“After teaching students about responsibility and respect on our roadways for over 40 years, I’m proud that our plan to save lives and prevent accidents was signed by the Governor today,” said Hanson, who won approval of the bill in the Iowa House.  “The bi-partisan effort in the Legislature to craft this sensible compromise will protect young drivers and improve safety for everyone on Iowa’s roadways.”

House File 2456 prohibits the use of all electronic and mobile devices while driving for those under the age of 18.  Persons over 18 may not use a hand-held electronic device to read, write, or send a text message while driving. Violators will be charged with a simple misdemeanor and a $30 fine.  If texting is the cause of an accident that results in serious injury or death, penalties increase up to a $1000 fine and 180 day license suspension.
 

Law enforcement cannot stop or detain a person only for suspected violations of texting and local governments are not allowed to adopt their own ordinances.  When the new law takes effect on July 1, law enforcement will begin an education campaign and will only write warning citations for the first year before the enhanced penalties and fines begin to apply.

Agriculture
HF 2273 Drainage Districts Bid Thresholds and Security Requirements. Increases the bid threshold for a drainage improvement from $15,000 to $20,000 to reflect the increased cost of doing business. Also, when a company bids a drainage project, it currently must post security of 10% of the amount of bid, not to exceed $10,000. The bill removes the $10,000 maximum and reduces the security cap from 10% to 5%, which is consistent with municipal law. (passed House 98-0) in Senate Agriculture Committee
HF 2380 Farm Tenancies. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by a lessor and farm tenant, a farm tenant may take any part of the aboveground part of a plant associated with a crop, at the time of harvest or after the harvest, until the farm tenancy terminates. Currently, a farm tenancy at will terminates on March 1 following a landlord’s notice, except in the case of a crop-share arrangement, which terminates when the crop is harvested, but not later than December 1 for a corn crop. (passed House 98-0) on Senate Calendar

Appropriations
SF 2151 FY 2010 Supplemental and DHS Funding Clean-up. SF 2151 adjusts a number of appropriations that were funded from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds and substitutes general fund dollars. The ARRA funds will be used for programs where the funding is not being used to draw-down additional federal dollars. The bill appropriates additional federal funds for the Family Investment Program, transfers additional funding to the Mental Health State Cases Program, and appropriates funds from the Iowa Cares Account to Broadlawns Medical Center. The net change to the general fund and the ARRA fund account is zero. Total other funds appropriated is $12.7 million. (passed Committee 14-11) to House Appropriations Calendar

Commerce
HSB 523 Consumer Credit Code. Increases registration fees paid to the Attorney General by makers of consumer credit loans from $10 to $20 and for debt collectors from $10 to $100. All revenue goes to a special fund to cover enforcement costs. (Passed Committee 13-10) to House Calendar
HF 2062 Residential Sprinkler Systems. Requires city councils and county boards of supervisors that adopt a building code to take a separate vote on any provision requiring sprinkler systems in one or two-family homes or buildings under five units. (passed Committee 23-0) to House Calendar
HF 2075 Coverage of Cancer Trial Routine Care. Requires health insurers to continue to cover routine care for participants in cancer trials. (passed Senate 47-0) to Governor
HF 2112 Auto Insurance Glass Repair. Prohibits certain actions by insurers to steer customers toward particular glass repair shops. Also requires the Insurance Commissioner to coordinate a study of the glass repair industry and its procedures. (passed Committee 23-0) to House Calendar
HF 2472 Condominium Meetings. Requires meetings to be open to all members with notice either mailed or delivered seven days in advance or posted 48 hours in advance. (Passed Committee 23-0) on House Calendar
HF 2474 Financial Literacy Program. Establishes the program in the State Treasurer’s Office to promote advantages of personal savings, make presentations to schools and groups, and create incentives and awards to recognize those who make progress. (passed Committee 23-0) on House Calendar
HF 2475 Winter Propane Delivery. Requires winter delivery to any LIHEAP eligible customer who has a $500 cash payment, with 75% for new fuel and 25% for any outstanding bill. (passed Committee 12-11) on House Calendar
SF 2108 Auto Repair Shop Artisan Liens. Creates an exception to a repair shop’s ability to hold a vehicle to force payment of a disputed bill, if the Attorney General decides that the shop violated the auto trade practices law. (Signed by Governor)

