News : Bill waives college tuition and fees for peace officers moves out of subcommitee

By Brooklyn Draisy

A bill to waive university tuition and fees for Iowa law enforcement has moved out of a House subcommittee with support from its members and the public.

House Study Bill 329 would require Iowa community colleges and public universities to waive tuition and fees for "peace officers," defined in Iowa code as sheriffs, deputies, police officers, certain parole and probation officers, security officers employed by a state university, conservation officers, and qualified employees of the Department of Transportation or an aviation authority. Dependents of peace officers are also eligible for waivers, with certain parameters.

The bill would create a reimbursement fund for the waivers and place it under control of the state's College Student Aid Commission, with a proposed $10 surcharge added to automatic or remote traffic citations providing the money to fill the fund. The commission would use money allocated to the fund to pay back colleges and universities who have applied the cost of the waivers they provided to students.

To qualify for waivers, officers must be residents of Iowa, have Iowa Law Enforcement Academy certification, meet enrollment requirements for their institution and pursue a degree related to law enforcement, according to the bill. Their dependents must agree to spend at least five years in Iowa after graduation or repay the amount that was waived.

Under the legislation, the waivers would last three years at a community college and five years at a public university.

Lobbyists representing various police associations voiced their appreciation for the legislation and the work lawmakers have put in over the past few years to pass legislation aiding in the areas of "recruitment, retention and retirement," Iowa Police Chief Association lobbyist Larry Murphy said.

"If you think about … a 30-year career and break it into three decades, that middle piece, somewhere from year seven through 20, this piece is just really critical, because this is where officers would be either tired of the stress or (looking for) other opportunities," Murphy said. "They'll look at that opportunity of actually getting college paid for, partially paid for, with their kids going to community colleges or regent universities, (so we're) very supportive."

Iowa Board of Regents State Relations Officer Jillian Carlson said the board is registered undecided on the bill despite supporting its end goal of helping officers further their education because of how the program would be structured. In order to not put additional burden on the student aid commission, Carlson said the board would rather see the program practice tuition reimbursement or loan repayment rather than providing waivers.

Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Adel, chaired the subcommittee. He said he and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, who was not present at the meeting, would support the legislation. Rep. Kenan Judge filled in for Rep. Eric Gjerde and said while he could not sign his approval of the legislation himself, he would support it if it makes its way to the House floor.

With the subcommittee's approval, the bill will head to the full Ways and Means committee.

"Anything we can do to support a police officer out there doing the dangerous work they do, I think we should do it," Judge said.