House File 1000 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 1000 BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (SUCCESSOR TO HF 909) (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 243) A BILL FOR An Act providing for the establishment of a veterans service 1 organization grant program, and making appropriations. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1674HZ (1) 91 sc/js
H.F. 1000 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 35A.23 Veterans service 1 organization grant program. 2 1. A veterans service organization grant program is 3 established under the administration and control of the 4 department to award grants to veterans service organizations 5 for the purpose of ensuring adequate staff are employed to 6 assist veterans with claims. 7 2. A veterans service organization grant fund is created 8 within the state treasury under the control of the department. 9 The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund by 10 the general assembly and any other moneys available to and 11 obtained or accepted by the department for deposit in the fund. 12 All moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for 13 purposes of administering the program and providing grants 14 under the program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in 15 the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close 16 of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available 17 for expenditure for the purposes designated. Notwithstanding 18 section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in 19 the fund shall be credited to the fund. 20 3. a. In administering the program, the department shall 21 award matching funds to veterans service organizations for the 22 purpose of employing staff to assist veterans with claims. 23 b. To receive a grant, a veterans service organization shall 24 demonstrate that moneys have been budgeted and will be expended 25 by the veterans service organization in the amount required to 26 provide matching funds for each staff position for which grant 27 moneys are sought. 28 c. For purposes of this section, veterans service 29 organization means an organization recognized pursuant to 38 30 C.F.R. 14.628(c). 31 4. The department shall adopt, as necessary, application 32 procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and other rules 33 pursuant to chapter 17A for purposes of implementing and 34 administering the program. 35 -1- LSB 1674HZ (1) 91 sc/js 1/ 2
H.F. 1000 Sec. 2. VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION GRANT FUND 1 APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund of 2 the state to the department of veterans affairs for the fiscal 3 year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, the 4 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be 5 used for the purposes designated: 6 For deposit in the veterans service organization grant fund 7 created in section 35A.23, as enacted by this Act: 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 250,000 9 EXPLANATION 10 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 11 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 12 This bill establishes a veterans service organization grant 13 program under the administration of the department of veterans 14 affairs for the purpose of providing matching funds to veterans 15 service organizations, as defined in 38 C.F.R. 14.628(c). The 16 moneys must be used for employing staff who assist veterans 17 with claims. The bill requires the department to adopt 18 application procedures, forms, administrative guidelines, and 19 other rules for implementing and administering the program. 20 The bill creates a veterans service organization grant fund 21 under the control of the department and appropriates $250,000 22 to the department for deposit in the fund. 23 -2- LSB 1674HZ (1) 91 sc/js 2/ 2