
6qualification, recruitment, selection, employment, and training
7of apprentices, including the requirement for a written
8apprenticeship agreement.
9e. “Apprenticeship sponsor” means an entity operating
10an apprenticeship program or an entity in whose name an
11apprenticeship program is being operated, which is registered
12with or approved by the United States department of labor,
13office of apprenticeship.
14f. “Authority” means the economic development authority
15created in section 15.105.
16g. “Eligible apprenticeable occupation” means an
17apprenticeable occupation identified by the workforce
18development board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A,
19as a high-demand job, after consultation with the authority.
20h. “Financial assistance” means assistance provided only
21from the funds, rights, and assets legally available to the
22authority and includes but is not limited to assistance in the
23form of a reimbursement grant to support the costs associated
24with establishing a new eligible apprenticeable occupation
25or an additional eligible apprenticeable occupation in an
26applicant’s apprenticeship program.
272. Program created. Subject to an appropriation of funds
28by the general assembly for this purpose, a future ready Iowa
29registered apprenticeship development program is created which
30shall be administered by the authority. The purpose of the
31program is to provide financial assistance to incentivize
32small and medium-sized apprenticeship sponsors to establish
33new or additional eligible apprenticeable occupations in the
34apprenticeship sponsor’s apprenticeship program in order to
35support the growth of apprenticeship programs and expand
-2-1high-quality work-based learning experiences in high-demand
2fields and careers for persons who are employed in eligible
3apprenticeable occupations in Iowa.
43. Application requirements — restriction. An
5apprenticeship sponsor may apply to the authority, on
6forms provided by the authority and in accordance with the
7authority’s instructions, to receive financial assistance under
8the program. The authority shall provide upon request and on
9the authority’s internet site information about the program,
10the application, application instructions, and the application
11period established each year for funding available under the
12program. The application shall include a description of how
13the financial assistance awarded under this section would be
14used to establish an apprenticeship program or add new or
15additional apprenticeable occupations to the apprenticeship
16sponsor’s apprenticeship program and the anticipated program
17expenses identified by the applicant.
18a. An apprenticeship sponsor is eligible to apply for
19financial assistance for a new or additional eligible
20apprenticeable occupation, in addition to existing
21apprenticeship occupations in the apprenticeship sponsor’s
22apprenticeship program, if all of the following conditions are
23met:
24(1) Twenty or fewer apprentices are registered in the
25existing apprenticeship program as of December 31 of the
26calendar year prior to the date the authority receives the
27apprenticeship sponsor’s application.
28(2) More than seventy percent of the applicant’s
29apprentices shall be residents of Iowa. In determining the
30number of apprentices in an applicant’s apprenticeship program,
31the authority may calculate the average number of apprentices
32in the program within the most recent two-year period.
33b. An apprenticeship sponsor receiving financial assistance
34under chapter 15B is ineligible for financial assistance under
35this section during the same fiscal year.
-3- 14. Rules. The authority shall adopt rules pursuant to
2chapter 17A establishing a staff review and application
3approval process, application scoring criteria, the minimum
4score necessary for approval of financial assistance,
5procedures for notification of an award of financial
6assistance, the terms of agreement between the apprenticeship
7sponsor and the authority, and any other rules deemed necessary
8for the implementation and administration of this section.
95. Agreement. Prior to distributing financial assistance
10under this section, the authority shall enter into an agreement
11with the apprenticeship sponsor awarded financial assistance
12in accordance with this section, and the financial assistance
13recipient shall confirm the expenses for establishing the
14program or adding the additional occupations as identified in
15the approved application, and shall meet all terms established
16by the authority for receipt of financial assistance under this
17section.
186. Use of moneys appropriated — administration.
19a. The annual administrative expenditures as a percent of
20the moneys appropriated for a fiscal year for purposes of this
21section shall not exceed two percent.
22b. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated to
23the authority by the general assembly for purposes of this
24section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the end of
25the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall
26remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated in
27subsequent fiscal years.
28DIVISION III
29FUTURE READY IOWA — VARIOUS PROGRAMS
30 Sec. 5. Section 15H.1A, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
31following new subsection:
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. “Commission” means the Iowa commission
33on volunteer service created in section 15H.2.
34 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 15H.9 Volunteer mentor program.
351. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
-4-1assembly for this purpose, the commission shall establish a
2volunteer mentor program to support implementation of the
3future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
4and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant programs
5created in sections 261.130 and 261.131. The commission, in
6collaboration with the department of workforce development and
7the college student aid commission, shall adopt rules pursuant
8to chapter 17A to implement and administer the volunteer
9mentor program, and shall establish standards, guidelines, and
10expectations for a productive and appropriate relationship
11between mentors and mentees, including helping students
12meet the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
13scholarship program or future ready Iowa skilled workforce
14grant requirements, as appropriate; identify work-based
15learning opportunities; and make career-related connections
16that are advantageous to persons participating in the volunteer
17mentor program.
182. The prospective volunteer mentor shall have successfully
19passed a background investigation conducted by the division of
20criminal investigation of the department of public safety and a
21check of the national sex offender registry.
223. The commission shall enter into written agreements with
23prospective mentors and mentees under the program. Under such
24an agreement, prospective mentors and mentees agree to abide by
25the standards, guidelines, and expectations established by the
26commission pursuant to subsection 1.
274. The commission, in collaboration with the department of
28workforce development and the college student aid commission,
29and in cooperation with an eligible institution as defined
30in section 261.130 or 261.131, as appropriate, shall assign
31a student, who is a recipient of a future ready Iowa skilled
32workforce last-dollar scholarship under section 261.130 or
33a future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant under section
34261.131, who requests the assignment of a mentor, and who
35enters into an agreement under subsection 3, to a mentor
-5-1appropriate to the prospective mentee’s field of study whenever
2possible.
35. The commission shall maintain, and regularly update,
4a list of the mentor and mentee pairings and the dates of
5inception of the mentor and mentee pairings.
66. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated to the
7economic development authority for allocation to the commission
8for purposes of this section that remain unencumbered or
9unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but
10shall remain available to be used for the purposes designated
11in this section until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
12 Sec. 7. Section 84A.1B, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
13following new subsections:
14 NEW SUBSECTION. 13A. Create, and update as necessary, a
15list of high-demand jobs statewide for purposes of the future
16ready Iowa registered apprenticeship development program
17created in section 15C.1, the summer youth intern pilot
18program established under section 84A.12, the Iowa employer
19innovation program established under section 84A.13, the
20future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
21program established under section 261.130, the future ready
22Iowa skilled workforce grant program established under section
23261.131, and postsecondary summer classes for high school
24students as provided under section 261E.8, subsection 7A.
25The workforce development board shall have full discretion
26to select and prioritize high-demand jobs after consulting
27with business and education stakeholders, as appropriate, and
28seeking public comment. For purposes of this subsection,
29“high-demand job” means a job in the state for which the board
30determines work opportunities are available and qualified
31applicants are lacking.
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 13B. Compile an annual report, in an
33aggregate form to protect the confidentiality of each eligible
34program’s participants, that includes the number of students
35receiving scholarships under section 261.130, the number of
-6-1students receiving grants under section 261.131, the number
2of scholarship and grant recipients completing a program
3of study or major annually and in the prescribed timeframe
4under sections 261.130 and 261.131, the number of eligible
5institutions participating in the scholarship and grant
6programs established under sections 261.130 and 261.131, the
7number of written agreements entered into by the volunteer
8mentor program under section 15H.9, statistics on employment
9outcomes for future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
10scholarship and future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
11program participants by industry, and other data as may be
12deemed pertinent by the department or the college student aid
13commission. The department shall submit the initial report by
14January 15, 2021, and by January 15 annually thereafter, to the
15governor and the general assembly.
16 Sec. 8. Section 84A.5, subsection 7, Code 2018, is amended
17by adding the following new paragraph:
18 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0d. The Iowa employer innovation program
19established under section 84A.13.
20 Sec. 9. Section 84A.6, subsection 4, Code 2018, is amended
21by striking the subsection.
22 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION. 84A.12 Summer youth intern pilot
23program.
241. A summer youth intern pilot program is established
25within the department of workforce development to provide
26youths who are at risk of not graduating from high school,
27who are from low-income households, who are from communities
28underrepresented in the Iowa workforce, or who otherwise face
29barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market,
30with internship opportunities that allow these youths to
31explore and prepare for high-demand careers, to gain work
32experience, and to develop personal attributes necessary to
33succeed in the workplace.
342. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
35assembly for this purpose, the department of workforce
-7-1development shall award grants for summer youth intern
2pilot projects on a competitive basis as provided in this
3section. The department shall work with employers, nonprofit
4organizations, and educational institutions to place youth in
5internships primarily in high-demand career fields.
63. The department of workforce development shall annually
7issue a request for proposals to the public, specifying the
8expectations and requirements for summer youth intern pilot
9project grant qualification, including but not limited to the
10provision of facilities, programming, staffing, and outcomes.
114. The department of workforce development shall give
12full and fair consideration to each proposal submitted under
13subsection 3, and shall award grants after considering, at a
14minimum, the following:
15a. The bidder’s history and experience in the community.
16b. The capacity to serve a substantial number of youth.
