IA HSB609

Workforce Development Board must establish a comprehensive initiative to address Iowa's cyber and artificial intelligence workforce needs, including supporting K-12 cyber/AI literacy standards and facilitating partnerships between state universities and private industry for internships, research, and degree programs.

Subject to appropriation, the initiative requires a grant program to support educational institutions and private sector entities in developing cyber and AI training programs, plus career transition programs for professionals including law enforcement officers, teachers, and construction workers.

State Board of Education must oversee implementation of K-12 through higher education frameworks for cyber and AI literacy, including prioritizing federal funding opportunities and establishing statewide mandatory outcomes or standards based on successful models from other states.

A voluntary certification program will be created for school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to achieve designation for compliance with cyber and AI best practices, based on self-attestation with limited Department of Education auditing.

Department of Education must develop a statewide community education initiative for cyber and AI awareness in consultation with the Department of Public Safety, including creating an accessible digital resource hub and marketing campaigns tailored to key demographics such as the elderly, minors, law enforcement, and educators.