135.181 Board-certified behavior analyst and board-certified assistant behavior analyst grants program — fund.
1. The department shall establish a board-certified behavior analyst and board-certified assistant behavior analyst grants program to provide grants to Iowa resident and nonresident applicants who have been accepted for admission or are attending a university, community college, or an accredited private institution, within or outside the state of Iowa, are enrolled in a program that is accredited and meets coursework requirements to prepare the applicant to be eligible for board certification as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst, and demonstrate financial need.
2. The department, in cooperation with the department of education, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to establish minimum standards for applicants to be eligible for a grant that address all of the following:
a. Eligibility requirements for and qualifications of an applicant to receive a grant. The applicant shall agree to practice in the state of Iowa for a period of time, not to exceed four years, as specified in the contract entered into between the applicant and the department at the time the grant is awarded. In addition, the applicant shall agree, as specified in the contract, that during the contract period, the applicant will assist in supervising an individual working toward board certification as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst or to consult with schools and service providers that provide services and supports to individuals with autism.
b. The application process for the grant.
c. Criteria for preference in awarding of the grants. Priority in the awarding of a grant shall be given to applicants who are residents of Iowa.
d. Determination of the amount of a grant. The amount of funding awarded to each applicant shall be based on the applicant’s enrollment status, the number of applicants, and the total amount of available funds. The total amount of funds awarded to an individual applicant shall not exceed fifty percent of the total costs attributable to program tuition and fees, annually.
e. Use of the funds awarded. Funds awarded may be used to offset the costs attributable to tuition and fees for the accredited behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst program.
3. a. A board-certified behavior analyst and board-certified assistant behavior analyst grants program fund is created in the state treasury as a separate fund under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated from the general fund of the state for the purposes of the fund and moneys from any other public or private source available.
b. The department may receive contributions, grants, and in-kind contributions to support the purposes of the fund. Not more than five percent of the moneys in the fund may be used annually for administrative costs.
c. The fund shall be separate from the general fund of the state and shall not be considered part of the general fund of the state. The moneys in the fund shall not be considered revenue of the state, but rather shall be moneys of the fund. Moneys within the fund are not subject to section 8.33 and shall not be transferred, used, obligated, appropriated, or otherwise encumbered, except to provide for the purposes of this section. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys deposited in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
d. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department and shall be used to provide grants to individuals who meet the criteria established under this section.
4. The department shall submit a report to the governor and the general assembly no later than January 1, annually, that includes but is not limited to all of the following:
a. The number of applications received for the immediately preceding fiscal year.
b. The number of applications approved and the total amount of funding awarded in grants in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
c. The cost of administering the program in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
d. Recommendations for any changes to the program.
2015 Acts, ch 137, §68, 162, 163; 2016 Acts, ch 1139, §57, 58