This bill focuses on enhancing workforce training, unemployment insurance, and adult education in Iowa, with significant amendments to the roles of the Iowa Department of Workforce Development and local workforce development boards. Notably, it adds the RefugeeRISE AmeriCorps program to Iowa's national service corps programs and establishes standing committees within the workforce development board. The bill also modifies local workforce development plan requirements to ensure compliance with federal laws, while repealing outdated provisions and transferring the responsibility for annual workforce training reports from the Department of Workforce Development to the college student aid commission.

Additionally, the bill introduces a fund to support the Iowa student internship program, allocating $1,039,425 for the fiscal year 2025-2026, while removing the financial assistance component for connecting students with small and medium-sized firms. It revises the definition of taxable wages for unemployment insurance to exclude wages from employees in other states and mandates contributions to the unemployment compensation fund from states that offer similar reciprocity. Lastly, the bill streamlines adult education and literacy program administration by removing the requirement for community colleges to set standards, thereby centralizing these responsibilities within the department.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15H.9, 15H.5, 84A.1A, 84A.1B, 84A.3, 84A.5, 84A.6, 97B.1A, 256.228, 256.229, 84A.7, 84A.21, 12C.7, 84A.19