Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF447

Introduced
2/24/23  
Refer
5/4/23  
Introduced
2/24/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board and the state board of regents.(Formerly HF 6.)

Impact

By instituting the WGIP, HF447 modifies the responsibilities of the Iowa Workforce Development Board and the State Board of Regents, making them responsible for collaboration in listing and updating high-demand job fields. This legislative effort is a strategic move to align educational outcomes with job market needs, ensuring students are prepared and incentivized to enter fields that are projected to see significant growth and require specific academic credentials.

Summary

House File 447 (HF447) focuses on workforce development in Iowa by establishing the Iowa Workforce Grant and Incentive Program (WGIP). This program aims to support students pursuing careers in high-wage and high-demand job sectors by providing financial assistance through grants and incentives. Eligible students can receive up to $2,000 per semester for a maximum of four semesters, contingent upon their maintaining enrollment in eligible academic programs. Importantly, this funding supports both full-time and part-time students, allowing for a prorated distribution of the grants based on enrollment status.

Contention

During discussions surrounding HF447, some points of contention emerged regarding the prioritization of grant awards to applicants with the least financial ability to pay and those who had previously received grants. Critics expressed concern that while prioritizing financial need is essential, it might overlook other crucial merit-based scholarship considerations. Additionally, there were arguments about the adoption of specific job lists that might exclude emerging industries or new areas of potential employment growth, which could lead to a misalignment between education systems and the rapidly changing job market.

Companion Bills

IA HF6

Similar To A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board.(See HF 447.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF6

A bill for an act relating to workforce development, including establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program and modifying the responsibilities of the Iowa workforce development board.(See HF 447.)

IA HF722

A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards.(Formerly HSB 68.)

IA HSB68

A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.(See HF 722.)

IA SSB1068

A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.(See SF 222, SF 603.)

IA HF731

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 254.)

IA SF222

A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.(Formerly SSB 1068; See SF 603.)

IA HSB254

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force on at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 731.)

IA SF560

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the education system, including the funding and operation of the department for the blind, the department of education, and the state board of regents; requiring the state board of regents to conduct a study and prepare a report related to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and efforts; providing for responsibilities of the workforce development board; establishing the Iowa workforce grant and incentive program; requiring the department of education to convene a task force to study issues related to programs for at-risk students and dropout prevention programs; modifying provisions related to the future ready Iowa skilled workforce grant program, the all Iowa opportunity scholarship program, the education savings account program, the gap tuition assistance program, the Iowa educational services for the blind and visually impaired program, career and technical education programs, the fine arts beginning teacher mentoring program, the equipment replacement and program-sharing property tax levy, and the posting of education-related job openings; and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly SSB 1212.) Effective date: 06/01/2023, 07/01/2023. Applicability date: 01/24/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA HF2516

A bill for an act relating to work-based learning, including by repealing provisions related to regional industry sector partnerships and the statewide work-based learning intermediary network, establishing the workforce opportunity fund within the department of workforce development, modifying provisions related to career and technical education, student teacher requirements for students with substitute teaching or para-educator experience, and the future ready Iowa skilled workforce last-dollar scholarship program, and making appropriations.(Formerly HSB 686; See HF 2703.)

IA HF1040

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for the economic development of the state, including to the economic development authority, Iowa finance authority, department of workforce development, and state board of regents and certain regents institutions, and eliminating the repeal of the housing renewal pilot program.(Formerly HSB 336.)

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