Bill
HF 97
Creates a state-funded scholarship up to $5,000/year to help eligible adults with disabilities in Iowa CTPS offset tuition/fees, contingent on annual appropriations.
Overview
- Bill Number: HF 97, renumbered to HF 271
- Title: A bill for an act establishing the Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program Scholarship Program and making appropriations
- Introduced: January 22, 2025
- Primary Sponsor: Ingels
- Status: Committee report approving bill; renumbered as HF 271
- Subject: Disabilities, Scholarships, Tuition
- Key point: Creates a state-funded scholarship program to help eligible students with disabilities offset tuition and fees for participation in Iowa’s Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTPP), contingent on an annual appropriation.
Purpose and intent
- Establish a designated scholarship program to assist individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are 18 or older and enrolled in a CTPP in Iowa.
- The goal is to offset costs associated with tuition and fees for participation in approved CTPS programs.
Key provisions
- Eligibility and recipients
- Target population: Individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities, at least 18 years old, enrolled in an Iowa CTPS approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
- The bill requires annual applications to determine continued eligibility for renewed awards.
- Award amount
- Scholarships awarded may not exceed $5,000 per academic year for each recipient.
- Administration and administration partners
- The College Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is tasked with developing and administering the scholarship program.
- The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVR) within the Department of Workforce Development will collaborate with CSAC on program development, evaluation criteria, and rulemaking.
- Evaluation and priority
- CSAC, in consultation with DVR, will establish criteria to evaluate scholarship applications.
- Priority is given to applicants who are residents of Iowa.
- Rules and governance
- The CSAC will adopt rules under Chapter 17A to administer the section.
- Funding mechanism
- A Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program Scholarship Program Fund is established in the state treasury.
- The fund will be administered by CSAC in coordination with DVR.
- The program’s existence and awards depend on appropriations made by the General Assembly for the fiscal year.
Administration, funding, and timeline
- Contingent on appropriation: The program may be funded and operated only if the General Assembly appropriates money in a given fiscal year.
- Implementation pathway: If funded, CSAC, in consultation with DVR, will develop criteria, implement the program, and award scholarships up to the $5,000 cap per academic year.
- Rules and oversight: New administrative rules will be adopted to govern administration and eligibility processes.
Impact and considerations
- Aims to improve access to higher education opportunities for students with disabilities by reducing out-of-pocket costs for CTPS tuition and fees.
- Could increase participation in CTPS programs approved by the US Department of Education.
- Emphasizes resident-first eligibility to prioritize Iowa students.
- Requires ongoing annual applications, ensuring recipients re-qualify each year.
Status and timeline notes
- Introduced January 22, 2025; referred to Education.
- Subcommittee and committee actions in February 2025, with strong support (subcommittee recommended passage; committee vote 22–0 with 1 excused).
- The bill’s current status reflects approval by the committee and renumbering to HF 271.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
