Bill Tracking

BILLS TO DEBATE

HF 2274- School Aid Foundation Level and Commercial Property Tax Limits

FY 2012 Supplemental Corrections / MH Risk Pool

Electrical and Mechanical Amusement Devices

Secretary of State Technical Elections Bill

Rural Water Districts-Annual Meeting and Eminent Domain

HF 2289 Nomination of District Judges (and Court Reporters)

HF 2400 Secretary of State Elections Policy Bill

HF 2433 Rules Committee and Agency Rulemaking

HF 2380 Education Improvement

WEEKLY BILL TRACKING

Thurs. Mar 22 – Wed. Mar 28, 2012

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF

Agriculture

HF 2381      Sheep Production Check-off Increase. As amended, authorizes the Sheep Promotion Board to call for a special referendum to ask their members if they want to increase their per head check-off from 10¢ to 25¢.  A second question will be asked that if a majority of voters authorize the increase, would you also authorize the board, by resolution, to raise any additional increases in the future, as long as the board waits three years from the previous increase, provides notice to producers, and the increase can only be 5¢ every three years up to a maximum of 50¢.  This bill came from the Sheep Promotion Board.  (passed Ways and Means Committee 22-1) to House Calendar

HF 2292      Fish Confinements. Defines fish farms larger than 500,000 fish as confined animal feeding operations.  These fish farms must abide by the federal NPDES discharge regulations, but can choose to abide by the state’s CAFO rules instead of the state’s waste disposal system regulations.  (passed House 94-1) back to Senate with a corrective amendment to the Senate amendment

Appropriations

HF 2335      Justice Systems Budget. Did not concur with Senate amendment that appropriated a total of $529 million in FY 2013 to agencies such as Departments of Corrections, Public Safety, and Public Defense, Homeland Security, Board of Parole, and Attorney General.  The Senate amendment represented an increase of close to $25 million compared to the House proposal.  (House refused to concur) to Senate

HF 2336      Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget. Appropriates $36 million in general fund dollars for the operations budget of the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Department of Natural Resources, and the vet diagnostic lab at Iowa State University (ISU).  This is approximately a $3.4 million increase from FY 2012, but most of this is a shift from other funding sources.   The bill also includes $23 million for the Environment First Fund. (passed Senate 26-24; House Refused to Concur with Senate Amendment) to Senate

HF 2338      Judicial Branch Budget. Did not concur with Senate amendment that appropriated just under $163 million to the courts for FY 2013, which is an increase of $6.5 million when compared to the House proposal.  (House refused to concur) to Senate

HF 2389      Rural Iowa Primary Loan Repayment Program. Establishes a new loan repayment plan for primary care physicians at the University of Iowa and Des Moines University.  To fully qualify, the student must stay in a town of less than 26,000 people in rural Iowa for five years.  The fund is open to private funding to offset the state costs.  (passed House Appropriations Committee 23-2) to House Calendar

HSB 670     Iowa Workforce Development Supplemental Appropriation.  Restores the FY 12 appropriation to Iowa Workforce Development that was voided as a result of the Brandstad vs Homan decision. Provides $15.8 million in general fund money for workforce field offices, workers compensation and worker misclassification. There is no increase in spending from the original appropriation. (passed committee 24-0) to House Calendar

SF 2219       Class-Size Reduction Extension. The bill eliminates the repeal of the class-size reduction standing appropriation. The House Appropriations Committee amended the bill to allow school districts to redirect two-thirds of these funds for education reform. The amendment also repeals the funding July 1, 2017. (passed committee 15-10) Died on House Calendar

SF 2313       Administration and Regulation Budget. The bill, as amended by the House, provides a budget of $49.5 million from the general fund. The House proposal is below the Senate proposal by $7.1 million, with an overall reduction of $3 million compared to FY 2012. It cuts all departments by 2.95 percent except the Department of Inspection and Appeals which is funded at current levels by scooping $3 million from the Medicaid Fraud Fund. (Senate Refused to Concur) to House

SF 2314       Transportation Budget. Provides the FY 13 operations and capitals budget to the Department of Transportation from the road use tax fund and the primary road fund.  The bill appropriates a total of $350.5 million to DOT, which is an increase of $4.7 million from FY 12.  There are no changes in FTEs from FY 12.  The bill does reduce funding for transportation maps by two-thirds.  (passed Senate 45-5) to Governor

SF 2315       Mental Health and Disability System Redesign. Implements regions to deliver adult mental health and disability services.  Establishes criteria for core services.  Includes a state buyout of the county portion funding of the system over a five year period.  (passed House Appropriations Committee 19-5) to House Calendar