17c. The suitability of the available facilities.
18d. The bidder’s contacts and partnerships in the community
19that can be leveraged to maximize opportunity for project
20participants.
21e. The capacity to provide employability skills, including
22but not limited to training relating to soft skills, financial
23literacy, and career development.
24 Sec. 11. NEW SECTION. 84A.13 Iowa employer innovation
25program — fund.
261. For purposes of this section, “high-demand job” means a
27job identified by the workforce development board pursuant to
28section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, as a high-demand job.
292. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
30assembly for this purpose, the Iowa employer innovation program
31is established in the department of workforce development.
32The department shall administer the program in consultation
33with the workforce development board. The purpose of the
34Iowa employer innovation program is to expand opportunities
35for credit and noncredit education and training leading to
-8-1high-demand jobs for the residents of Iowa and to encourage
2Iowa employers, community leaders, and others to provide
3leadership and support for regional workforce talent pools
4throughout the state.
53. The department of workforce development shall adopt
6rules under chapter 17A establishing a program application and
7award process to match employer moneys and the criteria for
8the allocation of moneys in the fund established pursuant to
9subsection 4. An employer, employer consortium, community
10organization, or other entity seeking matching moneys shall
11submit an application and a proposal to the department. In
12awarding matching moneys, the department shall take into
13account various factors, including but not limited to all of
14the following:
15a. The range of high-demand jobs, innovative measures, and
16geographic fairness and equity included in the proposal.
17b. Whether the proposal increases the number of eligible
18students receiving financial assistance under the future ready
19Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship or future
20ready Iowa skilled workforce grant programs established under
21sections 261.130 and 261.131; or increases the donation of
22books, transportation, child care, and other wrap-around
23support to assist eligible students receiving financial
24assistance under section 261.130 or 261.131.
25c. Whether the proposal includes performance-based
26bonuses paid when high school students earn national
27industry-recognized credentials aligned with high-demand jobs
28that meet regional workforce needs.
29d. Whether the proposal expands internships leading to
30high-demand jobs.
31e. Whether the proposal offers innovative ways of expanding
32opportunities for credit and noncredit education and training
33leading to high-demand jobs.
344. An Iowa employer innovation fund is created in the
35state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the
-9-1department of workforce development, in consultation with the
2workforce development board. The fund shall consist of any
3moneys appropriated by the general assembly and any other
4moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the department
5from the federal government. The assets of the fund shall be
6used by the department only for purposes of this section. All
7moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and
8made available to the board to be used for purposes of this
9section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund
10on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general
11fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this
12section in subsequent fiscal years.
13 Sec. 12. Section 261.130, Code 2018, is amended by striking
14the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
15261.130 Future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
16scholarship program.
171. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context
18otherwise requires:
19a. “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
20b. “Credential” means a postsecondary certificate, diploma,
21or degree, conferring no more than an associate degree, awarded
22by an eligible institution and earned in a program of study
23that leads to a high-demand job and is authorized for federal
24student aid under Tit.IV of the federal Higher Education Act
25of 1965, as amended.
26c. “Eligible institution” means a community college as
27defined in section 260C.2 or an accredited private institution
28as defined in section 261.9, that meets all of the following
29criteria:
30(1) Applies to and is approved by the commission to
31participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce
32last-dollar scholarship program.
33(2) Requires eligible students to complete and file
34application forms required by the commission, apply for
35all available state and federal financial aid, apply to the
-10-1eligible institution to participate in the program, attend
2orientation in person or virtually, register for classes
3with the assistance of an academic advisor, and participate
4in academic and career advising sessions offered under the
5program.
6(3) Facilitates, in collaboration with the commission on
7volunteer service created in section 15H.2, the assignment
8of a volunteer mentor to each eligible student, based on the
9eligible student’s interest. The volunteer mentor shall have
10successfully passed a background investigation and a check of
11the national sex offender registry as required under section
1215H.9, subsection 2, and both the eligible student and the
13volunteer mentor shall have entered into a written agreement as
14provided in section 15H.9, subsection 3.
15(4) Facilitates connections through campus career centers
16and services to internships and similar local, state, and
17federal programs.
18(5) Markets the eligible institution’s future ready Iowa
19program of study and optional incentives, which may include
20but not be limited to credit for military experience, on the
21eligible institution’s internet site and to other relevant
22agencies and organizations as recommended by the college
23student aid commission, the commission on volunteer service, or
24the department of workforce development.
25(6) Submits annually information and data regarding the
26eligible program operated by the eligible institution, the
27students and volunteer mentors participating in the eligible
28program, scholarship recipient eligible program completion
29results, and statistics on employment outcomes for eligible
30program participants by industry, to the commission in the
31manner required by the commission.
32d. “Eligible program” means a program of study or an
33academic major jointly approved by the commission and the
34department of workforce development, in consultation with an
35eligible institution, that leads to a credential aligned with
-11-1a high-demand job designated by the workforce development
2board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A. If the
3department removes a high-demand job from the list created
4under section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, an eligible student who
5received a scholarship for a program based on that high-demand
6job shall continue to receive the scholarship until achieving
7a postsecondary credential, up to an associate degree, as
8long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility
9requirements.
10e. “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who meets all
11of the following requirements:
12(1) Is either a new graduate of an Iowa high school who
13enrolls full-time in an eligible program at an eligible
14institution by the fall semester, or the equivalent,
15following graduation from high school or completion of private
16instruction under chapter 299A; or is an adult learner who has
17received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency
18diploma, who enrolls in an eligible program in an eligible
19institution as a full-time or part-time student.
20(2) Completes and submits application forms required by the
21commission, including the free application for federal student
22aid; applies for all available state and federal financial
23aid; attends orientation in person or virtually; registers
24for classes with the assistance of an academic advisor;
25and participates in academic and career advising sessions
26required under the eligible program. To receive a renewal of
27a scholarship awarded under this section, an eligible student
28must annually submit a new application to the commission for
29reevaluation of eligibility.
30(3) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by
31the eligible institution.
32(4) Remains continuously enrolled unless granted a leave of
33absence by the eligible institution based on criteria adopted
34by rule by the commission.
35f. “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester
-12-1hours or the equivalent.
2g. “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less
3than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
42. Allowable activities. An eligible student may work
5with an assigned volunteer mentor to help the student meet the
6requirements of this section or the requirements of an eligible
7program, identify and participate in work-based learning
8opportunities with the approval of the eligible institution,
9and make other career-related connections.
103. Scholarship limitations — requirements.
11a. For an eligible student who is attending an eligible
12institution that is a community college during the fall,
13spring, or summer term of enrollment, and is pursuing a
14postsecondary credential up to an associate degree, the annual
15amount of a future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
16scholarship, when combined with other state and federal
17nonrepayable student aid, shall not exceed an amount equivalent
18to the tuition and any mandatory institution-wide fees charged
19by the community college for the eligible program. For an
20eligible student pursuing a postsecondary credential up to
21an associate degree at an eligible institution that is an
22accredited private institution during the fall, spring, or
23summer term of enrollment, the annual amount of a future ready
24Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship, when combined
25with other state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall
26not exceed an amount equivalent to the average tuition rate
27plus the average institution-wide mandatory fees charged during
28the same term of enrollment by the eligible institutions that
29are community colleges.
30b. If an eligible student receives nonrepayable financial
31aid under any other state or federal program, the full amount
32of that aid shall be considered part of the student’s available
33financial resources before determining the amount of the
34student’s future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
35scholarship for the same period during which the student
-13-1receives other state or federal financial aid. However, each
2eligible student enrolled full-time in an eligible program
3shall receive at least five hundred dollars annually, and the
4amount received by each eligible part-time student shall be
5the same amount prorated by the commission based on the number
6of semester hours, or the equivalent, for which the part-time
7student is enrolled.
8c. A full-time eligible student may receive a future
9ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship for
10not more than five semesters, or the equivalent, or until
11the eligible student earns the credential sought, up to an
12associate degree, under the program, whichever occurs first.
13A part-time eligible student may receive the scholarship for
14not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated
15basis, or until the eligible student earns the credential
16sought, up to an associate degree, under the eligible program,
17whichever occurs first. All classes identified by an eligible
18institution as required for completion of the eligible program
19by the eligible student shall be considered required under the
20eligible program for purposes of this section.
21d. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
22scholarship shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring
23reapplication by an eligible student each year. Scholarship
24payments shall be allocated equally among the semesters, or
25the equivalent, and paid upon certification by the eligible
26institution that the student meets the requirements of
27subsection 1, paragraph “e”.
28e. If a scholarship recipient discontinues attendance before
29the end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving
30scholarship payments, the entire amount of any refund due
31that recipient, up to the full amount of all of the annual
32scholarship payments made, shall be paid by the eligible
33institution to the commission. A scholarship recipient,
34who is not approved for a leave of absence by the eligible
35institution, who discontinues attendance before the end of a
-14-1semester, or the equivalent, is ineligible to receive future
2scholarships under this section.
34. Commission’s duties and responsibilities. Subject to an
4appropriation of funds by the general assembly for purposes of
5this section, the commission shall administer the future ready
6Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program and
7shall do all of the following:
8a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
9high schools and eligible institutions.
