August 19, 2011

Small Business Help to Revitalize Rural Iowa, Create Jobs

While in Iowa this week, President Obama and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) announced a new initiative to revitalize rural communities by helping small businesses create new jobs. The initiative will spur new private sector jobs and leverage an additional $132 million in private small-businesses lending in Iowa.

Called the Small Business Jobs Act, Iowa will use federal funds to leverage private investment to help finance small businesses and manufacturers that are creditworthy, but are not getting the loans they need to expand and create jobs. Iowa will access $13.2 million from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which leverages $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding.

The Department of Economic Development plans to use these funds to support the launch of the Iowa Capital Access Program and enhance the existing Iowa Demonstration Fund Program and the Iowa Small Business Loan Program. The Capital Access Program will target outreach specifically to rural communities throughout the state.

The Iowa Small Business Loan program will use the funding to provide participation loans in conjunction with private financing to support small businesses. The Demonstration Fund encourages commercialization activities by small and medium-sized Iowa companies in the areas of product refinement, market planning and market entry activities to foster competitive companies that create jobs in Iowa.

For more information on the award to Iowa, the Iowa Capital Access Program, the Iowa Demonstration Fund or the Iowa Small Business Loan Program, visit http://www.iowalifechanging.com.

Branstad Begins Close of Workforce Centers Aug. 31st

In an effort overturn Governor Branstad’s order to close critical workforce centers, leaders in the Iowa Legislature called for a special session to keep the centers open. After every Republican in the legislature declined to sign on to the effort, 36 offices, which help unemployed Iowans and small businesses looking for workers, are slated for closure beginning August 31st.

Governor Branstad used his line-item veto authority in July to remove provisions prohibiting the closure of local Iowa Workforce Offices, despite a bipartisan compromise last session to keep the centers open. In his veto message, the Governor said he intends to close at least 36 Workforce Offices around the state and replace them with kiosks in libraries. Supporters of the override cited the importance of the workforce centers while 100,000 Iowans are still looking for employment and the bipartisan nature of the language the Governor vetoed.

The special session call was made under Article III, section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa provides that members of the legislature may convene a special session if two-thirds of each house signs a petition. However, the petition did not reach the two-thirds required in both chambers.

Iowa Students’ ACT Scores are Number 2 in the Nation

Iowa students of the 2011 class had the second highest ACT scores in the nation among states that tested more than half of their students. The top five in order were Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Montana, and Nebraska. Minnesota’s score was 22.9, and Iowa’s was 22.3.

The percentage of Iowa students who were college-ready in all four key subjects (English, Reading, Math and Science) increased from 30% to 31% and competency scores in those subject areas separately also increased. The highest for Iowans was English with 77% competency and the lowest being Science with 40% competency. Iowa scored well above the nation in all key subjects.

African-American Achievement Gap Widens

Although Native American, Asian and Hispanic minorities all improved in their percentage in the number of students meeting competency in at least three subjects, the same could not be said for African-Americans. Their benchmark percentage dropped from 13% in 2010 to 11% in 2011. Just two years ago they were at 18%.

Director Glass Encourages Requirement that All Students in Iowa Take ACT

Department of Education Director Jason Glass took the opportunity to push for the requirement that all Iowa high school students take the ACT. The 22,968 Iowa students that took the ACT comprised 62% of last spring’s graduating seniors, a slight increase compared to last year. The number of minority’s participating statewide are much lower, however, with 39% of Hispanics, 37% Native Americans and 34% African Americans participating in Iowa. This is the second year that all graduating seniors from Iowa’s largest school district, Des Moines, have taken the test, and the first year that Clinton seniors have all participated.

States that require all students to take the ACT have seen improved scores after an initial dip in scores. Director Glass used Illinois as an example of a state that experienced this. ACT officials say increased access to the test helps steer more students toward higher education and allows states and school districts to evaluate how well students are being prepared for college and careers.

“There is a lot of room for growth in assessing college and career readiness for all Iowa students,” Glass said.

