Establishing the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program and making appropriations

This bill establishes the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program. The bill requires the college student aid commission (commission), in consultation with the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of workforce development (IVRS), to develop and administer a scholarship program to provide scholarships to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities who are at least 18 years of age and who are enrolled in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program in this state that has been approved by the United States department of education, to help offset the cost associated with the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program’s tuition and fees, if moneys are appropriated by the general assembly for a fiscal year for this purpose. The bill provides that the amount awarded to an individual under the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program shall not exceed $5,000 per academic year. The bill requires the commission, in consultation with IVRS, to establish the criteria to be used when evaluating applications for scholarships submitted under the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program. The bill also requires the commission to give priority to applicants who are residents of Iowa. The bill requires the commission, in consultation with IVRS, to adopt rules to administer the comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program. The bill establishes a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program scholarship program fund in the state treasury under the control of the college student aid commission.