10b. Adopt rules under chapter 17A, in collaboration with
11the department of workforce development, for administration of
12this section, including but not limited to establishing the
13duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the
14program; defining residence and satisfactory academic progress
15for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures
16for scholarship application, processing, and approval. The
17rules shall provide for determining the priority awarding of
18scholarships if funds available for purposes of this section
19are insufficient to pay all eligible students. Priority shall
20be given to fully awarding each eligible student approved for a
21scholarship rather than to prorating scholarship awards among
22all eligible students.
23c. Approve and award future ready Iowa skilled workforce
24last-dollar scholarships on an annual basis.
25d. Transmit to the department of workforce development the
26compilation of information, data, and statistics submitted in
27accordance with subsection 1, paragraph “c”, subparagraph (6),
28for the annual report required under section 84A.1B.
295. Fund created. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce
30last-dollar scholarship fund is created in the state treasury
31as a separate fund under the control of the commission. All
32moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and
33made available to the commission to be used for scholarships
34awarded as provided under this section. Notwithstanding
35section 8.33, any balance in the fund on June 30 of each fiscal
-15-1year shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but
2shall be available for purposes of this section in subsequent
3fiscal years.
4 Sec. 13. NEW SECTION. 261.131 Future ready Iowa skilled
5workforce grant program.
61. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context
7otherwise requires:
8a. “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
9b. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
10learning governed by the state board of regents or an
11accredited private institution as defined in section 261.9,
12that meets all of the following criteria:
13(1) Applies to and is approved by the commission to
14participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
15program.
16(2) Requires eligible students to complete and file
17application forms required by the commission, apply for
18all available state and federal financial aid, apply to the
19eligible institution to participate in the program, attend
20orientation in person or virtually, register for classes
21with the assistance of an academic advisor, and participate
22in academic and career advising sessions required under the
23program.
24(3) Certifies that prior to participating in the program
25an eligible student has earned at least half of the credits
26necessary for a bachelor’s degree and is able to complete a
27bachelor’s degree in an eligible program of study or academic
28major leading to a designated high-demand job in the prescribed
29grant time frame.
30(4) Facilitates the assignment of a volunteer mentor to each
31eligible student based on the eligible student’s interest. The
32volunteer mentor shall have successfully passed a background
33investigation and a check of the national sex offender
34registry as required under section 15H.9, subsection 2, and
35both the eligible student and the volunteer mentor shall have
-16-1entered into a written agreement as provided in section 15H.9,
2subsection 3.
3(5) Facilitates connections through campus career centers
4and services to internships and similar local, state, and
5federal programs.
6(6) Markets the eligible institution’s eligible program and
7optional incentives, which may include but not be limited to
8credit for military experience, on the eligible institution’s
9internet site and to other relevant agencies and organizations
10as recommended by the college student aid commission, the
11commission on volunteer service, or the department of workforce
12development.
13(7) Submits annually information and data regarding the
14eligible program operated by the eligible institution, the
15students and volunteer mentors participating in the eligible
16program, and statistics on employment outcomes for eligible
17program participants by industry, to the commission in the
18manner required by the commission.
19c. “Eligible program” means a program of study or an
20academic major jointly approved by the commission and the
21department of workforce development, in consultation with the
22eligible institution, that leads to a bachelor’s degree aligned
23with a high-demand job designated by the workforce development
24board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A. If the
25department removes a high-demand job from the list created
26under section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, an eligible student
27who received a grant for a program based on that high-demand
28job shall continue to receive the grant until achieving a
29bachelor’s degree as long as the student continues to meet all
30other eligibility requirements.
31d. “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who meets all
32of the following requirements:
33(1) Has earned at least half of the credits necessary for a
34bachelor’s degree and is able to complete a bachelor’s degree
35in an eligible program of study or academic major leading to a
-17-1designated high-demand job in the prescribed grant time frame.
2(2) Completes and submits application forms required by the
3commission, including the free application for federal student
4aid; applies for all available state and federal financial
5aid; attends orientation in person or virtually; registers
6for classes with the assistance of an academic advisor; and
7participates in academic and career advising sessions required
8under the eligible program. To receive a renewal of a grant
9awarded under this section, an eligible student must annually
10submit a new application to the commission for reevaluation of
11eligibility.
12(3) Has not been enrolled in postsecondary education
13during the twenty-four months preceding the date on which the
14commission receives the individual’s application to participate
15in the program.
16(4) Enrolls in at least six semester hours, or the
17equivalent, in an eligible program. However, an eligible
18student may enroll in fewer than six semester hours, or the
19equivalent, if the eligible student needs fewer than six
20semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, to achieve a
21bachelor’s degree under the eligible program.
22(5) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by
23the eligible institution.
24(6) Remains continuously enrolled unless granted a leave of
25absence by the eligible institution based on criteria adopted
26by rule by the commission.
27e. “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester
28hours or the equivalent.
29f. “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less
30than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
312. Allowable activities. An eligible student may work
32with an assigned volunteer mentor to help the student meet the
33requirements of this section or the requirements of an eligible
34program, identify and participate in work-based learning
35opportunities with the approval of the eligible institution,
-18-1and make other career-related connections.
23. Grant limitations — requirements.
3a. A full-time eligible student may receive a future ready
4Iowa skilled workforce grant annually for not more than four
5semesters, or the equivalent, or until the eligible student
6earns a bachelor’s degree under the program, whichever occurs
7first. A part-time eligible student may receive the grant for
8not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated
9basis, or until the eligible student earns a bachelor’s degree
10under the eligible program, whichever occurs first.
11b. The amount of a future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
12to a full-time eligible student shall be at least one thousand
13dollars annually. The amount of a future ready Iowa skilled
14workforce grant to a part-time eligible student shall be equal
15to the amount that would be awarded to a full-time student
16except that the commission shall prorate the amount based on
17the recipient student’s semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
18c. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant shall be
19awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an
20eligible student each year. Payments under the grant shall be
21allocated equally among the semesters, or the equivalent, and
22paid upon certification by the eligible institution that the
23student meets the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “d”.
24d. If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the
25end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving grant
26payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient,
27up to the full amount of all annual grant payments made, shall
28be paid by the eligible institution to the commission.
294. Commission’s duties and responsibilities. Subject to an
30appropriation of funds by the general assembly for purposes of
31this section, the commission shall administer the future ready
32Iowa skilled workforce grant program and shall do all of the
33following:
34a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
35eligible institutions.
-19- 1b. Adopt rules under chapter 17A, in collaboration with
2the department of workforce development, for administration of
3this section, including but not limited to establishing the
4duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the
5program; defining residence and satisfactory academic progress
6for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures for
7grant application, processing, and approval. The rules shall
8provide for determining the priority awarding of grants if
9funds available for purposes of this section are insufficient
10to pay all eligible students. Priority shall be given to fully
11awarding each eligible student approved for a grant rather than
12to prorating grant awards among all eligible students.
13c. Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
14d. Transmit to the department of workforce development the
15compilation of information, data, and statistics submitted in
16accordance with subsection 1, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (7),
17for the annual report required under section 84A.1B.
185. Fund created. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce
19grant fund is created in the state treasury as a separate fund
20under the control of the commission. All moneys deposited or
21paid into the fund are appropriated and made available to the
22commission to be used for grants awarded as provided under this
23section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund
24on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general
25fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this
26section in subsequent fiscal years.
27 Sec. 14. Section 261E.8, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
28following new subsection:
29 NEW SUBSECTION. 7A. Subject to an appropriation of funds
30by the general assembly for this purpose, the department shall
31establish a program to provide additional funds for resident
32high school pupils enrolled in grades nine through twelve to
33attend a community college for college-level classes or attend
34a class taught by a community college-employed instructor
35through a contractual agreement between a community college and
-20-1a school district that satisfies the requirements for classes
2under section 257.11, subsection 3, except that the classes
3eligible for funding under this program are offered during the
4summer and outside of the regular school year and are aligned
5with career pathways leading to postsecondary credentials
6and high-demand jobs designated by the workforce development
7board created in section 84A.1B. A community college shall
8not charge students tuition for a class offered partially
9or completely outside of the regular school year under this
10program.
11 Sec. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes
12effect July 1, 2019.
13EXPLANATION
14The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
15the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
16This bill relates to workforce development by establishing
17a volunteer mentoring program, a registered apprenticeship
18development program, an employer innovation fund, a summer
19youth intern program, and future ready Iowa skilled workforce
20scholarship and grant programs and funds, and providing for
21shared postsecondary summer classes for high school students
22that are aligned with career pathways. The bill also makes
23conforming changes.
24DIVISION I — TITLE OF ACT. The bill provides that it may be
25known and cited as the “Future Ready Iowa Act”.
26DIVISION II — FUTURE READY IOWA REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP
27DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Subject to an appropriation of funds
28by the general assembly for this purpose, the bill creates
29a future ready Iowa registered apprenticeship development
30program, to be administered by the economic development
31authority, to provide financial assistance meant to incentivize
32small and medium-sized apprenticeship sponsors to establish
33new or additional eligible apprenticeable occupations to
34support the growth of apprenticeships and expand high-quality
35work-based learning experiences in high-demand fields and
-21-1careers.
2The bill includes definitions relating to apprenticeships
3that correspond to U.S.department of labor standards.