Scores also show that those students who stick with core courses longer, score better in the ACT test. Iowa students who reported taking core courses earned an average composite ACT score of 23, while those who took lighter course loads had an average composite score of 19.8.

Mourning Dove Toxic Lead-Shot Ban Delayed

The Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee voted to delay a ban of toxic lead shot for the upcoming inaugural mourning dove hunting season in Iowa. Earlier this year, the Legislature approved the first mourning dove hunting season in Iowa by passing Senate File 464.

The law does not limit the type of shot to be used during the hunting season. Due to public comment, the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) added an amendment to the originally proposed administrative rule limiting the type of shot to any non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

After hearing from the NRC and the public, the members of the Administrative Rules Review Committee voted to delay the amendment so that it may be reviewed by the 2012 Legislature. Opponents of the delay cited environmental and safety issues for wildlife and people. Proponents of the delay stated that the NRC went against the Legislature’s intention, and there is a lack of availability of non-toxic shots.

If the 2012 Legislature does not act, the ban on toxic shot will go into effect for the 2012 mourning dove hunting season. The mourning dove hunting season will still begin September 1, 2011 as planned.

State Board of Education Outlines Reforms

As a follow-up to the Education Summit, the State Board of Education has adopted a position statement to transform the education system, but provided no details.

The State Board of Education voted to focus reform efforts on teacher preparation and higher student expectation standards. They said that ensuring that every child has free access to high-quality preschool has been one of their priorities, and the program enrolled more than 21,000 children last year which will help ensure that every child starts school ready to learn.

Knowing that a highly effective teacher is the most important factor in a student’s learning, the board must work to recruit the best teachers and make teacher preparation programs at our colleges and universities more rigorous. Also, Iowa’s increased accountability must continue. It encouraged the state’s efforts in establishing in 2008 of the minimum standards in the Iowa Core, and implementing in 2010 language arts and mathematics standards, because it provides consistency for schools and raises expectations for what students should learn. However, the state should review new national standards being developed in science and social studies.

The board said that teachers should be compensated fairly, and the teaching profession should be elevated and respected. The board also encouraged parents to dedicate time at home to learning, in partnership with teachers and schools.

The board committed to continuing to work with the Iowa Department of Education to study innovative instruction and online learning models to encourage a statewide focus on innovation.

Legislative Council Approves Interim Committees

The Legislative Council met on Tuesday and approved seven interim study committees to meet and provide recommendations to Legislature before the next Legislative Session in January. Interim committees provide legislators the opportunity to delve into issues and propose a recommended course of action for the next legislative session. An overview of the interim committees is as follows:

• Legislative Tax Expenditure Committee - This committee will review annual estimates of the cost of tax expenditures and preform a scheduled review of specified tax credits so that each of the tax credits are reviewed at least every five years.

• State Government Efficiency Review Committee – This committee will review state government organization and efficiency options. The committee will also review suggestions offered by the public and public employees to improve government efficiency.

• Public Retirement Systems Committee – This permanent legislative committee is required to review and evaluate all public retirement systems in place in Iowa, including the Iowa Public Employee’s Retirement System (IPERS), the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa, the Public Safety Peace Officers’ Retirement System and the Judicial Retirement System.

• State Fish and Game Protection Fund Study Committee – This committee is charged with the review of expenditures from the State Fish and Game Protection Fund by the Department of Natural Resources.

• Inmate Geriatric and Psychiatric Patients Study Committee – This committee will examine the treatment and placement options for inmate geriatric and psychiatric patients who are under the care, custody, and control of the state, or for patients who are otherwise housed at the Iowa Medical Classification Center at Oakdale or other correctional facilities.

• Mental Health and Disabilities Services Study Committee – This committee will be closely engaged with the working groups on a redesigned services system for mental health and disability services. The committee will also be considering all funding sources for replacing the county authority to levy for adult disability services.
• Lake Macbride Study Committee – This committee will review requirements and make recommendations pertaining to the use of motorboats on Lake Macbride.