Economic Growth
HSB 680 Creation of Consumption Tax Bonding District. Allows the creation of municipal consumption tax bonding districts by a city or county, and allows them to issue bonds to fund economic development projects. The bonds may be secured by a portion of the increased revenues collected in the district. The area must be 400 or more contiguous acres and be entirely within the municipality. At least 90% of the land must be vacant, and no portion of the area suitable for development can also be in an enterprise zone. The project within the district must have a projected capital investment of at least $50 million, generate at least $25 million in annual revenue, and create at least 200 new jobs. (Passed Committee 11-9) to Ways and Means.
HF 2376 Severance Agreement Between Two Cities. Creates a process in which a property owner can petition for severance from one city and annexation by another. Both cities must approve the change, with the final decision by the city development board. The agreement may include the equitable distribution of property taxes between the two cities. This bill provides landowners and cities with a clear process for severance in certain cases. The agreement would have conditions, including that an island would not be created. (Passed the House 99-0) on Senate Floor.
HF 2431 Small Business Entrepreneur Training Assistance Grants. Currently, there is a program that provides grants to microenterprise development organizations, but it is not funded. The bill would provide assistance to these organizations for the purpose of providing training and technical assistance to small business entrepreneurs. It would require an annual report on how the funds were used and the results. Funding for the program would come from a reallocation of dollars within the Values Fund. (Passed Committee 17-2) to Appropriations.

Education
HF 2295 Study of Area Education Agencies. Requires the Department of Education to convene a task force to conduct a study of the current system of area education agencies. Membership of the task force is education stakeholders and consumers. A report is due to the General Assembly by December 15, 2010. (passed House 95 – 0) to Senate
SF 2178 Textbooks and Computers. Expands the definition of textbooks to include laptop computers or other portable personal computing devices that state funds allocated to school districts for textbooks available to accredited nonpublic school pupils. (passed Senate 45 – 3) to House
SJR 2008 Nullify Rules of Board of Education Examiners. Nullifies a rules of the Board of Education Examiners relating to the content of the notice of a complaint. (passed Senate 47 – 0) to House

Human Resources
HF 2183 Local Public Health Governance Act. Provides for the structure, powers, and duties of the local boards of health. The bill also provides an optional process for counties to merge and create a district board of health. (passed Senate 46-0) return to House with Senate Amendment
HF 2283 Background Checks for Child Care Providers. Removes the requirement of a federal background check every four years for child care providers and other individuals subject to the law. The bill now authorizes DHS to adopt rules regarding a national background check for child care providers and all others subject to the check. (passed House 94-0) to Senate
HF 2284 Public Health Technical Bill. Makes technical changes to the Iowa Code regarding State Medical Examiner’s Office and fetal death certification; the Board of Optometry certification at the diagnostic level; the Board of Cosmetology and threading and staffing rations; and the Board of Barbering and temporary permit. (passed House 99-0) to Senate
SF 2117 Pharmaceutical-delivering Contact Lenses. Authorizes certified optometrists to supply pharmaceutical-delivering contact lenses to patients as deemed necessary. (passed House 100-0) to Governor
SF 2149 Background Checks for Certified Nurse Aides. Requires background checks for certified nurse aids prior to training program. (passed House 97-0) to Governor

Judiciary
HF 2126 Solemnizing Marriage. Allows retired supreme court justices, retired judges, and retired judicial magistrates to solemnize marriages in the state. (passed Committee 20-1) to House Calendar
HF 2372 Assault Causing Serious Injury. Amends assault causing serious injury so that an individual that does not intend to inflict serious injury, but who causes serious injury, commits a Class D felony. (passed House 98-0) to Senate Judiciary
HF 2374 Serious Injury Definition. Conforms the definition of serious injury throughout the Iowa Code to the definition of serious injury in Iowa Code Section 702.18. (passed House 98-0) to Senate Judiciary
HF 2377 Probation Extension. Allows a judge to extend a period of probation up to one year, including one year beyond the maximum period allowed by law. (passed House 99-0) to Senate Judiciary
HF 2392 Abuse of a Corpse. Transfers “abuse of corpse” provisions that do not deal with the sexual abuse of a corpse from Iowa Code Section 709 dealing with Sexual Abuse to Iowa Code Section 708 dealing with Assault. (passed House 100-0) to Senate Judiciary
HF 2434 Landlord Service of Notice Requirements. Makes changes to service of notice requirements for landlords and tenants. The bill is in response to the Iowa Supreme Court decision in War Eagle Village Apartments v. Plummer. (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar
HF 2473 Destruction of Land Surveyor Markers. Expands the definition of criminal mischief in the third degree to include someone that intentionally injures, destroys, disturbs, or removes any marked placed by a licensed land surveyor. (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar
HF 2477 Mechanics’ Lien. Creates a state construction registry for residential construction property and makes changes to mechanics’ lien requirements. (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar
HF 2478 Limited Liability Company Regulations. Amends current code regulations on limited liability companies under Code Chapter 489. (passed Committee 21-0) to House Calendar
HSB 716 Consumer Approval Transactions. As amended, expresses the intent of the legislature to regulate consumer approval transactions. A consumer approval transaction means a solicitation of a customer away from a regular place of business of the seller or by mail or telephone directed to a customer. (passed Committee 20-1) to House Calendar

