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House File 2385 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1expanding the skilled workforce shortage tuition grant
2program administered by the college student aid commission
3and making an appropriation.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 84A.6, subsection 4, Code 2018, is
2amended by striking the subsection.
3 Sec. 2. Section 261.130, Code 2018, is amended to read as
4follows:
5261.130 Skilled workforce shortage Community college tuition
6grant program.
71. A skilled workforce shortage community college tuition
8grant may be awarded to any resident of Iowa who is admitted
9and in attendance as a full-time or part-time student in
10a career-technical or career option program to pursue an
11associate’s associate degree or other training credential at a
12community college in the state, and who establishes financial
13need.
142. Skilled workforce shortage tuition grants shall be
15awarded only to students pursuing a career-technical or career
16option program in an industry identified as having a shortage
17of skilled workers by a community college after conducting a
18regional skills gap analysis or by the department of workforce
19development in the department’s most recent quarterly report
20pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection 4. To qualify for a
21community college tuition grant, an individual must meet all of
22the following conditions:
23a. Have achieved a cumulative high school grade point
24average upon graduation of at least two on a four-point grade
25scale, or its equivalent if another grade scale is used.
26However, if the individual is an adult learner or cannot
27otherwise provide evidence of meeting the required cumulative
28grade point average, the individual, prior to receiving a
29grant under this program, must enroll at least part time for
30one semester, or the equivalent, in a program of study at a
31community college and maintain satisfactory academic progress
32during the semester, or the equivalent, as defined by the
33community college.
34b. Enter into an agreement with the college student aid
35commission in which the qualified student agrees to reside and
-1-1be employed in this state within six months after receiving a
2credential or associate degree from a community college under
3this program. The agreement shall require repayment of the
4total grant amount awarded to the grant recipient, in whole
5or in part, if the grant recipient chooses to reside or be
6employed outside of the state within the three-year period
7following obtainment of the credential or associate degree for
8which the grant was awarded. However, the commission shall not
9require a grant recipient to repay any grant amount received
10unless the individual was informed of the three-year residency
11and employment requirement in writing before initial acceptance
12of the grant awarded under this section.
133. The amount of a skilled workforce shortage community
14college tuition grant shall not exceed the lesser of one-half
15of a student’s tuition and mandatory fees for an approved
16career-technical or career option a program leading to a
17credential or associate degree or the amount of the student’s
18established financial need.
194. All classes identified by the community college
20as required for completion of the student’s approved
21career-technical or career option program shall be considered a
22part of the student’s career-technical or career option program
23for the purpose of determining the student’s eligibility
24for a grant. Notwithstanding subsection 5, if a student is
25making satisfactory academic progress but the student cannot
26complete a career-technical or career option the program in
27the time frame allowed for a student to receive a skilled
28workforce shortage community college tuition grant as provided
29in subsection 5 because additional classes are required to
30complete the program, the student may continue to receive a
31skilled workforce shortage tuition grant extension for not
32more than one additional enrollment period semester, or the
33equivalent.
345. a. A Except as provided in subsection 4, a qualified
35full-time student may receive skilled workforce shortage
-2-1 community college tuition grants for not more than four
2semesters or the trimester or quarter equivalent of two full
3years of study. A qualified part-time student enrolled in a
4course of study including at least three semester hours but
5fewer than twelve semester hours, or the trimester or quarter
6 equivalent, may receive skilled workforce shortage community
7college tuition grants for not more than eight semesters or the
8trimester or quarter equivalent of two full years of full-time
9study.
10b. However, if a student resumes study after at least a
11two-year absence, the student may again be eligible for the
12specified amount of time, except that the student shall not
13receive assistance for courses for which credit was previously
14received.
156. A skilled workforce shortage community college
16 tuition grant shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring
17reapplication by the student for each year. Payments under
18the grant shall be allocated equally among the semesters or
19quarters, or the equivalent, of the year upon certification
20by the community college that the student is in full-time or
21part-time attendance in a career-technical or career option
22 program consistent with the requirements of this section. If
23the student discontinues attendance before the end of any term
24after receiving payment of the grant, the entire amount of any
25refund due that student, up to the amount of any payments made
26under the annual grant, shall be paid by the community college
27to the state.
