WEEKLY BILL TRACKING

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC RESEARCH STAFF

Agriculture

HF 583         Effluent from Animal Truck Wash Facilities. Tightens regulations on livestock truck washes by moving them into the animal feeding operations code section (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

Appropriations

HF 630         Federal Block Grants. Establishes authorizing legislation for the receipt and expenditure of federal funds in the amounts the state is anticipated to receive in Federal Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017.  The bill also provides the mechanism for the State to receive federal block grant funds provided in specific federally designated areas for the same federal fiscal years.  The State is anticipated to receive $7.117 billion in federal funds in FY 2016, and $7.013 billion in FY 2017.  These amounts compare to $6.714 billion the State is estimated to receive in FY 2015. (passed House 92-0) To Senate Appropriations Committee

HF 637         Transportation Budget. The Transportation Budget reflects the Governor’s recommendation. The funding for the Transportation budget comes from the Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF) and the Primary Road Fund (PRF), which is an account within the RUTF. There are no general fund allocations in the bill.  The bill spends a total $365 million in FY 16, an increase of $7 million.  (passed Committee 25-0) To House Appropriations Calendar

HF 643         Hub and Spoke Recycling Study. The Committee amended the bill to rewrite the bill to allocate $100,000 from the Groundwater Protection Fund to the University of Northern Iowa’s Waste Reduction Center to conduct a study on the establishment of hub and spoke recycling programs that help establish regional partnerships to more effectively utilize local and regional recycling infrastructure. (passed Committee 21-3) To House Appropriations Calendar

Commerce

HF 229         Regulations Regarding Buying Clubs and Free Trial Offers.  Exempts the sales of buying club memberships through the internet from current regulation regarding oral notification of cancellations, and adds language to the consumer fraud law regarding free-trial offers.  (passed Senate 48-0) on House Calendar with Senate amendment

HF 548         Disconnection Devices for Distributed Generation.  Requires electric customers that will install a distributed generation facility (wind, solar) to an electric line to install a visual disconnection device and notify their fire department of location of the disconnection device.  Requires the Iowa Utilities Board to adopt rules regarding this issue.  (passed Senate 45-0) on House Calendar with Senate amendment

HF 638         Wine Gallonage Taxes.  Changes the frequency of reporting from businesses to the Alcoholics Beverages Division from monthly to twice a year.  (passed House Ways & Means Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 639         Portable Electronic Insurance.  Sets up a process for a vendor of portable electronics to sell insurance on that portable electronic.  (passed House Ways & Means Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 641         Broadband.  Contains a 10-year property tax exemption to companies that expand the availability of broadband that is capable of providing service at 25 megabits of download and 3 megabits of upload speed, and must identify the percentage of new businesses, farms, schools, and houses that will be provided access.  This tax exemption is retroactive to Creates a grant program that is open to accepting money from federal and private sources, and includes the acquisition or installation of information technology infrastructure in the definition of “school infrastructure.”  (passed House Ways & Means Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

Education

HF 347         Child Care Program Licensure.  Moves licensure for a child care center through a school district from the Department of Education to only be under the Department of Human Services (DHS).  Currently under some circumstances they could be either agency.  The bill takes effect January 1, 2016, but DHS may begin implementing prior to that date.  The Senate amendment repealed two exemptions for child care licensure inspections; a political subdivision, and after school programs continuously offered throughout the school year and children attend intermittently.  (The House refused to concur with the Senate amendment 39-52) to Senate Calendar

HF 488         Iowa Reading Corps.  Establishes an Iowa Reading Corps that would use people from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, and AmeriCorps who have already been helping young readers.  The program will use models of current literacy programs. Goals and strategies will align with the Department of Education, a local school district, and the Iowa Reading Research Center.  (Signed, effective 07/01/15)

HF 646         Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) use for Transportation Repair.  Currently PPEL is allowed for purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students.  As amended in committee, the bill expands the use of PPEL for repair of a piece of transportation equipment that is over $2,500.  This would be for a school budget starting after July 1, 2015.  (passed Ways and Means Committee 23-0) to House Calendar

Environmental Protection

HF 643         Hub and Spoke Recycling Study. The Committee amended the bill to rewrite the bill to allocate $100,000 from the Groundwater Protection Fund to the University of Northern Iowa’s Waste Reduction Center to conduct a study on the establishment of hub and spoke recycling programs that help establish regional partnerships to more effectively utilize local and regional recycling infrastructure. (passed Appropriations Committee 21-3) To House Appropriations Calendar

Human Resources

HF 449         Psychiatric Bed Tracking System.  Department of Human Services is required to develop and initially implement an psychiatric bed tracking system, which includes psychiatric beds in a sub-acute care facility.  (passed House 92-0) to Governor

HF 468         Mental Health Advocates.  Requires each county to have an independent mental health advocate and the advocate must be an employee of a county.  Counties can share advocates as well. (passed House 90-1) to Governor