4However, “eligible apprenticeable occupation” means those
5identified by the Iowa workforce development board as a
6high-demand job in consultation with the authority.
7To receive financial assistance, an apprenticeship sponsor
8must demonstrate how the program’s financial assistance would
9be used.
10An apprenticeship sponsor is eligible to apply for financial
11assistance for a new or additional apprenticeable occupation in
12the apprenticeship sponsor’s apprenticeship program if 20 or
13fewer apprentices are in the existing apprenticeship program
14and more than 70 percent of the applicant’s apprentices are
15Iowa residents.
16An apprenticeship sponsor is ineligible to receive financial
17assistance from this program and the apprenticeship training
18program established under Code chapter 15B during the same
19fiscal year.
20The authority’s administrative expenditures shall not exceed
212 percent of the moneys appropriated for a fiscal year for
22purposes of the program. Moneys appropriated for the program
23carry over for use in subsequent fiscal years.
24DIVISION III — VOLUNTEER MENTOR PROGRAM. Subject to an
25appropriation by the general assembly, the commission on
26volunteer service shall establish a volunteer mentor program
27to support implementation of the future ready Iowa skilled
28workforce last-dollar scholarship and the future ready Iowa
29skilled workforce grant programs. The commission must adopt
30rules to implement and administer the program and establish
31standards, guidelines, and expectations for a productive and
32appropriate relationship between mentors and mentees, which
33must be part of the required written agreements between mentors
34and mentees.
35A prospective volunteer mentor must have successfully passed
-22-1a background investigation and a check of the national sex
2offender registry. The mentor assigned to a prospective mentee
3must be appropriate to the prospective mentee’s field of study
4whenever possible.
5Moneys appropriated for purposes of the program may carry
6over to the succeeding fiscal year for purposes of the program.
7STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD — HIGH-DEMAND JOBS AND
8ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT. The state workforce development board
9is directed to create and update a list of high-demand jobs
10statewide for purposes of the future ready Iowa registered
11apprenticeship development program, the summer youth intern
12pilot program, the Iowa employer innovation program, the
13future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
14program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program,
15and postsecondary summer classes for high school students.
16The board has full discretion to select and prioritize
17high-demand jobs, but must consult with business and education
18stakeholders, and seek public comment. “High-demand job”
19is defined to mean a job in the state for which the board
20determines work opportunities are available and qualified
21applicants are lacking.
22The board must also compile and submit an annual report
23relating to participation in the programs to the governor and
24the general assembly.
25SUMMER YOUTH INTERN PROGRAM. A summer youth intern program
26is established within the department of workforce development
27to promote learning by providing internship opportunities
28that allow youths who are at risk of not graduating from high
29school, are from low-income households, are from communities
30underrepresented in the Iowa workforce, or otherwise face
31barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market,
32to explore and prepare for high-demand careers, to gain work
33experience, and to develop personal attributes necessary to
34succeed in the workplace.
35Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly
-23-1for this purpose, the department shall award grants for summer
2youth intern pilot projects on a competitive basis and work
3with employers, nonprofits, and educational institutions to
4place youth in internships primarily in high-demand career
5fields. The department must annually issue a request for
6proposals to the public specifying the expectations and
7requirements for summer youth intern pilot project grant
8qualification. The bill specifies what the department must
9consider before awarding a grant.
10IOWA EMPLOYER INNOVATION PROGRAM AND FUND. Subject to an
11appropriation by the general assembly for this purpose, an Iowa
12employer innovation program is established in the department
13of workforce development to expand opportunities for credit
14and noncredit education and training leading to high-demand
15jobs for the residents of Iowa and to encourage Iowa employers,
16community leaders, and others to provide leadership and support
17for regional workforce talent pools throughout the state.
18An employer, employer consortium, community organization, or
19other entity seeking matching moneys must submit an application
20and a proposal to the department. The bill describes the
21factors the department must take into account in awarding
22matching moneys.
23An Iowa employer innovation fund is created in the state
24treasury under the control of the department. Moneys in the
25fund carry over for use in subsequent fiscal years.
26FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP
27PROGRAM. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
28scholarship shall be administered by the college student aid
29commission subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
30assembly for the program. An Iowa resident, who may be a new
31high school graduate or adult learner, at a participating
32community college or accredited private institution is
33eligible for a scholarship if the student is enrolled in an
34eligible program of study leading to a certificate, diploma, or
35associate degree aligned with a high-demand job as designated
-24-1by the state workforce development board. A full-time eligible
2student may receive a scholarship for not more than five
3semesters, or the semester equivalent, or until the eligible
4student earns a postsecondary credential up to an associate
5degree under the program, whichever occurs first. A part-time
6eligible student may receive the scholarship on a prorated
7basis for not more than eight semesters or until earning a
8postsecondary credential up to an associate degree, whichever
9occurs first.
10For an eligible student attending a community college,
11the annual amount of the scholarship, when combined with
12other state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall not
13exceed an amount equivalent to the tuition and any mandatory
14institution-wide fees charged by the community college for
15the eligible program. For an eligible student pursuing an
16associate degree at an accredited private institution, the
17annual amount of the scholarship, when combined with other
18state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall not exceed an
19amount equivalent to the average tuition rate plus the average
20institution-wide mandatory fees charged during the same term
21of enrollment by eligible community colleges. Each full-time
22eligible student shall receive at least $500 annually, with
23part-time students receiving a prorated amount.
24If a scholarship recipient discontinues attendance before
25the end of any semester, and is not approved for a leave of
26absence by the institution, any annual refund due shall be
27paid by the eligible institution to the commission, and the
28recipient is ineligible to receive future scholarships under
29the program.
30The bill tasks the commission with adopting rules, including
31for the priority awarding of scholarships if funds are
32insufficient to pay all eligible students.
33The future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
34scholarship fund is created in the state treasury under the
35control of the commission. Moneys in the fund carry over for
-25-1use in subsequent fiscal years.
2FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM. Subject
3to an appropriation by the general assembly for the program,
4the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant shall be
5administered by the college student aid commission. An Iowa
6resident who for two years preceding application was not
7enrolled in a postsecondary institution is eligible for a
8grant if the person has earned half the credit needed for a
9bachelor’s degree and is enrolled in a participating regents
10university or accredited private institution in an eligible
11program that leads to a bachelor’s degree aligned with a
12high-demand job designated by the state workforce development
13board. A full-time eligible student may receive a future ready
14Iowa skilled workforce grant annually for not more than four
15semesters or until the eligible student earns a bachelor’s
16degree under the program, whichever occurs first. A part-time
17eligible student may receive the grant on a prorated basis.
18The annual grant amount to a full-time eligible student
19shall be at least $1,000. The annual grant amount to a
20part-time eligible student is prorated based on the recipient’s
21semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
22The grant is awarded on an annual basis, requiring
23reapplication by an eligible student each year.
24If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end
25of any semester, or the equivalent, the eligible institution
26shall pay to the commission any refund due to the recipient up
27to the full amount of annual grant payments made.
28The commission must adopt rules, including the priority
29awarding of grants if funds are insufficient to pay all
30eligible students.
31The future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant fund is
32created in the state treasury as a separate fund under the
33control of the commission. Moneys in the fund carry over for
34use in subsequent fiscal years.
35POSTSECONDARY SUMMER CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
-26-1 Subject to an appropriation by the general assembly, the
2department is directed to establish a program to provide
3additional funds for resident high school pupils enrolled in
4grades 9-12 to attend summer classes for postsecondary credit
5under a contractual agreement between a community college and
6a school district. The classes must be aligned with career
7pathways leading to postsecondary credentials and high-demand
8jobs. The bill prohibits a community college from charging a
9pupil tuition for such a class.
10EFFECTIVE DATE OF DIVISION III. Division III takes effect
11July 1, 2019.
-27-kh/rj
2development by establishing a registered apprenticeship
3development program, a volunteer mentoring program, a summer
4youth intern program, summer postsecondary courses for high
5school students that are aligned with high-demand career
6pathways, an employer innovation fund, and future ready Iowa
7skilled workforce scholarship and grant programs and funds,
8and including effective date provisions.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2TITLE OF ACT
3 Section 1. TITLE OF ACT. This Act shall be known and may be
4cited as the “Future Ready Iowa Act”.
5DIVISION II
6ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT authority — FUTURE READY IOWA REGISTERED
7APPRENTICESHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
8 Sec. 2. Section 15.106A, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
92018, is amended to read as follows:
10a. That through this section and section 15.106B, the
11authority has been granted broad general powers and specific
12program powers over all of the authority’s statutory programs,
13including but not limited to the programs created pursuant to
14chapters 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15E, and 15J.
15 Sec. 3. Section 15B.4, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
16following new subsection:
17 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. An apprenticeship sponsor receiving
18financial assistance under this chapter is ineligible for
19financial assistance under section 15C.1 during the same fiscal
20year.
21 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 15C.1 Future ready Iowa registered
22apprenticeship development program.
231. Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless the
24context otherwise requires:
25a. “Applicant” means a new or existing apprenticeship
26sponsor located in Iowa that has established an apprenticeship
27program involving an eligible apprenticeable occupation that is
28located in Iowa and approved by the United States department of
29labor, office of apprenticeship.