287. If a student receives financial aid under any other
29program, the full amount of that financial aid shall be
30considered part of the student’s financial resources available
31in determining the amount of the student’s financial need for
32that period.
338. a. The college student aid commission may defer the
34residency or three-year employment requirement of the agreement
35entered into pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “b”, under
-3-1either of the following circumstances:
2(1) In consultation with the department of workforce
3development, the commission determines that there are no
4employment positions available that would reasonably allow the
5grant recipient to meet the requirements of the agreement.
6(2) The commission determines that special circumstances
7exist.
8b. If the commission authorizes a period of deferment
9under this subsection that ends on a date certain, the grant
10recipient shall begin or resume employment or residency in
11this state, as appropriate, or become subject to repayment as
12provided in paragraph “c”.
13c. The written agreement under subsection 2, paragraph “b”,
14shall provide that if the grant recipient fails to meet the
15residency or employment requirements and the grant recipient is
16not granted a period of deferment under this subsection, the
17grant converts into a loan and the grant recipient shall repay
18the total grant amount received based on one of the following
19options, as determined by the commission:
20(1) On a pro rata basis at an interest rate and on a
21schedule as determined by the commission for each year the
22grant recipient does not meet the residency or employment
23requirements of the agreement and this section.
24(2) In its entirety at an interest rate and on a schedule as
25determined by the commission.
268. 9. The commission shall administer this program and
27shall:
28a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
29Iowa high schools and community colleges.
30b. Adopt rules for approving career-technical or career
31option programs in industries identified by the department of
32workforce development pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection 4
33programs for which grants may be awarded under this section;
34determining financial need; defining residence and employment
35 for the purposes of this section; processing and approving
-4-1applications for grants; and determining priority for grants.
2c. Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
3d. Make an annual report to the governor and general
4assembly. The report shall include the number of students
5receiving assistance, the number of grant recipients who earn a
6credential or associate degree and are meeting the terms of the
7agreements entered into pursuant to subsection 2, the number
8of grant recipients receiving deferrals, and the industries
9identified by the community colleges and by the department of
10workforce development pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection
114, for which students were admitted to a career-technical
12or career option program commission’s recommendations for
13modifications to the program.
149. 10. Each applicant, in accordance with the rules
15established by the commission, shall:
16a. Complete and file an application for a skilled workforce
17shortage community college tuition grant.
18b. Be responsible for the submission of the financial
19information required for evaluation of the applicant’s need for
20a grant, on forms determined by the commission.
21c. Report promptly to the commission any information
22requested.
23d. Submit a new application for reevaluation of the
24applicant’s eligibility to receive a second-year renewal of the
25grant.
26 Sec. 3. COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION. There is
27appropriated from the general fund of the state to the college
28student aid commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
292018, and ending June 30, 2019, the following amount, or so
30much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
31designated:
32For the community college tuition grant program established
33in section 261.130, as amended by this Act, if enacted:
.................................................. $3436,000,000
35EXPLANATION
-5-1The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
2the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
3This bill modifies the skilled workforce shortage tuition
4grant program administered by the college student aid
5commission by changing the name of the program to the community
6college tuition grant program, changing the requirements for
7qualification, requiring the student to enter into an agreement
8with the commission, and providing that the grant pays the
9lesser of the student’s tuition and mandatory fees for not more
10than the equivalent of two full years of study at a community
11college, or the amount of the student’s financial need for that
12period. The bill appropriates $36 million from the general
13fund of the state for FY 2018-2019 to the college student aid
14commission for the program.
15Under the bill, the students may pursue an associate degree
16or other credential at a community college, and are not limited
17to enrollment in approved career-technical or career option
18program.
19The bill requires that students enter the program with a
20minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
21If a student cannot provide evidence of a satisfactory grade
22point average, prior to receiving a grant under the program,
23the student must attend the community college at least part
24time for one semester and maintain satisfactory academic
25progress.
26Qualified students must enter into an agreement to reside
27and be employed in the state for three years after receiving a
28credential from the community college. If a grant recipient
29fails to meet the residency or employment requirements of the
30agreement, the total grant amount, in whole or in part, becomes
31a loan. However, the commission may defer the residency or
32employment requirements if the commission finds there are no
33employment opportunities for the grant recipient or special
34circumstances exist. The bill makes a conforming change.
