Wolf’s Wonderings
A number of bills of interest ‘dropped’ this week and several are on the docket for next week. Here are the high points:
Bills Filed this Week
SSB3077 and HSB607 are the Governor’s bill, which amends the Future Ready Iowa Act (2018). The bills contain seven (7) divisions that are of interest to the Community Colleges and the students and communities we serve.
Division I – Apprenticeship Training
Division II – Iowa Child Care Challenge Fund
Division III – IWD Workforce HS Diploma Pilot Program
Division IV – K12 Computer Science Instruction
Division V – Shared Operational Functions – Supplemental Weighting
Division VI – Last Dollar Scholarship Program
Division VII – Concurrent Enrollment & PSEO Enrollment Options
HSB607 is scheduled to be discussed during the House Commerce Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 4 at 1:00 p.m., depending on other items on a full agenda.
SF2098 is the Direct Care Workforce bill. It creates a database, tuition grant program, and tax credit.
Bills Discussed in Subcommittee
SF2057 requires public and private schools and higher education institutions to establish a process for students to appeal their grades based on alleged political bias. This bill will now go to the Senate Education Committee. During the Subcommittee meeting, copies of each of the Community College’s grade and discrimination appeal procedures were provided. Education representatives asked to provide the Subcommittee members with evidence that the current appeal procedures are being used, that information is being compiled.
SSB3019 is a DE proposed bill providing changes to CTE Instructor Qualifications. The Subcommittee members were amenable to adding amendment language that will include the Baccalaureate Degree plus 18 hours. It is scheduled to be discussed during the Senate Education Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m.
We expect that study bills moved out of subcommittees this past week will be renumbered over the weekend. Look for updates in next week’s newsletter. ACCT Legislative Consultant Laurie Wolf: (515) 669-0194 or lawolf@iacct.com.