30b. “Apprentice” means a person who is at least sixteen
31years of age, except where a higher minimum age is required by
32law, who is employed in an apprenticeable occupation, and is
33registered in Iowa with the United States department of labor,
34office of apprenticeship.
35c. “Apprenticeable occupation” means an occupation approved
-1-1for apprenticeship by the United States department of labor,
2office of apprenticeship.
3d. “Apprenticeship program” means a program registered
4with the United States department of labor, office of
5apprenticeship, which includes terms and conditions for the
6qualification, recruitment, selection, employment, and training
7of apprentices, including the requirement for a written
8apprenticeship agreement.
9e. “Apprenticeship sponsor” means an entity operating
10an apprenticeship program or an entity in whose name an
11apprenticeship program is being operated, which is registered
12with or approved by the United States department of labor,
13office of apprenticeship.
14f. “Authority” means the economic development authority
15created in section 15.105.
16g. “Eligible apprenticeable occupation” means an
17apprenticeable occupation identified by the workforce
18development board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A,
19as a high-demand job, after consultation with the authority.
20h. “Financial assistance” means assistance provided only
21from the funds, rights, and assets legally available to the
22authority and includes but is not limited to assistance in the
23form of a reimbursement grant to support the costs associated
24with establishing a new eligible apprenticeable occupation
25or an additional eligible apprenticeable occupation in an
26applicant’s apprenticeship program.
272. Program created. Subject to an appropriation of funds
28by the general assembly for this purpose, a future ready Iowa
29registered apprenticeship development program is created which
30shall be administered by the authority. The purpose of the
31program is to provide financial assistance to incentivize
32small and medium-sized apprenticeship sponsors to establish
33new or additional eligible apprenticeable occupations in the
34apprenticeship sponsor’s apprenticeship program in order to
35support the growth of apprenticeship programs and expand
-2-1high-quality work-based learning experiences in high-demand
2fields and careers for persons who are employed in eligible
3apprenticeable occupations in Iowa.
43. Application requirements — restriction. An
5apprenticeship sponsor may apply to the authority, on
6forms provided by the authority and in accordance with the
7authority’s instructions, to receive financial assistance under
8the program. The authority shall provide upon request and on
9the authority’s internet site information about the program,
10the application, application instructions, and the application
11period established each year for funding available under the
12program. The application shall include a description of how
13the financial assistance awarded under this section would be
14used to establish an apprenticeship program or add new or
15additional apprenticeable occupations to the apprenticeship
16sponsor’s apprenticeship program and the anticipated program
17expenses identified by the applicant.
18a. An apprenticeship sponsor is eligible to apply for
19financial assistance for a new or additional eligible
20apprenticeable occupation, in addition to existing
21apprenticeship occupations in the apprenticeship sponsor’s
22apprenticeship program, if all of the following conditions are
23met:
24(1) Twenty or fewer apprentices are registered in the
25existing apprenticeship program as of December 31 of the
26calendar year prior to the date the authority receives the
27apprenticeship sponsor’s application.
28(2) More than seventy percent of the applicant’s
29apprentices shall be residents of Iowa. In determining the
30number of apprentices in an applicant’s apprenticeship program,
31the authority may calculate the average number of apprentices
32in the program within the most recent two-year period.
33b. An apprenticeship sponsor receiving financial assistance
34under chapter 15B is ineligible for financial assistance under
35this section during the same fiscal year.
-3- 14. Rules. The authority shall adopt rules pursuant to
2chapter 17A establishing a staff review and application
3approval process, application scoring criteria, the minimum
4score necessary for approval of financial assistance,
5procedures for notification of an award of financial
6assistance, the terms of agreement between the apprenticeship
7sponsor and the authority, and any other rules deemed necessary
8for the implementation and administration of this section.
95. Agreement. Prior to distributing financial assistance
10under this section, the authority shall enter into an agreement
11with the apprenticeship sponsor awarded financial assistance
12in accordance with this section, and the financial assistance
13recipient shall confirm the expenses for establishing the
14program or adding the additional occupations as identified in
15the approved application, and shall meet all terms established
16by the authority for receipt of financial assistance under this
17section.
186. Use of moneys appropriated — administration.
19a. The annual administrative expenditures as a percent of
20the moneys appropriated for a fiscal year for purposes of this
21section shall not exceed two percent.
22b. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated to
23the authority by the general assembly for purposes of this
24section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the end of
25the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall
26remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated in
27subsequent fiscal years.
28DIVISION III
29FUTURE READY IOWA — VARIOUS PROGRAMS
30 Sec. 5. Section 15H.1A, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
31following new subsection:
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. “Commission” means the Iowa commission
33on volunteer service created in section 15H.2.
34 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 15H.9 Volunteer mentor program.
351. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
-4-1assembly for this purpose, the commission shall establish a
2volunteer mentor program to support implementation of the
3future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
4and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant programs
5created in sections 261.130 and 261.131. The commission, in
6collaboration with the department of workforce development and
7the college student aid commission, shall adopt rules pursuant
8to chapter 17A to implement and administer the volunteer
9mentor program, and shall establish standards, guidelines, and
10expectations for a productive and appropriate relationship
11between mentors and mentees, including helping students
12meet the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
13scholarship program or future ready Iowa skilled workforce
14grant requirements, as appropriate; identify work-based
15learning opportunities; and make career-related connections
16that are advantageous to persons participating in the volunteer
17mentor program.
182. The prospective volunteer mentor shall have successfully
19passed a background investigation conducted by the division of
20criminal investigation of the department of public safety and a
21check of the national sex offender registry.
223. The commission shall enter into written agreements with
23prospective mentors and mentees under the program. Under such
24an agreement, prospective mentors and mentees agree to abide by
25the standards, guidelines, and expectations established by the
26commission pursuant to subsection 1.
274. The commission, in collaboration with the department of
28workforce development and the college student aid commission,
29and in cooperation with an eligible institution as defined
30in section 261.130 or 261.131, as appropriate, shall assign
31a student, who is a recipient of a future ready Iowa skilled
32workforce last-dollar scholarship under section 261.130 or
33a future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant under section
34261.131, who requests the assignment of a mentor, and who
35enters into an agreement under subsection 3, to a mentor
-5-1appropriate to the prospective mentee’s field of study whenever
2possible.
35. The commission shall maintain, and regularly update,
4a list of the mentor and mentee pairings and the dates of
5inception of the mentor and mentee pairings.
66. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated to the
7economic development authority for allocation to the commission
8for purposes of this section that remain unencumbered or
9unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but
10shall remain available to be used for the purposes designated
11in this section until the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
12 Sec. 7. Section 84A.1B, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
13following new subsections:
14 NEW SUBSECTION. 13A. Create, and update as necessary, a
15list of high-demand jobs statewide for purposes of the future
16ready Iowa registered apprenticeship development program
17created in section 15C.1, the summer youth intern pilot
18program established under section 84A.12, the Iowa employer
19innovation program established under section 84A.13, the
20future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
21program established under section 261.130, the future ready
22Iowa skilled workforce grant program established under section
23261.131, and postsecondary summer classes for high school
24students as provided under section 261E.8, subsection 7A.
25The workforce development board shall have full discretion
26to select and prioritize high-demand jobs after consulting
27with business and education stakeholders, as appropriate, and
28seeking public comment. For purposes of this subsection,
29“high-demand job” means a job in the state for which the board
30determines work opportunities are available and qualified
31applicants are lacking.
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 13B. Compile an annual report, in an
33aggregate form to protect the confidentiality of each eligible
34program’s participants, that includes the number of students
35receiving scholarships under section 261.130, the number of
-6-1students receiving grants under section 261.131, the number
2of scholarship and grant recipients completing a program
3of study or major annually and in the prescribed timeframe
4under sections 261.130 and 261.131, the number of eligible
5institutions participating in the scholarship and grant
6programs established under sections 261.130 and 261.131, the
7number of written agreements entered into by the volunteer
8mentor program under section 15H.9, statistics on employment
9outcomes for future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
10scholarship and future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
11program participants by industry, and other data as may be
12deemed pertinent by the department or the college student aid
13commission. The department shall submit the initial report by
14January 15, 2021, and by January 15 annually thereafter, to the
15governor and the general assembly.
16 Sec. 8. Section 84A.5, subsection 7, Code 2018, is amended
17by adding the following new paragraph:
18 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0d. The Iowa employer innovation program
19established under section 84A.13.
20 Sec. 9. Section 84A.6, subsection 4, Code 2018, is amended
21by striking the subsection.
22 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION. 84A.12 Summer youth intern pilot
23program.
241. A summer youth intern pilot program is established
25within the department of workforce development to provide
26youths who are at risk of not graduating from high school,
27who are from low-income households, who are from communities
28underrepresented in the Iowa workforce, or who otherwise face
29barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market,
30with internship opportunities that allow these youths to
31explore and prepare for high-demand careers, to gain work
32experience, and to develop personal attributes necessary to
33succeed in the workplace.
342. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
35assembly for this purpose, the department of workforce
-7-1development shall award grants for summer youth intern
2pilot projects on a competitive basis as provided in this
3section. The department shall work with employers, nonprofit
4organizations, and educational institutions to place youth in
5internships primarily in high-demand career fields.
