ARC 9389C

ARC 9389C

Proposing rulemaking related to Iowa national guard benefits programs
and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Administrative Rules Coordinator provided preclearance for the publication of this Notice of Intended Action on April 8, 2025.

A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on February 19, 2025. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●March 26, 2025

No public comments on the Regulatory Analysis were received at the public hearing or in writing.

Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Commission and advise of specific needs.

ITEM 1.Rescind 283—Chapter 20 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 20

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD BENEFITS PROGRAMS

283—20.1(256) Definitions. As used in this chapter:

“Eligible institution” means the same as described in Iowa Code section 256.210(1).

“Eligible master’s degree program of study” means a master’s degree program in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related military occupational specialties or air force specialty codes pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.211(1)“a.”

“Federal active duty” means military duty performed pursuant to orders issued under Title 10, United States Code (as of July 1, 2024), other than for training.

“Full-time” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(256).

“Part-time” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(256).

“Program of study” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(256).

“Satisfactory academic progress” means the same as defined in rule 283—10.2(256).

283—20.2(256) Iowa national guard service scholarship.

20.2(1) Eligible applicant. An eligible applicant is an Iowa resident, as determined by the adjutant general, who enrolls full-time or part-time in a program of study at an eligible institution and who meets the award eligibility criteria approved by the adjutant general and the following provisions:

a.Completes the applications the Iowa national guard deems necessary on or before the date established by the Iowa national guard, except that an individual who was on federal active duty at the time of an application deadline will have 30 days to apply upon return to Iowa from active duty.

b.Meets the eligibility criteria in Iowa Code section 256.210, meets satisfactory academic progress standards, and does not meet a condition in 283—subrule 10.3(1).

20.2(2) Awarding of funds.

a.Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award.

b.Maximum award and extent of award. Eligible applicants may receive awards for no more than 120 semester credit hours attributable to the program of study unless the applicants meet the provisions of Iowa Code section 256.210(3)“a”(2).

(1)The maximum award for full-time students will not exceed the undergraduate Iowa resident tuition rate at Iowa regent universities or the tuition charged to the eligible applicant, whichever is lower.

(2)All credit hours within a term of enrollment to which a scholarship is applied will be reported to the commission within the state-defined payment period.

c.Awarding process.

(1)The Iowa national guard will verify the eligibility of eligible applicants. An eligibility decision by the adjutant general is final.

(2)The commission will designate eligible applicants for awards and provide eligible institutions with rosters of designated eligible applicants.

(3)The commission will notify recipients and eligible institutions of the awards. Eligible institutions will notify the student of the award amount, of the state program from which funding is being provided and that the award is contingent on the availability of state funds.

(4)Eligible institutions will apply awards to cover expenses identified in Iowa Code section 256.210(5).

(5)Eligible institutions will provide information about eligible applicants to the commission in a format specified by the commission. Eligible institutions will make necessary changes to awards due to a change in enrollment or financial situation and promptly report those changes to the commission.

(6)Eligible institutions are responsible for completing necessary verification and for coordinating other aid to ensure compliance with student eligibility requirements and allowable award amounts. Eligible institutions will report changes in student eligibility to the commission.

(7)The commission will periodically investigate and review compliance of eligible institutions participating in this program with the criteria established in Iowa Code section 256.210 and this rule.

283—20.3(256) Iowa national guard master’s degree service scholarship. In the event that the adjutant general authorizes the expenditure of unencumbered or unobligated funds from Iowa Code section 256.210(6) for the recruitment or retention of individuals by providing a scholarship award to an eligible member of the Iowa national guard, this chapter will be used to administer authorized scholarships. The adjutant general will select program recipients and authorize scholarship awards under this chapter. The decision of the adjutant general is final.

20.3(1) Eligible applicant. An eligible applicant is an Iowa resident, as determined by the adjutant general, who enrolls in an eligible master’s degree program of study at an eligible institution and who meets the award eligibility criteria approved by the adjutant general and the following provisions:

a.Completes the applications the Iowa national guard deems necessary on or before the date established by the Iowa national guard, except that an individual who was on federal active duty at the time of an application deadline will have 30 days to apply upon return to Iowa from active duty.

b.Meets the eligibility criteria in Iowa Code section 256.211(1)“a” and 256.211(3), meets satisfactory academic progress standards, and does not meet a condition in 283—subrule 10.3(1).

20.3(2) Awarding of funds.

a.Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award.

b.Maximum award and extent of award. Eligible applicants may receive awards for no more than 36 semester credit hours, or the equivalent, attributable to the eligible master’s degree program of study.

(1)The maximum award will not exceed the Iowa resident graduate-level tuition rate at Iowa regent universities or the tuition charged to the eligible applicant, whichever is lower.

(2)All credit hours within a term of enrollment to which a scholarship is applied will be reported to the commission within the state-defined payment period.

c.Awarding process. The college student aid commission adopts the awarding process in paragraph 20.2(2)“c” with the following exception: In lieu of “Iowa Code section 256.210” in subparagraph 20.2(2)“c”(7), insert “Iowa Code section 256.211”.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 256.

ITEM 2.Rescind and reserve 283—Chapter 29.