ARC 4595C

ARC 4595C

COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION[283]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to Iowa national guard educational assistance and providing an opportunity for public comment

The College Student Aid Commission hereby proposes to amend Chapter 20, "Iowa National Guard Educational Assistance Program," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 261.3 and 261.86 as amended by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 261.

Purpose and Summary

This proposed rule making implements amendments enacted by 2019 Iowa Acts, House File 758, sections 14, 15, and 16, and makes a technical amendment to reflect current practice. Section 16 of House File 758 amends the statute to allow students in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM)-related programs of study to receive up to 130 credit hours of funding. In addition, the statutory name of the National Guard Educational Assistance Program is being changed to the National Guard Service Scholarship Program. The proposed technical amendment updates the definition of "state-defined payment period" to reflect a recent change from five payment-reporting periods to six payment-reporting periods.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Commission for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 283—Chapter 7.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Commission no later than 4:30 p.m.on September 3, 2019. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rule-making actions are proposed:

Item 1. Amend 283—Chapter 20, title, as follows:

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Item 2. Amend rule 283—20.1(261), introductory paragraph, as follows:

283—20.1(261) Educational assistance Scholarships to Iowa national guard members for undergraduate studies at eligible Iowa institutions. The adjutant general shall determine eligibility requirements and select program recipients. The decision of the adjutant general is final.

Item 3. Amend subrule 20.1(1), definition of "State-defined payment period," as follows:

"State-defined payment period" means one of five six payment terms and corresponding deadlines as defined by the college student aid commission.

Item 4. Amend subrule 20.1(5) as follows:

20.1(5) Award limitations. Awards may be used for educational assistance including tuition and fees; room and board; books, supplies, transportation and personal expenses; dependent care; and disability-related expenses. Individual award amounts shall be determined by the adjutant general and shall be neither less than an amount equal to 50 percent of the resident tuition rate established for students attending regent institutions nor exceed the amount of the resident tuition rate established for students attending regent institutions.

Item 5. Amend subrule 20.1(6) as follows:

20.1(6) Restrictions.

a. A guard member may use benefits scholarships only for undergraduate educational assistance expenses described in subrule 20.1(5).

b. A guard member who has met the educational requirements for a baccalaureate degree is not eligible for benefits.

c. A qualified student may receive benefits for no more than 120 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, of undergraduate study. All credit hours within a term of enrollment to which educational assistance a scholarship was applied must be reported to the commission within the state-defined payment period.

d. A qualified student who is enrolled in a postsecondary program of study that meets the eligibility requirements of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship may receive benefits for no more than 130 credit hours, or the equivalent, of undergraduate study. All credit hours within a term of enrollment to which a scholarship is applied must be reported to the commission within the state-defined payment period.