HF 579         Disclosure of Information – Health Facilities.  Specifies when information can be disclosed to the attorneys of health care facilities, elder group homes, assisted living programs, and adult day services programs during an investigation.  (passed Senate 45-0) to Governor

SF 335         Release of Information to an Organ Donation Agency.  Allows various reports completed by the Medical Examiner regarding a deceased individual whom an anatomical gift was made to be released to an organ donation agency, if requested by the agency. In addition, a hospital, licensed or certified health care professional, or Medical Examiner is required to release patient information to a procurement organization as part of a referral or retrospective review of the patient as a potential donor.  Both provision only apply to tissue donations.  (passed Senate 47-0) to Governor

Judiciary

HF 227         Strip Searches – Simple Misdemeanor and Scheduled Violations.  Allows a visual strip search of anyone arrested for a scheduled violation or simple misdemeanor who is housed in the general population of a jail or facility.  (passed 90-1) to Governor

HF 287         Counterfeit Airbags.  Creates a new crime for installing, manufacturing, importing or selling a counterfeit air bag for a vehicle.  (passed Senate 47-0) to Governor

HF 496         Military Victim Advocates.  Extends protections for victim counselors that are not required to give evidence in a civil or criminal proceeding to military victim advocates.  (signed; effective 7-1-15)

HF 525         Veterinarian LLCs.  Amends the Iowa Veterinary Practice Act to allow professional partnerships and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) to organize as a veterinarian.  (passed Senate 45-0) to Governor

HF 535         Nonsubstantive Code Corrections.  Makes nonsubstantive code corrections to the code.  (signed; effective 7-1-15)

HF 536         Substantive Code Corrections.  Makes substantive corrections to the code.  (signed; various effective dates)

HF 558         Guardian Ad Litem in Adoptions.  Requires a court to either appoint or waive the appointment of a guardian ad litem before proceeding with an adoption.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

HF 569         Garnishment.  Revises the notice requirements for garnishment.  (passed Senate 50-0) to Governor

SF 267         Officer Confidentiality with Peer Support Group Counselors.  Provides that communications between an officer, including a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or EMT, and a peer support group counselor are confidential communications.  (signed; effective 7-1-15)

SF 385         Expungement.  Allows for the expungement of not guilty verdicts and dismissals.  (passed House 96-0) to Senate as amended

SF 404         Shorthand Reporters.  Allows the board of examiners of shorthand reporters to consider a shorthand reporter applicant’s past record, including criminal record, specifies that no agreement shall require a certified shorthand reporter to give up control of an original deposition transcript or copies of the transcript before it is certified and delivered to the custodial attorney and clarifies that audio recordings are considered shorthand reporters’ work product.  (passed House 93-0) to Senate as amended

SF 426         Doctor/Patient Communications/CANDOR.  Creates the voluntary opportunity for a health care provider to communicate about an adverse health care incident with a patient.  (signed; effective 7-1-15)

Local Government

HF 507         Delinquent Sewer Bills with a Utility Management Organization.  Allows water to be turned off for delinquent sewer bills where a Utility Management Organization (UMO) has contracted with a city and or county for sewer services.  Also includes cases where the city or county has water delivered through a rural water district. Under the Senate amendment, it would not affect previous accounts with debt, but would start after July 1, 2015.  (passed Senate 45-0) to House Calendar

SF 167         Compensation of Elected Officials.  Prevents a Board of Supervisors from approving a separation allowance or severance pay for a county elected official.  The bill would require a separate detailed resolution in order to approve any pay increase for county elected officials and to be included in the county budget.  (passed Senate 46-1) to Governor

SF 394         Prisoner Medical Costs Clarified.  Clarifies which entity pays a prisoner’s medical costs when they are in jail.  If the prisoner is eligible for Medicaid, Medicaid or a 3^rd party insurer will pay the costs if a prisoner is eligible. If not, then the prisoner’s insurance will cover the costs.  Under the House amendment, city costs would apply only to maintenance of a jail.  After efforts have been exhausted by the hospital to collect from the prisoner, the costs would be limited to the county board of supervisors, and responsibility from the city council, the state agency or the United States for the costs are removed from the bill.  (passed House 87-5) to Senate Calendar

Natural Resources

HF 625       Writing Fees for Hunting and Fishing Licenses.  Increases the fee received by the retailer for hunting and fishing licenses. Retailers will receive $1.00 for a combination hunting and fishing license and $1.50 for a three-year license.  Currently, retailers receive .50 cents for a combination license.  (passed House 91-0) to Senate Calendar.

Public Safety

HF 447         Wireless Service Providers Required to Release Information to Law Enforcement.  Requires wireless service providers to provide location information on a device in certain emergency situations.  (passed Senate 50-0) on House Calendar with Senate amendment

HF 585         Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic Abuse or Sexual Assault.  Creates a program in the Secretary of State’s Office where victims can sign up to have their mail sent to the Secretary of State, which in turn will forward it to a confidential address.  (passed Senate 45-0) on House Calendar with Senate amendment

State Government

HF 203         Sleep Tech. Creates a licensure and standard for those practicing as polysomnographic technologist or sleep techs. Allows for some grandfathering for those already practicing in sleep medicine. (passed House 91-1) to Governor.