-6-kh/jh
2program administered by the college student aid commission
3and making an appropriation.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 84A.6, subsection 4, Code 2018, is
2amended by striking the subsection.
3 Sec. 2. Section 261.130, Code 2018, is amended to read as
4follows:
5261.130 Skilled workforce shortage Community college tuition
6grant program.
71. A skilled workforce shortage community college tuition
8grant may be awarded to any resident of Iowa who is admitted
9and in attendance as a full-time or part-time student in
10a career-technical or career option program to pursue an
11associate’s associate degree or other training credential at a
12community college in the state, and who establishes financial
13need.
142. Skilled workforce shortage tuition grants shall be
15awarded only to students pursuing a career-technical or career
16option program in an industry identified as having a shortage
17of skilled workers by a community college after conducting a
18regional skills gap analysis or by the department of workforce
19development in the department’s most recent quarterly report
20pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection 4. To qualify for a
21community college tuition grant, an individual must meet all of
22the following conditions:
23a. Have achieved a cumulative high school grade point
24average upon graduation of at least two on a four-point grade
25scale, or its equivalent if another grade scale is used.
26However, if the individual is an adult learner or cannot
27otherwise provide evidence of meeting the required cumulative
28grade point average, the individual, prior to receiving a
29grant under this program, must enroll at least part time for
30one semester, or the equivalent, in a program of study at a
31community college and maintain satisfactory academic progress
32during the semester, or the equivalent, as defined by the
33community college.
34b. Enter into an agreement with the college student aid
35commission in which the qualified student agrees to reside and
-1-1be employed in this state within six months after receiving a
2credential or associate degree from a community college under
3this program. The agreement shall require repayment of the
4total grant amount awarded to the grant recipient, in whole
5or in part, if the grant recipient chooses to reside or be
6employed outside of the state within the three-year period
7following obtainment of the credential or associate degree for
8which the grant was awarded. However, the commission shall not
9require a grant recipient to repay any grant amount received
10unless the individual was informed of the three-year residency
11and employment requirement in writing before initial acceptance
12of the grant awarded under this section.
133. The amount of a skilled workforce shortage community
14college tuition grant shall not exceed the lesser of one-half
15of a student’s tuition and mandatory fees for an approved
16career-technical or career option a program leading to a
17credential or associate degree or the amount of the student’s
18established financial need.
194. All classes identified by the community college
20as required for completion of the student’s approved
21career-technical or career option program shall be considered a
22part of the student’s career-technical or career option program
23for the purpose of determining the student’s eligibility
24for a grant. Notwithstanding subsection 5, if a student is
25making satisfactory academic progress but the student cannot
26complete a career-technical or career option the program in
27the time frame allowed for a student to receive a skilled
28workforce shortage community college tuition grant as provided
29in subsection 5 because additional classes are required to
30complete the program, the student may continue to receive a
31skilled workforce shortage tuition grant extension for not
32more than one additional enrollment period semester, or the
33equivalent.
345. a. A Except as provided in subsection 4, a qualified
35full-time student may receive skilled workforce shortage
-2-1 community college tuition grants for not more than four
2semesters or the trimester or quarter equivalent of two full
3years of study. A qualified part-time student enrolled in a
4course of study including at least three semester hours but
5fewer than twelve semester hours, or the trimester or quarter
6 equivalent, may receive skilled workforce shortage community
7college tuition grants for not more than eight semesters or the
8trimester or quarter equivalent of two full years of full-time
9study.
10b. However, if a student resumes study after at least a
11two-year absence, the student may again be eligible for the
12specified amount of time, except that the student shall not
13receive assistance for courses for which credit was previously
14received.
156. A skilled workforce shortage community college
16 tuition grant shall be awarded on an annual basis, requiring
17reapplication by the student for each year. Payments under
18the grant shall be allocated equally among the semesters or
19quarters, or the equivalent, of the year upon certification
20by the community college that the student is in full-time or
21part-time attendance in a career-technical or career option
22 program consistent with the requirements of this section. If
23the student discontinues attendance before the end of any term
24after receiving payment of the grant, the entire amount of any
25refund due that student, up to the amount of any payments made
26under the annual grant, shall be paid by the community college
27to the state.
287. If a student receives financial aid under any other
29program, the full amount of that financial aid shall be
30considered part of the student’s financial resources available
31in determining the amount of the student’s financial need for
32that period.
