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COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 2313 – Future Ready Iowa expansion
SF 2313, as amended in committee, expands the Future Ready Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Development Program by creating a new Future Ready Iowa Expanded Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities Program. These programs will provide financial assistance to encourage apprenticeships in high-demand occupations at small- and medium-sized apprenticeship sponsors. The programs must have occupations located in Iowa and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. The current apprenticeship program is aimed at new and existing (expanding) apprenticeship sponsors. The new program is aimed at ongoing support, and adds to the definition of the “eligible apprenticeship sponsor.” The bill limits financial assistance in the form of a reimbursable grant to any eligible apprenticeship sponsor in given fiscal year to $20,000. It also allows the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to spend up to 2% of funding for administration.
It creates a Workforce Diploma Pilot Program administered by the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), and a new Child Care Challenge Program and Fund under IWD’s Iowa Employer Innovation Fund.
This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to develop and implement a K-12 computer science plan by July 1, 2022. The bill cleans up eligibility issues in Last Dollar Scholarships and amends the Senior Year Plus program by eliminating references and provisions relating to full-time and part-time enrollment.
The bill allows world language, personal finance and computer science courses to be offered online, on top of the current Code limit for offer and teach courses that limits online offer and teach courses to two a year.
[6/4: short form]
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2398—Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program
SF 2398 establishes a Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program in the College Student Aid Commission, as well as a Rural Veterinary Care Trust Fund. The program would provide for loan repayments for individuals who agree to practice as licensed veterinarians in “rural service commitment areas” or “veterinary shortage areas” for four years.
“Rural service commitment area” means a city in Iowa with a population of less than 26,000 that is located more than 20 miles from a city with a population of 50,000 or more, and which provides a dollar contribution equivalent to 12.5% of the veterinarian’s total eligible loan amount upon graduation for deposit in the Rural Veterinary Care Trust Fund.
“Veterinary shortage area” refers to a designated veterinary service shortage situation in Iowa identified and nominated by the State Veterinarian or recommended for designation in accordance with federal National Veterinary Medical Services Act.
An individual is eligible to apply if any of these requirements are met: 1) Enrolled in the final year of a veterinary degree program at a College of Veterinary Medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education; 2) Is a veterinarian licensed pursuant to Chapter 169 within five years of applying for this program with a veterinary medicine degree.
Priority is given to applicants who graduated from a high school in Iowa or competed private instruction under Chapter 299A (home school). When possible, the commission will enter into agreements with individuals with the following priority order:
- Private practice food supply (livestock) veterinary medicine in any veterinary shortage area.
- Private practice food supply veterinary medicine in a city in Iowa with a population of less than 26,00 that is located more than 20 miles form a city with a population of 50,000 or more, especially in remote or economically depressed rural areas.
- Animal veterinary medicine in a rural service commitment area.
The College Student Aid Commission may consult with the State Veterinarian to determine prioritization.
Disbursements for loan repayments cannot exceed $15,000 annually. Payments cannot exceed the four consecutive years of practice and cannot exceed a total $60,000 or the amount of outstanding eligible loans, whichever amount is less. Subject to the availability of funding, the Commissioner will enter into at least five program agreements annually. There is no funding in the bill.
[6/4: 49-0 (Excused: Hogg)]
SF 2405 – Veterans Trust Fund investments
SF 2405 authorizes the investment of Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) moneys in any investments authorized for the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (97B.7A) through the Treasurer of State. It also eliminates the ability to use VTF moneys for cash flow purposes in a fiscal year.
[6/4: 49-0 (Excused: Hogg)]
SF 2406– IFA disaster recovery homeowner assistance program
SF 2406 establishes a Disaster Recovery Homeowner Assistance Program and Fund administered by the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA). The purpose is to provide forgivable loans to eligible owners of disaster-affected homes. It allows unobligated and unencumbered moneys in certain IFA revolving loan funds to be transferred into the new Disaster Recovery Homeowner Assistance Fund. Those funds are the Senior Living Program, Home and Community-Based Program, Transitional Housing Program, and the Community Housing and Services for Persons with Disabilities Program.
In addition, the bill permits IFA to transfer unobligated and unencumbered moneys from any IFA fund (notwithstanding any other law to the contrary) for deposit in the new Disaster Recovery Homeowner Assistance Fund with the prior written consent and approval of the Governor. The bill also allows the executive director of IFA to transfer unobligated and unencumbered money from any fund under Iowa Economic Development Authority to the Disaster Homeowner Assistance Fund with the written approval of the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and with the approval of the Governor. IFA cannot use more than 5% of the money in the fund at the beginning of a fiscal year for administrative costs.
A “disaster-affected home” means a primary residence that is destroyed or damaged due to a natural disaster that occurs on or after the effective date of this act in a county subject to disaster emergency proclamation by the Governor that authorizes disaster recovery homeowner assistance. It also includes a primary residence that is destroyed or damaged due to a natural disaster that occurred on or after March 12, 2019, but before the effective date of this act.
IFA will provide the funds to local program administrators to award the forgivable loans. “Local program administrator” means certain large cities in Iowa, a Council of Government and a qualified local organization or government entity as determined by rules as adopted by IFA.
For a homeowner to be eligible:
- The home must have sustained damage greater than the damage covered by insurance or federal disaster-related financial assistance.
- A local program administrator must deem the home suitable for rehabilitation or damaged beyond reasonable repair.
- The home cannot be proposed for buyout by the county or city.
The loan may be used for repair, rehabilitation, or down-payment assistance on the purchase of replacement housing. The maximum forgivable loan award will be determined by IFA by rule. The forgivable loan must have a five-year term and be interest free. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
[6/4: 49-0 (Excused: Hogg)]