Opinion ID: 1989979
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Application of Iowa Code Section 598.21(5A)

Text: Stephen argues the district court erred in failing to limit his support obligation in accordance with the provisions of Iowa Code section 598.21(5A). Section 598.21(5A) was adopted during the 1997 legislative session. 1997 Iowa Acts ch. 175, § 190. This new law establishes a more structured basis for awarding support payments for postsecondary education. In re Petition of Bisenius, 573 N.W.2d 258, 260 n. 2 (Iowa 1998). Specifically, it provides that a parent may be required to pay a postsecondary education subsidy, but the amount to be paid cannot exceed thirty-three and one-third percent of the total costs of an education at an in-state public institution. Iowa Code § 598.21(5A)(a)(3). Section 598.21(5A) took effect on July 1, 1997. Id. § 3.7(1). The district court had entered its modification order six days earlier. A statute is presumed to be prospective in its operation unless expressly made retrospective. Id. § 4.5. Nothing in the new law indicates it was to be applied retroactively, and the trial court was correct in declining to apply it to this case. [2] We cannot conclude our review of this matter without noting that the court of appeals previously considered the same issue in In re Marriage of Griffin, 570 N.W.2d 258 (Iowa App.1997). In Griffin the court of appeals held the statute was only to be applied prospectively. Griffin, 570 N.W.2d at 260. While we agree with that aspect of the court's opinion, we must depart from the remainder of its analysis and its application of the new law. Griffin, like the case at bar, involved a situation in which the new law was not in effect at the time the district court ruled upon the modification application. However, the court of appeals reasoned that higher education costs are not all due and payable at one time, and it concluded it could segregate the financial obligations incurred prior to the effective date of the new law and those incurred after. Id. The court held college expenses incurred prior to July 1 were not subject to the new law, but expenses accruing after that date were. Id. While asserting that the statute was only to be applied prospectively, the court of appeals gave it retroactive effect by applying it to the provisions of a district court order which had been entered before July 1, 1997. We cannot reconcile this outcome with our determination that the statute was only to be applied prospectively, and we overrule that portion of Griffin.