338. a. The college student aid commission may defer the
34residency or three-year employment requirement of the agreement
35entered into pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph “b”, under
-3-1either of the following circumstances:
2(1) In consultation with the department of workforce
3development, the commission determines that there are no
4employment positions available that would reasonably allow the
5grant recipient to meet the requirements of the agreement.
6(2) The commission determines that special circumstances
7exist.
8b. If the commission authorizes a period of deferment
9under this subsection that ends on a date certain, the grant
10recipient shall begin or resume employment or residency in
11this state, as appropriate, or become subject to repayment as
12provided in paragraph “c”.
13c. The written agreement under subsection 2, paragraph “b”,
14shall provide that if the grant recipient fails to meet the
15residency or employment requirements and the grant recipient is
16not granted a period of deferment under this subsection, the
17grant converts into a loan and the grant recipient shall repay
18the total grant amount received based on one of the following
19options, as determined by the commission:
20(1) On a pro rata basis at an interest rate and on a
21schedule as determined by the commission for each year the
22grant recipient does not meet the residency or employment
23requirements of the agreement and this section.
24(2) In its entirety at an interest rate and on a schedule as
25determined by the commission.
268. 9. The commission shall administer this program and
27shall:
28a. Provide application forms for distribution to students by
29Iowa high schools and community colleges.
30b. Adopt rules for approving career-technical or career
31option programs in industries identified by the department of
32workforce development pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection 4
33programs for which grants may be awarded under this section;
34determining financial need; defining residence and employment
35 for the purposes of this section; processing and approving
-4-1applications for grants; and determining priority for grants.
2c. Approve and award grants on an annual basis.
3d. Make an annual report to the governor and general
4assembly. The report shall include the number of students
5receiving assistance, the number of grant recipients who earn a
6credential or associate degree and are meeting the terms of the
7agreements entered into pursuant to subsection 2, the number
8of grant recipients receiving deferrals, and the industries
9identified by the community colleges and by the department of
10workforce development pursuant to section 84A.6, subsection
114, for which students were admitted to a career-technical
12or career option program commission’s recommendations for
13modifications to the program.
149. 10. Each applicant, in accordance with the rules
15established by the commission, shall:
16a. Complete and file an application for a skilled workforce
17shortage community college tuition grant.
18b. Be responsible for the submission of the financial
19information required for evaluation of the applicant’s need for
20a grant, on forms determined by the commission.
21c. Report promptly to the commission any information
22requested.
23d. Submit a new application for reevaluation of the
24applicant’s eligibility to receive a second-year renewal of the
25grant.
26 Sec. 3. COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION. There is
27appropriated from the general fund of the state to the college
28student aid commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
292018, and ending June 30, 2019, the following amount, or so
30much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes
31designated:
32For the community college tuition grant program established
33in section 261.130, as amended by this Act, if enacted:
.................................................. $3436,000,000
35EXPLANATION
-5-1The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
2the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
3This bill modifies the skilled workforce shortage tuition
4grant program administered by the college student aid
5commission by changing the name of the program to the community
6college tuition grant program, changing the requirements for
7qualification, requiring the student to enter into an agreement
8with the commission, and providing that the grant pays the
9lesser of the student’s tuition and mandatory fees for not more
10than the equivalent of two full years of study at a community
11college, or the amount of the student’s financial need for that
12period. The bill appropriates $36 million from the general
13fund of the state for FY 2018-2019 to the college student aid
14commission for the program.
15Under the bill, the students may pursue an associate degree
16or other credential at a community college, and are not limited
17to enrollment in approved career-technical or career option
18program.
19The bill requires that students enter the program with a
20minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
21If a student cannot provide evidence of a satisfactory grade
22point average, prior to receiving a grant under the program,
23the student must attend the community college at least part
24time for one semester and maintain satisfactory academic
25progress.
26Qualified students must enter into an agreement to reside
27and be employed in the state for three years after receiving a
28credential from the community college. If a grant recipient
29fails to meet the residency or employment requirements of the
30agreement, the total grant amount, in whole or in part, becomes
31a loan. However, the commission may defer the residency or
32employment requirements if the commission finds there are no
33employment opportunities for the grant recipient or special
34circumstances exist. The bill makes a conforming change.
-6-kh/jh