Labor
HSB 726 Collective Bargaining, Chapter 20 Technical Changes. Chapter 20 has remained virtually untouched since the law went into effect in 1975, and thus the bill makes technical corrections that are needed in the law, including spelling errors, elimination of redundancies, or updates to reflect current practice. It removes fact finding as a step in the statutory impasse procedures and the legal standard “willfully” in refusing to negotiate in good faith or engage in other prohibited conduct. (Passed Committee 17-0) to House Calendar.
HF 2420 Reasonable Reimbursement. Under current law, employees are allowed to form employee organizations to collectively bargain as their exclusive representative with public employers under Iowa Code Chapter 20, and public employees in Iowa cannot strike. As a result, these employee organizations are required to represent members and non-members alike. HF 2420 establishes an exclusive ability for employee organizations representing executive branch employees to negotiate certain reasonable reimbursements for costs to represent non-members in bargaining negotiations and grievance procedures. These possible reasonable reimbursements are not automatic. They would need to be negotiated with the executive branch public employer and they may or may not occur. (Passed Committee 10-7) to House Calendar.
SF 2181 Workforce Development Department Bill. The bill makes technical corrections to OSHA, a report on elevators, boilers, and child labor. It replaces obsolete provisions concerning the adoption of OSHA standards with contemporary rule making standards. Per recommendations of the Boiler Pressure Vessel Board, it moves an inspection schedule under the boiler inspection law, and it allows the board to write a rule governing conversion power boilers to low-pressure boilers. It updates and moves a provision governing boilers manufactured without an inspection plate. It removes requirements for both youth migrant labor permits, and regular youth labor permits would now be similar by removing a requirement that applicants under 14 must obtain a certificate from a registered nurse or physician. (Passed Senate 48-0) to House Calendar.
SF 2193 Written Notices of Policies to Employees, Including Benefit Changes. All new employees would receive a written or electronic statement of employment agreements and policies by the end of the first week on the job. A statement would be provided of the same to all existing employees when there is a change to the employment agreements or policies. (Passed Senate 28-17) to House Labor Committee.
SF 2286 Mixed Martial Arts Matches Regulated by the Labor Commissioner. Places the regulation of amateur and professional mixed martial arts (MMA) matches and events under the authority of the labor commissioner. A MMA contestant must be at least 18 years old. The labor commissioner could impose civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 per violation for acting as a promoter without a license and issue a cease and desist order to prevent a promoter from holding an unlicensed event or match. (Passed Senate 48-0) to House Calendar

Natural Resources
HF 2017 Requires all canoes and kayaks to be registered, if used on public waters. Currently, those 13 feet or less are exempt. The fee is $12 every three years. The bill came from some paddler groups in Iowa who would like to see additional money for water trails. (passed Committee 12-9) on House Calendar
HF 2293 Ellis Harbor. Allows current houseboat owners at Ellis Harbor, located on the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, to use their current flotation devices if they were in use on or before February 15, 2010. When these flotation devices are replaced, the replacement flotation devices must comply with the rules of the department. The bill also allows current owners to transfer/sell their houseboats to their children or the general public. (passed Committee 21-0) on House Calendar
HF 2310 Pen-Reared Pheasants. Allows the release of pen-reared pheasants in Iowa on a person’s farm. The birds have to come from a hatchery approved by the Department of Natural Resources. (passed Committee 21-0) on House Calendar
HSB 700 Natural Resources Trust Fund Allocations. On the November 2, 2010, election ballot, there will be a question on whether Iowa should constitutionally protect a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, for the purpose of protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in Iowa. It is left to the Legislature to establish the parameters for distribution of the funds. HSB 700 establishes those parameters. It is based upon recommendations of the Sustainable Funding for Natural Resource Advisory Committee. The bill is only implemented if the constitutional amendment is ratified. (passed Committee 21-0) on House Calendar

