Bills › 88th General Assembly
Relating to military and veterans benefits. Effective 7-1-19
Sponsored by the House Veterans Affairs Committee
Topics:Veterans & military
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 6, 2019
- Skipped: SubcommitteeSkipped
- Done: House committeeMarch 14, 2019
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 14, 2019
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 21, 201946–0
- Done: To the GovernorMarch 21, 2019
- Done: Signed into lawMarch 22, 2019
Signed into law What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
14, the injured veterans grant program provides grants to veterans recovering from an injury received in the line of duty in a combat zone or in a zone where the veteran was receiving hazardous duty pay after September 11, 2001. This bill eliminates the requirement that the veteran be injured in a combat zone or zone where the veteran is receiving hazardous duty pay in order to qualify for the program. The bill further provides that the department of veterans affairs, the commission of veterans affairs, and the national guard are to collaborate on a report regarding the sustainability of future funding for the injured veterans grant program with a written report due to the governor and general assembly by December 31, 2019.
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The bill also establishes an expedited licensing process for spouses of active duty members of the United States military who are stationed in Iowa pursuant to military orders.4 is amended to provide that licensing boards establish procedures by January 1, 2020, to expedite the licensing of an individual who is licensed in a similar profession or occupation in another state and who is the spouse of an active duty member of the military forces of the United States. Provisional licensing procedures are also required to be established.
Changed since by amendment S-3036; see Amendments.
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill expands eligibility for the Injured Veterans Grant Program, increases lottery transfers to the Veterans Trust Fund, and requires state licensing boards to create an expedited process for military spouses. It will transfer $100,000 per year from the Veterans Trust Fund to the Injured Veterans Grant Program from fiscal year 2020 until fiscal year 2030, for a cumulative total of $1.1 million. The Veterans Trust Fund is projected to reach its $50.0 million goal in fiscal year 2030, and the requirement for licensing boards to adopt new rules will have little to no fiscal impact.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 512 does the following:
- Amends eligibility for the Injured Veterans Grant Program to cover any injury received in the line of duty outside the United States.
- Increases the spendable portion of the Iowa Lottery transfer to the Veterans Trust Fund from $500,000 to $600,000.
- Allocates the above increase of $100,000 to the Injured Veterans Grant Program until that Program has a fiscal year ending balance of $1.0 million. If the fiscal year ending balance is $1.0 million or more, transfers to the Program do not resume until the total resources available to the Program drop below $700,000.
- Directs licensing boards in the State to develop by January 1, 2020, an expedited licensing process for military spouses who are already licensed in similar professions or occupations in another state.
Background
Under current law, the Veterans Trust Fund is projected to reach its $50.0 million goal by FY 2029.
The Injured Veterans Grant Program has received three appropriations from the General Fund since FY 2006, totaling $4.0 million. Awards are made in $2,500 increments up to a maximum of $10,000.
Assumptions
- For the past five fiscal years, awards from the Injured Veterans Grant Program have averaged just under $50,000. With the eligibility expansion, award amounts are assumed to increase to at least this amount annually for the foreseeable future.
- The current balance of the Injured Veterans Grant Program is approximately $200,000.
- In the years that the transfer to the Injured Veterans Grant Program is not made, the $100,000 will be eligible for expenditure from the Veterans Trust Fund for awards.
- Once the goal of the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund is met, Iowa Code section 99G.39 appropriates the $2.5 million from the Iowa Lottery to the Department of Revenue for distribution to county directors of veterans affairs.
- Iowa licensing boards have already implemented protocols for expediting licensure for members of the military.
Fiscal Impact
Senate File 512 will transfer $100,000 per year from the Veterans Trust Fund to the Injured Veterans Grant Program from FY 2020 until FY 2030, for a cumulative total of $1.1 million. The Veterans Trust Fund will reach its $50.0 million goal one year later than current projections, in FY 2030. After that time, there will be no more transfers to the Injured Veterans Grant Program. The $2.5 million in lottery revenue will be appropriated to the Department of Revenue for distribution to county directors of veterans affairs.
Requiring licensing boards to adopt rules to expedite licensure of military spouses will have little to no fiscal impact.
Sources
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Public Health
- Board of Medicine
- Board of Pharmacy
- Board of Nursing
- Dental Board
- Judicial Branch
- Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
- Professional Licensing and Regulation Bureau, Department of Commerce
- Banking Division, Department of Commerce
- LSA analysis and calculations
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
7 for · 3 against · 12 undecided · Who →
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88th General Assembly