63. The department of workforce development shall annually
7issue a request for proposals to the public, specifying the
8expectations and requirements for summer youth intern pilot
9project grant qualification, including but not limited to the
10provision of facilities, programming, staffing, and outcomes.
114. The department of workforce development shall give
12full and fair consideration to each proposal submitted under
13subsection 3, and shall award grants after considering, at a
14minimum, the following:
15a. The bidder’s history and experience in the community.
16b. The capacity to serve a substantial number of youth.
17c. The suitability of the available facilities.
18d. The bidder’s contacts and partnerships in the community
19that can be leveraged to maximize opportunity for project
20participants.
21e. The capacity to provide employability skills, including
22but not limited to training relating to soft skills, financial
23literacy, and career development.
24 Sec. 11. NEW SECTION. 84A.13 Iowa employer innovation
25program — fund.
261. For purposes of this section, “high-demand job” means a
27job identified by the workforce development board pursuant to
28section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, as a high-demand job.
292. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
30assembly for this purpose, the Iowa employer innovation program
31is established in the department of workforce development.
32The department shall administer the program in consultation
33with the workforce development board. The purpose of the
34Iowa employer innovation program is to expand opportunities
35for credit and noncredit education and training leading to
-8-1high-demand jobs for the residents of Iowa and to encourage
2Iowa employers, community leaders, and others to provide
3leadership and support for regional workforce talent pools
4throughout the state.
53. The department of workforce development shall adopt
6rules under chapter 17A establishing a program application and
7award process to match employer moneys and the criteria for
8the allocation of moneys in the fund established pursuant to
9subsection 4. An employer, employer consortium, community
10organization, or other entity seeking matching moneys shall
11submit an application and a proposal to the department. In
12awarding matching moneys, the department shall take into
13account various factors, including but not limited to all of
14the following:
15a. The range of high-demand jobs, innovative measures, and
16geographic fairness and equity included in the proposal.
17b. Whether the proposal increases the number of eligible
18students receiving financial assistance under the future ready
19Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship or future
20ready Iowa skilled workforce grant programs established under
21sections 261.130 and 261.131; or increases the donation of
22books, transportation, child care, and other wrap-around
23support to assist eligible students receiving financial
24assistance under section 261.130 or 261.131.
25c. Whether the proposal includes performance-based
26bonuses paid when high school students earn national
27industry-recognized credentials aligned with high-demand jobs
28that meet regional workforce needs.
29d. Whether the proposal expands internships leading to
30high-demand jobs.
31e. Whether the proposal offers innovative ways of expanding
32opportunities for credit and noncredit education and training
33leading to high-demand jobs.
344. An Iowa employer innovation fund is created in the
35state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the
-9-1department of workforce development, in consultation with the
2workforce development board. The fund shall consist of any
3moneys appropriated by the general assembly and any other
4moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the department
5from the federal government. The assets of the fund shall be
6used by the department only for purposes of this section. All
7moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and
8made available to the board to be used for purposes of this
9section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund
10on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general
11fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this
12section in subsequent fiscal years.
13 Sec. 12. Section 261.130, Code 2018, is amended by striking
14the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
15261.130 Future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
16scholarship program.
171. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context
18otherwise requires:
19a. “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
20b. “Credential” means a postsecondary certificate, diploma,
21or degree, conferring no more than an associate degree, awarded
22by an eligible institution and earned in a program of study
23that leads to a high-demand job and is authorized for federal
24student aid under Tit.IV of the federal Higher Education Act
25of 1965, as amended.
26c. “Eligible institution” means a community college as
27defined in section 260C.2 or an accredited private institution
28as defined in section 261.9, that meets all of the following
29criteria:
30(1) Applies to and is approved by the commission to
31participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce
32last-dollar scholarship program.
33(2) Requires eligible students to complete and file
34application forms required by the commission, apply for
35all available state and federal financial aid, apply to the
-10-1eligible institution to participate in the program, attend
2orientation in person or virtually, register for classes
3with the assistance of an academic advisor, and participate
4in academic and career advising sessions offered under the
5program.
6(3) Facilitates, in collaboration with the commission on
7volunteer service created in section 15H.2, the assignment
8of a volunteer mentor to each eligible student, based on the
9eligible student’s interest. The volunteer mentor shall have
10successfully passed a background investigation and a check of
11the national sex offender registry as required under section
1215H.9, subsection 2, and both the eligible student and the
13volunteer mentor shall have entered into a written agreement as
14provided in section 15H.9, subsection 3.
15(4) Facilitates connections through campus career centers
16and services to internships and similar local, state, and
17federal programs.
18(5) Markets the eligible institution’s future ready Iowa
19program of study and optional incentives, which may include
20but not be limited to credit for military experience, on the
21eligible institution’s internet site and to other relevant
22agencies and organizations as recommended by the college
23student aid commission, the commission on volunteer service, or
24the department of workforce development.
25(6) Submits annually information and data regarding the
26eligible program operated by the eligible institution, the
27students and volunteer mentors participating in the eligible
28program, scholarship recipient eligible program completion
29results, and statistics on employment outcomes for eligible
30program participants by industry, to the commission in the
31manner required by the commission.
32d. “Eligible program” means a program of study or an
33academic major jointly approved by the commission and the
34department of workforce development, in consultation with an
35eligible institution, that leads to a credential aligned with
-11-1a high-demand job designated by the workforce development
2board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A. If the
3department removes a high-demand job from the list created
4under section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, an eligible student who
5received a scholarship for a program based on that high-demand
6job shall continue to receive the scholarship until achieving
7a postsecondary credential, up to an associate degree, as
8long as the student continues to meet all other eligibility
9requirements.
10e. “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who meets all
11of the following requirements:
12(1) Is either a new graduate of an Iowa high school who
13enrolls full-time in an eligible program at an eligible
14institution by the fall semester, or the equivalent,
15following graduation from high school or completion of private
16instruction under chapter 299A; or is an adult learner who has
17received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency
18diploma, who enrolls in an eligible program in an eligible
19institution as a full-time or part-time student.
20(2) Completes and submits application forms required by the
21commission, including the free application for federal student
22aid; applies for all available state and federal financial
23aid; attends orientation in person or virtually; registers
24for classes with the assistance of an academic advisor;
25and participates in academic and career advising sessions
26required under the eligible program. To receive a renewal of
27a scholarship awarded under this section, an eligible student
28must annually submit a new application to the commission for
29reevaluation of eligibility.
30(3) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by
31the eligible institution.
32(4) Remains continuously enrolled unless granted a leave of
33absence by the eligible institution based on criteria adopted
34by rule by the commission.
35f. “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester
-12-1hours or the equivalent.
2g. “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less
3than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
42. Allowable activities. An eligible student may work
5with an assigned volunteer mentor to help the student meet the
6requirements of this section or the requirements of an eligible
7program, identify and participate in work-based learning
8opportunities with the approval of the eligible institution,
9and make other career-related connections.
103. Scholarship limitations — requirements.
11a. For an eligible student who is attending an eligible
12institution that is a community college during the fall,
13spring, or summer term of enrollment, and is pursuing a
14postsecondary credential up to an associate degree, the annual
15amount of a future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
16scholarship, when combined with other state and federal
17nonrepayable student aid, shall not exceed an amount equivalent
18to the tuition and any mandatory institution-wide fees charged
19by the community college for the eligible program. For an
20eligible student pursuing a postsecondary credential up to
21an associate degree at an eligible institution that is an
22accredited private institution during the fall, spring, or
23summer term of enrollment, the annual amount of a future ready
24Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship, when combined
25with other state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall
26not exceed an amount equivalent to the average tuition rate
27plus the average institution-wide mandatory fees charged during
28the same term of enrollment by the eligible institutions that
29are community colleges.
30b. If an eligible student receives nonrepayable financial
31aid under any other state or federal program, the full amount
32of that aid shall be considered part of the student’s available
33financial resources before determining the amount of the
34student’s future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
35scholarship for the same period during which the student
-13-1receives other state or federal financial aid. However, each
2eligible student enrolled full-time in an eligible program
3shall receive at least five hundred dollars annually, and the
4amount received by each eligible part-time student shall be
5the same amount prorated by the commission based on the number
6of semester hours, or the equivalent, for which the part-time
7student is enrolled.
8c. A full-time eligible student may receive a future
9ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship for
10not more than five semesters, or the equivalent, or until
11the eligible student earns the credential sought, up to an
12associate degree, under the program, whichever occurs first.
13A part-time eligible student may receive the scholarship for
14not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated
15basis, or until the eligible student earns the credential
16sought, up to an associate degree, under the eligible program,
17whichever occurs first. All classes identified by an eligible
18institution as required for completion of the eligible program
19by the eligible student shall be considered required under the
20eligible program for purposes of this section.
21d. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
22scholarship shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring
23reapplication by an eligible student each year. Scholarship
24payments shall be allocated equally among the semesters, or
25the equivalent, and paid upon certification by the eligible
26institution that the student meets the requirements of
27subsection 1, paragraph “e”.