Public Safety
HF 426 Reserve Peace Officer – Accidents in Line of Duty. Adds reserve peace officers to the list of public safety officers that, if involved in an automobile accident while in the line of duty, will not be recorded on the person’s driving record. (passed House 100 – 0) in Senate Judiciary
HF 2280 Care of Companion Animals. Authorizes the Department of Ag to inspect commercial establishments that hold a federal license based upon a complaint filed with the department. (passed House 77 – 22) to Senate
HF 2286 Detention in a Brothel. Strikes the criminal offense of detention in a brothel because brothels are illegal and the offense is covered under kidnapping and human trafficking. (passed House 98 – 0) in Senate Judiciary
HF 2287 Simulated Public Intoxication. Separates the current offenses of public intoxication and simulated public intoxication into two different numbered paragraphs. (passed House 97 – 1) in Senate Judiciary
HF 2288 Cowl Lamps. Strikes the current Code language which does not allow a vehicle to have more than two cowl lamps. These are antique lights on antique vehicles. (passed House 99 – 0) in Senate Judiciary
HF 2319 DPS Regulating the Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids. Deletes references to “aboveground petroleum storage tanks” and instead uses the term “aboveground flammable and combustible liquids storage tanks.” Extends the number of years that fees for the alarm system installer certification program can be carried over to match the number of years that the certification is good for. (passed House 100 – 0) to Senate

Rebuild Iowa and Disaster Recovery
HF 2174 Neighbor Lot Purchase. Allows a city to give neighbors the right of first refusal in obtaining lots purchased by the city with CDBG disaster recovery money. Neighbors must pay fair market value and must keep the lot as green space. (Passed Committee 11-5) to House Calendar
HF 2294 Individual Disaster Assistance. Allows disaster victims to obtain vouchers to purchase goods or services to make repairs, in lieu of submitting receipts to obtain reimbursement. (Passed House 99-0) to Senate
HSB 592 Smart Planning Principles. Establishes a set of smart planning principles that cities and counties may use to reduce the impact of future natural disasters, promote growth, protect natural resources, and safeguard the quality of life for all Iowans. (Passed Committee 16-0) to House Calendar

State Government
SF 2088 Reorganization of State Government. This bill puts in place numerous changes in state government designed to increase efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. Some of these include consolidating state purchasing and information technology, eliminating and consolidating boards and commission, and reducing the number of FTE’s throughout state government. (amended and passed House 98 – 0) (to Senate)
SF 2128 Campaign Finance Reports to be Filed Electronically. Requires that, effective January 1, 2011, a county statutory political committee and candidates or committees raising a certain threshold of money, as outlined in the bill, are required to file reports electronically. (passed Senate 46 – 0) to House (same as HF 2443 on House calendar)
SF 2194 Elections Laws. Make technical changes to the election laws administered by the Secretary of State. (passed Senate 48 – 0) to House (same as HSB 668 on House Calendar)
SF 2195 Campaign Finance Requirements. Makes several changes in laws administered by the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board including requiring disclosure when an organization is advocating that an individual run for office but the individual has not announced intent to run, adopting rules to define “fair market value” for purposes of campaign property, clarifying that a permanent organization temporarily engaging in political activity is required to disclose its campaign activities when involved in a ballot issue election as well as an election of a candidate, and directing the board to adopt rules prohibiting the owner, etc. of a sham newspaper from promoting the candidacy of any person. (passed Senate 48 – 0) to House (same as HF 2441 on House calendar)
SF 2215 Use of Genetic Information. Prohibits a person from obtaining genetic information or samples for genetic testing from an individual without first obtaining that person’s informed written consent. Exceptions are made in the bill. (passed Senate 48 – 0) to House
SF 2218 Eliminates Double Election Boards. Eliminates double election boards and required the commissioner of elections, upon petition, to use automatic tabulating equipment in certain elections. (passed Senate 37 – 11) to House
SF 2247 Designation of Gaming Officer. Changes the class title designation of a “gaming enforcement officer.” The change is for the official designation only and does not create or modify the existing job classification or duties. (passed Senate 48 – 0) (House State Government Committee)

Transportation
SF 2146 Payment for Warranty Work by an Auto Dealer. Does not allow a motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer to reduce the amount of compensation, or to disallow the claim for warranty work done by the dealer, if it is submitted within 60 days from the date that work was completed. (passed House 100 – 0) to Governor

Veterans Affairs
HF 2384 Notification of Tax Assistance for Service Members. Requires the Iowa National Guard to work with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to notify service members to contact the Iowa Department of Revenue regarding current or possible tax issues while deployed. Notification must occur prior to and after deployment. (passed House 100-0) to Senate
HSB 724 Notification of Recent Discharge. Requires Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to provide copies of discharge documents of returning veterans to the county commissions of veterans affairs (passed Committee 16-0) to House Floor

Ways and Means
HF 816 Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) Subpoenas: Gives IDR the authority to subpoena utility records in order to locate persons who owe state taxes or have other outstanding debt owed to a state agency that has been turned over to IDR for collection. This is similar to authority previously given to the Child Support Recovery Unit. (Passed Committee 23-0) to House Calendar

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Here’s the Week 1 edition.  Enjoy!