SF 2316       Infrastructure and Capitals Budget. Funds infrastructure related projects for state agencies from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund (RIIF) and the technology reinvestment fund (TRF).  The Senate version appropriates $182.3 million from RIIF and the House version appropriates $190.2 million and transfers $9 million from the general fund to RIIF.  The Senate funds the TRF from RIIF dollars while the House uses federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) contingency funds.  Programs funded in both versions include community attraction and tourism grants, state parks infrastructure, recreational trails, county fairs, State Fair Cultural Center renovations, State Historical Building renovations, National Guard armories and readiness centers, lakes restoration, accelerated career education program at community colleges, and digital mobile radio conversions.  Items in disagreement include major maintenance, routine maintenance, veterans oral history exhibit at the Sullivan’s Veteran Museum, regional sports authorities, Iowa Great Places, and the Judicial Branch electronic document management system. (passed Committee 14-11; passed House 58-38) to Senate with House amendment

SF 2321       Education Budget. The House version cuts regent institutions by $31.1 million compared to FY 2012, and is $65.1 million below the Senate level.  A first time ever requirement that the regents and community colleges not increase tuition is also added in the House version.  The House version did not fund an increase to the Iowa Tuition Grant program and cuts the for profit tuition grants by $2 million.  The Iowa Opportunity Scholarship, Nurse Educator Loan Program and the Barber Cosmetology Tuition Grant are not funded by the House.  The House provides status quo funding for workforce training, which is $2 million above the Governor’s level, and status quo funding for community college general aid.  The Senate provides a $25 million to college general aid, $7 million for workforce training, funds a worker shortage grant at $6 million and GAP tuition assistance at $2 million.  The Senate also funds work study at $250,000, while the House version does not.  The House cuts aid to Iowa Public television by 40%, which would affect programing and public affairs channels.  It also requires that IPTV not compete with the private sector unless they are providing a public service or educational mission.  (Passed House 56-42) to Senate Calendar

Commerce

HF 2168      Investment of Public Funds by Banks. Authorizes banks to invest uninsured portions of a public fund in insured and protected deposits.  (passed House 96-0) to Governor

Education

SF 2220       Cosmetology and Barber School Licensure. Requires that a license for a school of cosmetology arts and sciences or a barber school will contain a statement that the licensee is approved by the department of public health as a provider of postsecondary education.  Currently it is unlawful for an Iowan to operate a college for cosmetology or barber school without a license.  (passed House 94-0) to Governor

SF 2221       School Bus Driver Background Check. An employer would be required to review the state sex offender registry, the state central registry for child abuse information, and the state central registry for dependent adult abuse information prior to hiring an applicant for a school bus driver. Criminal records checks would also be required, but not as a condition on hiring.  The same procedure would be followed every five years upon the renewal of a school bus driver’s license.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

SF 2267       College Student Aid Oversight. Provides student consumer protections, clarifies policy on registering out of state postsecondary educational institutions, and provides oversight of schools at the college level that offer 100% on-line programs with no operational presence in Iowa.  Eliminates the loop hole that would allow many for-profit schools to evade Iowa’s tuition refund law, and prohibits a for-profit school from billing a withdrawn student for a portion of the program that the student has not attended and for which the student withdraws.  (Passed House 93-0) to Governor

Human Resources

HF 2305      Department on Aging Omnibus Bill. Makes changes to Iowa Code to conform better with the Older Americans Act.  In addition, makes changes to language regarding funding of certain programs.  (passed Senate 49-1) to House with Senate Amendment

HF 2388      Keokuk Hospital Funding.  Requires the Department of Human Services to create a new funding pool for hospitals that receive Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments.  The local county or city would have to put up the non-federal amount.  Keokuk Area Hospital is wanting this change to bring in more funding.  (passed Senate 31-19) Sent to Governor

HF 2389      Rural Iowa Primary Loan Repayment Program. Establishes a new loan repayment plan for primary care physicians at the University of Iowa and Des Moines University.  To fully qualify, the student must stay in a small town of less than 26,000 people in rural Iowa for five years.  The fund is open to private funding to offset the state costs.  (passed House Appropriations Committee 23-2) to House Appropriations Calendar

SF 2164       Evaluation of Abuse Records by DHS. Allows DHS to not review again criminal or abuse records that have been previously reviewed and a decision has been made on the incident.  DHS will still review new incidences.  This applies to health care and child care facilities.  (passed Senate 50-0) Sent to Governor