Missouri River Flood Waters Fishing

As of August 15, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is allowing fishing to take place in flood waters left behind from the Missouri River flood. The flood waters need to be completely isolated from the river, unlikely to be connected to the river during normal flows, did not exist before the flood, and be less than 5 feet in depth if on public land. Anglers will need permission to access the water on private land. DNR will allow this fishing until on or about November 30, 2011.

Anglers with a valid fishing license will be allowed to keep any size or number of fish species from these isolated flood waters. Any number of fishing poles, jugs, or nets will be allowed. Anglers must remain in sight of these lines at all times, and follow all other fishing regulations and area rules. Trot lines will be allowed (name and address must be attached), however lines may not be set across entire water body and at least one end must be above the water level and visible. Dynamite, poison, or electric shocking devices, or any stupefying substances will not be allowed.

DNR wants to remind people that it is illegal to sell fish or stock captured fish into public waters. Also, if anglers capture a sturgeon fish species, DNR is asking that they be returned to the river as quickly as possible. Pallid sturgeon is listed as an endangered species in the Missouri River and is protected under federal law.

911 System Will Be Upgraded to Keep Up with Technology

Iowa will begin upgrading the 911 system this year to receive information from users sending text messages, videos, or pictures referred to as NG-911 (Next Generation 911). Iowa currently has a wireless Enhanced 911 system (E-911) which enables citizens to make 911 calls by either a landline phone or a cellphone to Public Safety Answering Points, which is overseen by the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD).

The cost for this upgrade will be $2.7 million, and a grant of $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration will assist in the cost. The remaining $1.3 million will come from Iowa’s wireless surcharge carry-over funds. This project is expected to take place over five years, and the first phase is expected to be completed by September 30, 2012.

While this upgrade will support the variety of communications, the wireless carriers/companies that contract with the public Safety Answering Points must make upgrades in order to be able to send the variety of communication to the Public Safety Answering Points.

Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Workgroups Begin Working

During the past legislative session, a Legislative Interim Committee was established to look at redesigning the funding and delivery of mental health and developmental disabilities services for children and adults. To assist the Interim Committee, the Legislature also established workgroups to look at specific areas of redesign.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) was appointed to lead workgroups to recommend changes to the current system that has funding and service inequities. DHS has formed workgroups that began work this month and will continue to meet till October. The redesign effort focuses on several groups, including adult mental health, brain injury, children’s disability, intellectual disability services, and regional services.

Per the Legislature, the workgroups will recommend proposals to:

• Meet the needs of consumers for disability services in responsive and cost-effective manner
  
• Develop a core set of services available for anyone who is eligible for government-funded mental health or disability services
  
• Reorganize adult disability services into a system administered on a regional basis
  
• Redesign publicly funded children’s mental health and disability services
  
• Identify approaches to address the needs for publicly funded services for persons with brain injury and review best practices
  
• Implement services in accordance with Olmstead principles
  
• Address co-occurring mental health, intellectual disability, brain injury, and substance abuse

Statewide Interoperable Communications Outreach Meetings

Iowans are encouraged to attend statewide meetings hosted by the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICB) to improve emergency communications between state, local, and federal public safety groups. The meetings will be held at the end of August through the middle of September to accomplish the following goals:

• Improve two-way communication between the ISICSB and Iowa’s public safety officials at a more local level;
  
• Cooperatively address local and statewide interoperable communication issues; and
  
• Develop short and long-term interoperability and outreach goals.

August 23
Atlantic Fire Department
1203 SW 7th St., Atlantic
September 8
Cherokee Fire Department
300 Elm Street, Cherokee
August 25
Marshalltown Law Center
2369 Jessup Ave., Marshalltown
September 13
Manchester Fire Department
East Main Street, Manchester
August 30
Charles City Library
106 Milwaukee Mall, Charles City
September 15
Indian Hills Community College
525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa