House File 117 establishes a National Guard Service Professional Qualification Scholarship Program in Iowa, aimed at supporting members of the Iowa National Guard who are pursuing educational credentials approved by the adjutant general. The program will be administered by the college student aid commission and is designed for those enrolled in community colleges, state universities, or accredited private institutions. Eligibility criteria include being a resident of Iowa, satisfactorily completing initial active duty training, maintaining satisfactory performance, and applying for all available financial aid. The adjutant general will determine eligibility and manage the distribution of scholarships based on available funding.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 256.210 to ensure that unencumbered or unobligated funds appropriated for this scholarship program do not revert at the end of the fiscal year but remain available for the following year. The adjutant general is granted authority to authorize the expenditure of these funds for the scholarship program. The bill also clarifies that the term "credential" refers to postsecondary certificates or competency-based credentials that do not qualify for federal student aid, excluding associate degrees or higher.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.210
Enrolled: 256.210