SF 2165       Documentation of an Alleged Paternity Test. Allows other government records to be used to determine the alleged paternity for a child support recovery case.  (passed House 96-0) Sent to Governor

SF 2247       Terminology Change – Intellectual Disability. Amends the Iowa Code to replace the term mental retardation with intellectual disability.  (signed; Effective 7/1/12)

SF 2289       Iowa Disaster Aid Individual Assistance Grant Program. Allows DHS to enter into a contract with a statewide provider or providers to administer the Iowa Disaster Aid Individual Assistance Grant Program.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate with House amendment

SF 2315       Mental Health and Disability System Redesign. Implements regions to deliver adult mental health and disability services.  Establishes criteria for core services.  Includes a state buyout of the county portion funding of the system over a five year period.  (passed House Appropriations 19-5) to House Appropriations Calendar

SF 2318       Iowa Health Information Network. Establishes the Iowa Health Information Network, which is a statewide information technology system to allow the secure exchange of clinical information between authorized participants.  The bill creates a fund and allows for the collection of fees from providers and payors.  (passed House Ways & Means Committee 25-0) to House Ways & Means Calendar

Judiciary

HF 2321 Uniform Commercial Code Updates. Updates Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code to the current model act.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

HF 2368      Issuance of a Birth Certificate in a Stillbirth. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules for the requesting and issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.  (signed; effective 3-26-12)

HF 2370      Lis Pendens Changes. Changes notice provisions regarding actions against property in a lis pendens proceeding.  (passed Senate 49-0) to Governor

HF 2379      Expunging Certain Records. Relates to expunging certain criminal records pertaining to dismissals.  (passed Senate 48-0) to Governor

HF 2390      Obscene Material and Human Trafficking. Modifies the definition of obscene material and, as amended, makes changes to human trafficking laws.  (passed Senate 50-0; passed House 94-0) to Governor

SF 2208       Confidentiality of an Arrest Warrant. Requires information in an arrest warrant not be confidential if the defendant has made an initial appearance and authorizes employees of the Department of Corrections to receive confidential information in an arrest warrant.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate

SF 2231       State Public Defender Cleanup. Makes changes to the practices and procedures related to the state public defender.  (passed House 94-0) to Governor

SF 2285       Substantive Code Editors Bill. The annual substantive code editors bill.  (signed; various effective dates)

Local Government

HF 2231      Memorial Hospital Commissioners. A memorial hospital commissioner would be a resident of this state and reside within the service area of the memorial hospital.  The bill is to allow more flexibility in the requirements to be able to find more people to serve.  The bill affects three hospitals in Iowa.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

HF 2323      Residential Rental Property Utility Requirements. The provision that would have changed the current notification system so landlords would be exempt from liens on water is stricken in the Senate amendment.   Change of ownership notification is expanded from 10 business days to 30 business days.  Municipal utilities would be required, if a written request is made by the landlord, to inform the landlord any time a tenant requests a change of name for services.  (passed Senate 49-0) to House Calendar

HF 2369      Burial Transit Permit and Death Certificates. Currently county recorders are on the list of officials who may issue burial transit permits when someone dies. However, they do not receive all the relevant information on whether a body will be buried in a timely manner, if the burial place meets state requirements, or if there was communicable diseases. The bill removes recorders from the list of officials that may issue a burial transit permit and adds the state registrar at the Department of Public Health.   They would also still be issued by a county medical examiner or a funeral director.  It also requires when a person dies outside of the county of the person’s residence that the state registrar send a copy of the person’s death certificate to the county of the person’s residence.  This provision will be effective upon enactment.  (passed House 93-0) to Governor

SF 413         Emergency Management Commission. Of the members of the commission, an entity would be allowed to designate an alternate to represent them on the commission.  A commission would be required to be funded from one, or any combination of the following: 1) a county wide special levy, 2) an allocation from a city or county general funds, 3) an allocation from each jurisdiction’s share, 4) a voluntary share contribution or 5) other sources allowed by law.  The bill requires that any portion of any tax levied by a county or city to support an emergency management commission will be identified in tax statements issued by the county treasurer.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate Calendar

Natural Resources

SF 2317       Hunting and Fishing License Fees. Sets fees for new options of a 3-year fishing license; a 3-year hunting license and wildlife habitat fee; a combination annual hunting and wildlife habitat fee; a combined furharvester license and wildlife habitat fee; a combination hunting and fishing license and wildlife habitat fee; and a $10 annual third line fishing permit option.  The set fees would all provide savings to the purchaser if they were bought separately.  Amended the bill to add a one-day, one location nonresident fur dealer license.  (passed House 94-0) back to Senate with House amendment