28e. If a scholarship recipient discontinues attendance before
29the end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving
30scholarship payments, the entire amount of any refund due
31that recipient, up to the full amount of all of the annual
32scholarship payments made, shall be paid by the eligible
33institution to the commission. A scholarship recipient,
34who is not approved for a leave of absence by the eligible
35institution, who discontinues attendance before the end of a
-14-1semester, or the equivalent, is ineligible to receive future
2scholarships under this section.
34. Commission’s duties and responsibilities. Subject to an
4appropriation of funds by the general assembly for purposes of
5this section, the commission shall administer the future ready
6Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program and
7shall do all of the following:
8a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
9high schools and eligible institutions.
10b. Adopt rules under chapter 17A, in collaboration with
11the department of workforce development, for administration of
12this section, including but not limited to establishing the
13duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the
14program; defining residence and satisfactory academic progress
15for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures
16for scholarship application, processing, and approval. The
17rules shall provide for determining the priority awarding of
18scholarships if funds available for purposes of this section
19are insufficient to pay all eligible students. Priority shall
20be given to fully awarding each eligible student approved for a
21scholarship rather than to prorating scholarship awards among
22all eligible students.
23c. Approve and award future ready Iowa skilled workforce
24last-dollar scholarships on an annual basis.
25d. Transmit to the department of workforce development the
26compilation of information, data, and statistics submitted in
27accordance with subsection 1, paragraph “c”, subparagraph (6),
28for the annual report required under section 84A.1B.
295. Fund created. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce
30last-dollar scholarship fund is created in the state treasury
31as a separate fund under the control of the commission. All
32moneys deposited or paid into the fund are appropriated and
33made available to the commission to be used for scholarships
34awarded as provided under this section. Notwithstanding
35section 8.33, any balance in the fund on June 30 of each fiscal
-15-1year shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but
2shall be available for purposes of this section in subsequent
3fiscal years.
4 Sec. 13. NEW SECTION. 261.131 Future ready Iowa skilled
5workforce grant program.
61. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context
7otherwise requires:
8a. “Commission” means the college student aid commission.
9b. “Eligible institution” means an institution of higher
10learning governed by the state board of regents or an
11accredited private institution as defined in section 261.9,
12that meets all of the following criteria:
13(1) Applies to and is approved by the commission to
14participate in the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
15program.
16(2) Requires eligible students to complete and file
17application forms required by the commission, apply for
18all available state and federal financial aid, apply to the
19eligible institution to participate in the program, attend
20orientation in person or virtually, register for classes
21with the assistance of an academic advisor, and participate
22in academic and career advising sessions required under the
23program.
24(3) Certifies that prior to participating in the program
25an eligible student has earned at least half of the credits
26necessary for a bachelor’s degree and is able to complete a
27bachelor’s degree in an eligible program of study or academic
28major leading to a designated high-demand job in the prescribed
29grant time frame.
30(4) Facilitates the assignment of a volunteer mentor to each
31eligible student based on the eligible student’s interest. The
32volunteer mentor shall have successfully passed a background
33investigation and a check of the national sex offender
34registry as required under section 15H.9, subsection 2, and
35both the eligible student and the volunteer mentor shall have
-16-1entered into a written agreement as provided in section 15H.9,
2subsection 3.
3(5) Facilitates connections through campus career centers
4and services to internships and similar local, state, and
5federal programs.
6(6) Markets the eligible institution’s eligible program and
7optional incentives, which may include but not be limited to
8credit for military experience, on the eligible institution’s
9internet site and to other relevant agencies and organizations
10as recommended by the college student aid commission, the
11commission on volunteer service, or the department of workforce
12development.
13(7) Submits annually information and data regarding the
14eligible program operated by the eligible institution, the
15students and volunteer mentors participating in the eligible
16program, and statistics on employment outcomes for eligible
17program participants by industry, to the commission in the
18manner required by the commission.
19c. “Eligible program” means a program of study or an
20academic major jointly approved by the commission and the
21department of workforce development, in consultation with the
22eligible institution, that leads to a bachelor’s degree aligned
23with a high-demand job designated by the workforce development
24board pursuant to section 84A.1B, subsection 13A. If the
25department removes a high-demand job from the list created
26under section 84A.1B, subsection 13A, an eligible student
27who received a grant for a program based on that high-demand
28job shall continue to receive the grant until achieving a
29bachelor’s degree as long as the student continues to meet all
30other eligibility requirements.
31d. “Eligible student” means an Iowa resident who meets all
32of the following requirements:
33(1) Has earned at least half of the credits necessary for a
34bachelor’s degree and is able to complete a bachelor’s degree
35in an eligible program of study or academic major leading to a
-17-1designated high-demand job in the prescribed grant time frame.
2(2) Completes and submits application forms required by the
3commission, including the free application for federal student
4aid; applies for all available state and federal financial
5aid; attends orientation in person or virtually; registers
6for classes with the assistance of an academic advisor; and
7participates in academic and career advising sessions required
8under the eligible program. To receive a renewal of a grant
9awarded under this section, an eligible student must annually
10submit a new application to the commission for reevaluation of
11eligibility.
12(3) Has not been enrolled in postsecondary education
13during the twenty-four months preceding the date on which the
14commission receives the individual’s application to participate
15in the program.
16(4) Enrolls in at least six semester hours, or the
17equivalent, in an eligible program. However, an eligible
18student may enroll in fewer than six semester hours, or the
19equivalent, if the eligible student needs fewer than six
20semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, to achieve a
21bachelor’s degree under the eligible program.
22(5) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by
23the eligible institution.
24(6) Remains continuously enrolled unless granted a leave of
25absence by the eligible institution based on criteria adopted
26by rule by the commission.
27e. “Full-time” means enrollment in at least twelve semester
28hours or the equivalent.
29f. “Part-time” means enrollment in at least six but less
30than twelve semester hours or the equivalent.
312. Allowable activities. An eligible student may work
32with an assigned volunteer mentor to help the student meet the
33requirements of this section or the requirements of an eligible
34program, identify and participate in work-based learning
35opportunities with the approval of the eligible institution,
-18-1and make other career-related connections.
23. Grant limitations — requirements.
3a. A full-time eligible student may receive a future ready
4Iowa skilled workforce grant annually for not more than four
5semesters, or the equivalent, or until the eligible student
6earns a bachelor’s degree under the program, whichever occurs
7first. A part-time eligible student may receive the grant for
8not more than eight semesters, or the equivalent, on a prorated
9basis, or until the eligible student earns a bachelor’s degree
10under the eligible program, whichever occurs first.
11b. The amount of a future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant
12to a full-time eligible student shall be at least one thousand
13dollars annually. The amount of a future ready Iowa skilled
14workforce grant to a part-time eligible student shall be equal
15to the amount that would be awarded to a full-time student
16except that the commission shall prorate the amount based on
17the recipient student’s semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
18c. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant shall be
19awarded on an annual basis, requiring reapplication by an
20eligible student each year. Payments under the grant shall be
21allocated equally among the semesters, or the equivalent, and
22paid upon certification by the eligible institution that the
23student meets the requirements of subsection 1, paragraph “d”.
24d. If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the
25end of any semester, or the equivalent, after receiving grant
26payments, the entire amount of any refund due that recipient,
27up to the full amount of all annual grant payments made, shall
28be paid by the eligible institution to the commission.
294. Commission’s duties and responsibilities. Subject to an
30appropriation of funds by the general assembly for purposes of
31this section, the commission shall administer the future ready
32Iowa skilled workforce grant program and shall do all of the
33following:
34a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
35eligible institutions.
-19- 1b. Adopt rules under chapter 17A, in collaboration with
2the department of workforce development, for administration of
3this section, including but not limited to establishing the
4duties and responsibilities of eligible institutions under the
5program; defining residence and satisfactory academic progress
6for purposes of the program; and establishing procedures for
7grant application, processing, and approval. The rules shall
8provide for determining the priority awarding of grants if
9funds available for purposes of this section are insufficient
10to pay all eligible students. Priority shall be given to fully
11awarding each eligible student approved for a grant rather than
12to prorating grant awards among all eligible students.
13c. Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
14d. Transmit to the department of workforce development the
15compilation of information, data, and statistics submitted in
16accordance with subsection 1, paragraph “b”, subparagraph (7),
17for the annual report required under section 84A.1B.
185. Fund created. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce
19grant fund is created in the state treasury as a separate fund
20under the control of the commission. All moneys deposited or
21paid into the fund are appropriated and made available to the
22commission to be used for grants awarded as provided under this
23section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund
24on June 30 of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general
25fund of the state, but shall be available for purposes of this
26section in subsequent fiscal years.
27 Sec. 14. Section 261E.8, Code 2018, is amended by adding the
28following new subsection:
29 NEW SUBSECTION. 7A. Subject to an appropriation of funds
30by the general assembly for this purpose, the department shall
31establish a program to provide additional funds for resident
32high school pupils enrolled in grades nine through twelve to
33attend a community college for college-level classes or attend
34a class taught by a community college-employed instructor
35through a contractual agreement between a community college and
-20-1a school district that satisfies the requirements for classes
2under section 257.11, subsection 3, except that the classes
3eligible for funding under this program are offered during the
4summer and outside of the regular school year and are aligned
5with career pathways leading to postsecondary credentials
6and high-demand jobs designated by the workforce development
7board created in section 84A.1B. A community college shall
8not charge students tuition for a class offered partially
9or completely outside of the regular school year under this
10program.