HF 626         Tax Review Board.  Sets in code the future repeal of the tax review board. Also eliminates the sunset on the Property Assessment Board. (passed House 95-0) to Senate.

HF 642         Social and Charitable Gaming. Code update and modernization of the social and charitable gaming laws in the Iowa Code. (passed Ways and Means 22-2) to House Ways and Means Calendar.

SF 199         Campaign Finance. Eliminates the requirement for those making independent expenditures to file committee creation and dissolution documents. All independent expenditures must be reported within 48 hours of the expense. (passed House 94-0) to Governor.

SF 415         Campaign Administration. Allows for the write in votes to be counted before the official canvass the following Monday as opposed to the night of the election. (passed House 92-0) to Senate.  

SF 438         Exchange Wagering. Allows the State to conduct a study on the ability for Iowa to allow exchange wagering through the pari-mutuel system already in place for Iowa Casinos. (passed House 81-15) to Governor.

Transportation

HF 617         Special License Plates. Changes the procedure for special license plates through the Department of Transportation. Non-profit organizations with 200 valid signatures can apply through the Department to have a decal places on a special license plate. (passed House 92-0) to Senate.

HF 635         DOT Omnibus. Eliminates outdated code language as well as moves transportation commission language to chapter 307A.  Eliminates the state aircraft pool from private enterprise competition exemption, eliminates paper certificates for aeronautics, aligns fees of replacement for “Under 18” and “Under 21” ID’s. Conforms to federal law with commercial learner’s permit, fixes a catch-22 for temporary restricted license for non-OWI and OWI offense. Allows for federal agents to be issued county standard plates , and allows for car sale negotiations at the State Fair. Lengthens traveler trailers from 40 ft. to 45 ft. (passed House 95-0) to House Calendar

Veterans Affairs

HF 414         Veterans Services Disclosure Requirement.  Requires that private veterans service providers to disclose that veterans benefits are free through federally chartered veteran service organizations and by county commission of veteran affairs offices.  The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will develop a standardized form.  A violation is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation.  Any fines will be deposited into the Veterans Trust Fund.  (passed Senate 47-0 ) to Governor

Ways & Means

HF 443         Repeal of the Tax Review Board.  Repeals the tax review board on July 1, 2016. Allows for the Department of Revenue to hear the appeals of Iowans and expedites the process for the appeal to be heard by an Administrative Law Judge. The members of the tax review board are supportive of the repeal of the board. (passed House 95-0) to Senate Ways & Means Committee

HF 625         Writing Fees for Hunting and Fishing Licenses.  Increases the fee received by the retailer for hunting and fishing licenses. Retailers will receive $1.00 for a combination hunting and fishing license and $1.50 for a three-year license.  Currently, retailers receive 50 cents for a combination license.  (passed House 92-0) to Senate

HF 638         Wine Gallonage Taxes – Frequency of Reporting.  Changes the law to make the reporting of wine gallonage taxes by a wine direct shipper license holder to be semi-annually rather than monthly.  (passed Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 639         Portable Electronic Insurance.  Sets up a process for a vendor of portable electronics to sell insurance on that portable electronic.  (passed Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 641         Broadband.  This is the Governor’s bill which has a 10-year property tax exemption to companies that expand the availability of broadband that is capable of providing service at 25 megabits of download and 3 megabits of upload speed.  Creates a grant program but doesn’t provide an allocation for the program, and includes the acquisition or installation of information technology infrastructure in the definition of “school infrastructure.”  (passed Committee 24-0) to House Calendar

HF 642         Social and Charitable Gambling. Complete update and rewrite of chapter 99B. Updates the code language and does clean up to modernize the language and regulation. (passed Committee 22-2) to House Calendar

HF 644         Biogas Tax Credit Clarification.  Expands the definition of “heat for commercial use” under the 476C renewable energy credit to include heat captured at a biogas recovery facility if the heat is then used, allows a producer or purchaser of a renewable energy to combine types of energy allowable under the bill to qualify for tax credits, and the bill applies retroactively to the 2015 tax year.  (passed Committee 23-0) to House Calendar

HF 645         Renewable Energy Tax Credit Clarifications.  Clarifies that the maximum amount of eligible capacity of thermal units available under the 476C renewable energy tax credit is an annual maximum, clarifies that 476C renewable energy tax credits is available for a 10 year period for a facility, and makes these changes retroactive to the 2014 tax year.  (passed Committee 22-0) to House Calendar

HF 646         Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) use for Transportation Repair.  Currently PPEL is allowed for purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students.  As amended in committee, the bill expands the use of PPEL for repair of a piece of transportation equipment that is over $2,500.  This would be for a school budget starting after July 1, 2015.  (passed Committee 23-0) to House Calendar

SF 479         Broadcaster Taxing.  Changes the apportionment of income for a broadcaster under Iowa corporate income taxes.  (passed House 93-0) to Governor