Oversight

HF 2455      Financial Exams for cities under 2,000 population. Creates a new financial exam process through the state auditor’s office for cities with population under 2,000 to stop fraud and embezzlement.   (passed Committee 9-0) on House Calendar

Public Safety

HF 2228      Control of Motor Vehicle & Increased Penalties for Not Moving Over When Emergency Vehicle is on the Side of the Road. Separates current Code language to clarify that a driver must have their vehicle under control at all times and not just under specific circumstances.  Increases penalties for drivers that do not move over to another lane or slow down when they are approaching an emergency vehicle that has stopped on the side of the road.  (passed House 92-0) to Governor

State Government

HF 2427      Electrical and Mechanical Amusement Devices. Penalties for violations of certain amusement device regulations are changed.  The Senate amended the bill and modified some of the penalties.  (passed Senate 38-11) to House Calendar with Senate amendment

SF 2237       Reporting Requirements for Social and Charitable Gambling Licensees. Clean-up language to require annual reports within a state fiscal year, instead of quarterly reports, to the Department of Inspections and Appeals by licensees authorized to conduct certain social and charitable gambling.  The House amended the bill to allow certain churches to hold an annual game night and award cash prizes, which is currently only allowed for veterans and firefighter organizations.  (passed House 88-6) back to Senate with House amendment

Transportation

HF 2428      Commercial Trucks – New Permits for Extended Loads. Creates a new annual permit for trucks with a combination load having an overall length of each trailer not exceeding 45 feet.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

SF 2216       Commercial Truck Registration. Makes changes regarding the registration of commercial trucks for interstate travel.  (passed House 95-0) to Senate with amendment

SF 2249       Motorcycle Rallies. Authorizes out of state dealers to negotiate the sale of used motorcycles at rallies/events in Iowa if they meet certain conditions.  (Senate concurred with House amendment) to Governor

Veterans Affairs

SF 2038       Department of Veterans Affairs Clean-up Bill. Makes code clean-up changes to consolidate the Iowa Code language on the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Commission of Veterans Affairs.  (passed House 95-0) to Governor

SF 2097       Military Code Cleanup. Makes changes to the Iowa Code to regarding the Iowa National Guard and the Department of Public Defense better comply with federal regulations.  (passed House 96-0)  Sent to Governor

SF 2245       Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Program Study. Requires the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) to conduct a study regarding the need for a PTSD dual-diagnosis treatment center at the IVH.  The report with recommendations is due to the Legislature and the Governor by January 15, 2013.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate with House amendment

Ways & Means

HF 2166      Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement. Updates language related to sales and use taxes to reflect changes to the streamlined sales tax agreement.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

HF 2381      Sheep Production Check-off Increase. As amended, authorizes the Sheep Promotion Board to call for a special referendum to ask their members if they want to increase their per head check-off from 10¢ to 25¢.  A second question will be asked that if a majority of voters authorize the increase, would you also authorize the board, by resolution, to raise any additional increases in the future, as long as the board waits three years from the previous increase, provides notice to producers, and the increase can only be 5¢ every three years up to a maximum of 50¢.  This bill came from the Sheep Promotion Board.  (passed Ways and Means Committee 22-1) to House Calendar

SF 2137       Joint City-County Building Leases. Requires taxes levied for a joint county-city building be deposited into a separate account for payment of the annual rent and removes these taxes from inclusion in the county supplemental levy and the city additional tax.  (passed House 94-0) to Governor

SF 2317       Hunting and Fishing License Fees. Sets fees for new options of a 3-year fishing license; a 3-year hunting license and wildlife habitat fee; a combination annual hunting and wildlife habitat fee; a combined furharvester license and wildlife habitat fee; a combination hunting and fishing license and wildlife habitat fee; and a $10 annual third line fishing permit option.  The set fees would all provide savings to the purchaser if they were bought separately.  Amended the bill to add a one-day, one location nonresident fur dealer license.  (passed House 94-0) back to Senate with House amendment

SF 2318       Iowa Health Information Network. Establishes the Iowa Health Information Network, which is a statewide information technology system to allow the secure exchange of clinical information between authorized participants.  The bill creates a fund and allows for the collection of fees from providers and payors.  (passed House Ways & Means Committee 25-0) to House Ways & Means Calendar