Bill
Bill > HSB68
IA HSB68
IA HSB68A bill for an act relating to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development, the workforce development board, and local workforce development boards, and making appropriations.(See HF 722.)
summary
Introduced
01/23/2025
01/23/2025
In Committee
01/23/2025
01/23/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/03/2026
05/03/2026
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to workforce training, unemployment insurance, adult education, and other functions and programs of the department of workforce development (department), the S.F. _____ H.F. _____ workforce development board, and local workforce development boards. DIVISION I —— FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS. This division strikes department duties relating to administering a statewide employment skills assessment, selection of service providers, establishing a job posting system of education-related job openings, and functions no longer under the department pursuant to 2023 Iowa Acts, The division repeals Code provisions for the Iowa conservation corps, the workforce investment program, the statewide mentoring program, the new employment opportunity program, and the nursing workforce data clearinghouse. The division generally transfers duties relating to compiling an annual report for submission to the governor and general assembly on various workforce training programs from the department to the college student aid commission. The division strikes requirements for the department to collaborate with specified education-related entities when performing certain duties. The division strikes detailed language relating to duties of the workforce development board concerning standing committees, public availability of information, comprehensive state workforce development plans, recommendations on the use of federal funds, and various other duties. The division generally provides that such duties shall be carried out as required by federal law. The division similarly modifies duties of local workforce development boards relating to local workforce development plans. DIVISION II —— UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE —— TAXABLE WAGES. This division modifies the definition of “taxable wages” for purposes of unemployment insurance taxes on employers by eliminating the wages paid to an employee from another state from the calculation of wages upon which an employer is S.F. _____ H.F. _____ required to contribute to the unemployment compensation fund when the other state extends a like comity (reciprocity) to Iowa for employment purposes. The division specifies that only wages paid in Iowa can constitute taxable wages. DIVISION III —— IOWA STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. This division strikes one of two components of the Iowa student internship program administered by the department. The component providing for financial assistance to link Iowa students to small and medium-sized Iowa firms is stricken. The component providing for financial assistance to place Iowa students studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into internships that lead to permanent positions with Iowa employers is retained. The division appropriates $1,039,425 from the general fund to the department for the Iowa student internship fund. Moneys in the fund are used to increase the availability of skilled workers in innovative businesses by providing Iowa student internship opportunities. DIVISION IV —— ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAMS. Under current law, the department and community colleges are required to implement and set standards for certain adult education and literacy programs. This division strikes references to community colleges so that only the department has these duties.
AI Summary
This Study Bill makes several changes to workforce development programs, unemployment insurance, and adult education, primarily by streamlining the responsibilities of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Workforce Development Board (WDB). Key provisions include removing certain administrative duties from the DWD and WDB, such as statewide skills assessments and specific reporting functions, and generally aligning their remaining duties with federal requirements. It also modifies the definition of "taxable wages" for unemployment insurance to exclude wages earned in other states if that state offers similar reciprocity, meaning employers will only contribute based on wages paid within Iowa. The bill retains one component of the Iowa Student Internship Program, which provides financial assistance for STEM students to secure internships leading to permanent positions, and appropriates over $1 million for this purpose, while eliminating the component that linked students to small and medium-sized businesses. Finally, it consolidates the responsibility for implementing and setting standards for adult education and literacy programs solely with the DWD, removing community colleges from these specific duties.
Committee Categories
Labor and Employment
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Labor And Workforce (House)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 722. (on 03/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HSB68 | 01/23/2025 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HSB68.html | 01/23/2025 |
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