11 Sec. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes
12effect July 1, 2019.
13EXPLANATION
14The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
15the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
16This bill relates to workforce development by establishing
17a volunteer mentoring program, a registered apprenticeship
18development program, an employer innovation fund, a summer
19youth intern program, and future ready Iowa skilled workforce
20scholarship and grant programs and funds, and providing for
21shared postsecondary summer classes for high school students
22that are aligned with career pathways. The bill also makes
23conforming changes.
24DIVISION I — TITLE OF ACT. The bill provides that it may be
25known and cited as the “Future Ready Iowa Act”.
26DIVISION II — FUTURE READY IOWA REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP
27DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. Subject to an appropriation of funds
28by the general assembly for this purpose, the bill creates
29a future ready Iowa registered apprenticeship development
30program, to be administered by the economic development
31authority, to provide financial assistance meant to incentivize
32small and medium-sized apprenticeship sponsors to establish
33new or additional eligible apprenticeable occupations to
34support the growth of apprenticeships and expand high-quality
35work-based learning experiences in high-demand fields and
-21-1careers.
2The bill includes definitions relating to apprenticeships
3that correspond to U.S.department of labor standards.
4However, “eligible apprenticeable occupation” means those
5identified by the Iowa workforce development board as a
6high-demand job in consultation with the authority.
7To receive financial assistance, an apprenticeship sponsor
8must demonstrate how the program’s financial assistance would
9be used.
10An apprenticeship sponsor is eligible to apply for financial
11assistance for a new or additional apprenticeable occupation in
12the apprenticeship sponsor’s apprenticeship program if 20 or
13fewer apprentices are in the existing apprenticeship program
14and more than 70 percent of the applicant’s apprentices are
15Iowa residents.
16An apprenticeship sponsor is ineligible to receive financial
17assistance from this program and the apprenticeship training
18program established under Code chapter 15B during the same
19fiscal year.
20The authority’s administrative expenditures shall not exceed
212 percent of the moneys appropriated for a fiscal year for
22purposes of the program. Moneys appropriated for the program
23carry over for use in subsequent fiscal years.
24DIVISION III — VOLUNTEER MENTOR PROGRAM. Subject to an
25appropriation by the general assembly, the commission on
26volunteer service shall establish a volunteer mentor program
27to support implementation of the future ready Iowa skilled
28workforce last-dollar scholarship and the future ready Iowa
29skilled workforce grant programs. The commission must adopt
30rules to implement and administer the program and establish
31standards, guidelines, and expectations for a productive and
32appropriate relationship between mentors and mentees, which
33must be part of the required written agreements between mentors
34and mentees.
35A prospective volunteer mentor must have successfully passed
-22-1a background investigation and a check of the national sex
2offender registry. The mentor assigned to a prospective mentee
3must be appropriate to the prospective mentee’s field of study
4whenever possible.
5Moneys appropriated for purposes of the program may carry
6over to the succeeding fiscal year for purposes of the program.
7STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD — HIGH-DEMAND JOBS AND
8ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT. The state workforce development board
9is directed to create and update a list of high-demand jobs
10statewide for purposes of the future ready Iowa registered
11apprenticeship development program, the summer youth intern
12pilot program, the Iowa employer innovation program, the
13future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship
14program, the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program,
15and postsecondary summer classes for high school students.
16The board has full discretion to select and prioritize
17high-demand jobs, but must consult with business and education
18stakeholders, and seek public comment. “High-demand job”
19is defined to mean a job in the state for which the board
20determines work opportunities are available and qualified
21applicants are lacking.
22The board must also compile and submit an annual report
23relating to participation in the programs to the governor and
24the general assembly.
25SUMMER YOUTH INTERN PROGRAM. A summer youth intern program
26is established within the department of workforce development
27to promote learning by providing internship opportunities
28that allow youths who are at risk of not graduating from high
29school, are from low-income households, are from communities
30underrepresented in the Iowa workforce, or otherwise face
31barriers to success and upward mobility in the labor market,
32to explore and prepare for high-demand careers, to gain work
33experience, and to develop personal attributes necessary to
34succeed in the workplace.
35Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly
-23-1for this purpose, the department shall award grants for summer
2youth intern pilot projects on a competitive basis and work
3with employers, nonprofits, and educational institutions to
4place youth in internships primarily in high-demand career
5fields. The department must annually issue a request for
6proposals to the public specifying the expectations and
7requirements for summer youth intern pilot project grant
8qualification. The bill specifies what the department must
9consider before awarding a grant.
10IOWA EMPLOYER INNOVATION PROGRAM AND FUND. Subject to an
11appropriation by the general assembly for this purpose, an Iowa
12employer innovation program is established in the department
13of workforce development to expand opportunities for credit
14and noncredit education and training leading to high-demand
15jobs for the residents of Iowa and to encourage Iowa employers,
16community leaders, and others to provide leadership and support
17for regional workforce talent pools throughout the state.
18An employer, employer consortium, community organization, or
19other entity seeking matching moneys must submit an application
20and a proposal to the department. The bill describes the
21factors the department must take into account in awarding
22matching moneys.
23An Iowa employer innovation fund is created in the state
24treasury under the control of the department. Moneys in the
25fund carry over for use in subsequent fiscal years.
26FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE LAST-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP
27PROGRAM. A future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
28scholarship shall be administered by the college student aid
29commission subject to an appropriation of funds by the general
30assembly for the program. An Iowa resident, who may be a new
31high school graduate or adult learner, at a participating
32community college or accredited private institution is
33eligible for a scholarship if the student is enrolled in an
34eligible program of study leading to a certificate, diploma, or
35associate degree aligned with a high-demand job as designated
-24-1by the state workforce development board. A full-time eligible
2student may receive a scholarship for not more than five
3semesters, or the semester equivalent, or until the eligible
4student earns a postsecondary credential up to an associate
5degree under the program, whichever occurs first. A part-time
6eligible student may receive the scholarship on a prorated
7basis for not more than eight semesters or until earning a
8postsecondary credential up to an associate degree, whichever
9occurs first.
10For an eligible student attending a community college,
11the annual amount of the scholarship, when combined with
12other state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall not
13exceed an amount equivalent to the tuition and any mandatory
14institution-wide fees charged by the community college for
15the eligible program. For an eligible student pursuing an
16associate degree at an accredited private institution, the
17annual amount of the scholarship, when combined with other
18state and federal nonrepayable student aid, shall not exceed an
19amount equivalent to the average tuition rate plus the average
20institution-wide mandatory fees charged during the same term
21of enrollment by eligible community colleges. Each full-time
22eligible student shall receive at least $500 annually, with
23part-time students receiving a prorated amount.
24If a scholarship recipient discontinues attendance before
25the end of any semester, and is not approved for a leave of
26absence by the institution, any annual refund due shall be
27paid by the eligible institution to the commission, and the
28recipient is ineligible to receive future scholarships under
29the program.
30The bill tasks the commission with adopting rules, including
31for the priority awarding of scholarships if funds are
32insufficient to pay all eligible students.
33The future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar
34scholarship fund is created in the state treasury under the
35control of the commission. Moneys in the fund carry over for
-25-1use in subsequent fiscal years.
2FUTURE READY IOWA SKILLED WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM. Subject
3to an appropriation by the general assembly for the program,
4the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant shall be
5administered by the college student aid commission. An Iowa
6resident who for two years preceding application was not
7enrolled in a postsecondary institution is eligible for a
8grant if the person has earned half the credit needed for a
9bachelor’s degree and is enrolled in a participating regents
10university or accredited private institution in an eligible
11program that leads to a bachelor’s degree aligned with a
12high-demand job designated by the state workforce development
13board. A full-time eligible student may receive a future ready
14Iowa skilled workforce grant annually for not more than four
15semesters or until the eligible student earns a bachelor’s
16degree under the program, whichever occurs first. A part-time
17eligible student may receive the grant on a prorated basis.
18The annual grant amount to a full-time eligible student
19shall be at least $1,000. The annual grant amount to a
20part-time eligible student is prorated based on the recipient’s
21semester hour or equivalent enrollment.
22The grant is awarded on an annual basis, requiring
23reapplication by an eligible student each year.
24If a grant recipient discontinues attendance before the end
25of any semester, or the equivalent, the eligible institution
26shall pay to the commission any refund due to the recipient up
27to the full amount of annual grant payments made.
28The commission must adopt rules, including the priority
29awarding of grants if funds are insufficient to pay all
30eligible students.
31The future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant fund is
32created in the state treasury as a separate fund under the
33control of the commission. Moneys in the fund carry over for
34use in subsequent fiscal years.
35POSTSECONDARY SUMMER CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
-26-1 Subject to an appropriation by the general assembly, the
2department is directed to establish a program to provide
3additional funds for resident high school pupils enrolled in
4grades 9-12 to attend summer classes for postsecondary credit
5under a contractual agreement between a community college and
6a school district. The classes must be aligned with career
7pathways leading to postsecondary credentials and high-demand
8jobs. The bill prohibits a community college from charging a
9pupil tuition for such a class.
10EFFECTIVE DATE OF DIVISION III. Division III takes effect
11July 1, 2019.
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