This bill mandates that at least 50 percent of the funds allocated for the Iowa tuition grant program each fiscal year be awarded to students pursuing academic majors that align with high-wage and high-demand jobs. To facilitate this, the workforce development board, in collaboration with the Iowa association of independent colleges and universities, is tasked with creating and maintaining a list of such jobs and corresponding majors. The list must be updated at least every two years and is required to meet specific criteria, including a minimum entry-level annual salary of $40,000 and a qualifying credential of at least a bachelor's degree.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language to the Iowa Code, specifically adding a subsection to Section 84A.1B that outlines the responsibilities of the workforce development board in creating the job list. It also includes a new paragraph in Section 256.189 that specifies the funding allocation for the tuition grant program. The provision for the workforce development board to create the job list is effective immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 84A.1B, 256.183