SF 2130 – Transportation FY15 Budget
SF 2268 – Preschool Funding
SF 2349 – Infrastructure FY15 Budget
SF 2347 – Education FY15 Budget
HF 2450 – Justice FY15 Budget
HF 2460 – Economic Development FY15 Budget
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2130 appropriates $358.2 million to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY15, which begins July 1, 2014. This includes $48 million from the Road Use Tax Fund and $310.2 million from the Primary Road Fund. Highlights include:
• $45.6 million to the Operations Division (status quo).
• $8.3 million for the Planning, Programming & Modal Division (status quo).
• $36.1 million to the Motor Vehicles Division (increase of $743,000).
• $3.3 million to the Performance & Technology Division (status quo).
• $1.7 million for payment to the Department of Administrative Services for personnel and utility services (increase of $143,752).
• $235.7 million to the Highways Division (increase of $3.7 million). The increase will support inflationary salary costs, not additional FTE positions.
• $242,000 for transportation maps (increase of $82,000).
• $700,000 for heating, cooling and exhaust system improvements in existing DOT facilities (increase of $200,000).
• $1.7 million for deferred maintenance at DOT field facilities across the state (increase of $200,000).
• $6.4 million for the replacement of the Des Moines North Garage (new appropriation).
• $730,000 to relocate the Traffic Operations Center from Ames to Ankeny (new appropriation). The Center directs traffic operations on Iowa’s Primary Highway System and is coordinated by the DOT.
• Purchasing salt in FY14 to take advantage of cost savings.
• Using up to $200,000 of operational funds to establish educational programs that foster public awareness about the dangers of driving while distracted.
• Prohibiting DOT from using any funds appropriated in this bill to pay a personnel settlement that contains a confidentiality provision.
• As a condition of receiving an appropriation, DOT must give first preference to an Iowa product or a product produced by an Iowa-based business. Second preference is given to a United States product or a product produced by a business based in the United States. “Product” does not include construction, construction material or construction equipment. [4/9:27-23, party-line (except Bertrand voting “yes”)]
SF 2347 appropriates a total of $986 million and 12,298 FTE positions for FY15 to the Department for the Blind, the College Student Aid Commission, the Department of Education and the Board of Regents. This is an increase of $87 million compared to estimated FY14. It includes:
• $49 million for Teacher Leadership grants to expand teacher roles and ensure the best teacher practices are modeled for all teachers.
• $8 million for intensive literacy programs for students that are following behind in reading in grades K-3.
• $2 million for the Iowa Reading Resource Center (increase of $669,000). Combined with money they have carried forward since FY13, this is status quo funding.
• $8 million increase for community college general aid for a total of $201 million.
• $40.3 million from the Skilled Worker & Job Creation Fund to support worker training investments that target specific regional skill shortage areas. This includes $6 million in ACE funding for community colleges and $5 million for grants for adults to earn certificates in the most “in-need” career fields.
• An increase of $24 million to maintain a tuition freeze at state universities.
• Prohibiting from being used to pay a personnel settlement that contains a confidentiality provision. [4/7: 27-22, party-line (except Bertrand “yes”; Houser absent)]
FLOOR & COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 2349 appropriates a total of $163.95 million for infrastructure and technology projects. Highlights include:
• Great Places – $1 million
• Community Attraction & Tourism Grants – $5 million
• Regional Sports Authority – $500,000
• World Food Prize/Ruan Scholarship Program – $100,000
• Camp Sunnyside – $250,000
• Homeless Youth Shelters Infrastructure – $250,000
• Solheim Cup to Promote Iowa – $1 million over two years
• Fort Des Moines Museum Renovations – $100,000
• Apprenticeship Training Equipment/Infrastructure – $1 million
• Broadlawns Mental Health Facilities – $6 million over two years
• Mental Health Facility Infrastructure (Link & Associates) – $300,000
• Nursing Home Facility Improvements – $650,000
• Homestead Autism Facilities Infrastructure – $825,000
• Linn County Public Health Facility – $1 million
• New Hope Center – $250,000
• State Housing Trust Fund – $3 million
• State Park Infrastructure – $5 million
• Lake Restoration – $9.6 million
• Water Trails and River Restoration – $2 million
• Good Earth State Park – $2 million
• Iowa Park Foundation – $2 million
• Public Defense Facilities – $4 million
• Gold Star Museum – $250,000
• Academic Tuition Replacement – $29.7 million
• Planning for new Regents buildings – $6 million
• Youth Inn Renovations – $3.15 million over two years
• Recreation Trails – $10.28 million
• Railroad Revolving Loan & Grant Program – $4 million
• Public Transit Vertical Infrastructure Grants – $1.5 million
• Commercial Air Service Grants – $1.5 million
• General Aviation Grants – $750,000
• Meredith Trail Bridge – $500,000
• Public Safety Parking Facility – $1 million
• Creative Corridor Public Transit Study – $150,000
• County Fairs Infrastructure – $1.06 million
• Technology Projects – $17.25 million (includes $500,000 for Grout Museum Oral History and $155,000 for Homestead Autism Technology)
• Environmental First Fund – Transfer of $42 million
• Historical Building Renovation Planning – $3.8 million [FLOOR 4/8: 26-23, party-line (Houser absent); COMMITTEE 4/3: 12-7, party-line (Mathis, Ernst absent)]
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 2268 takes additional steps toward universal access to preschool for all Iowa 4-year-olds by expanding eligible expenses for private providers, encouraging targeted community outreach and offering a $1,200 per-pupil funding incentive for each student a school adds to their program. During the next three years, schools and private providers may be eligible for an additional 0.2 weighting per student, based on the increase in preschool spots available (public and private). This weighting will be an incentive for both schools and private providers to expand capacity and availability of preschool slots. Both private providers and school districts should have broad authority to expend funding to expand capacity and community outreach. The bill also increases the allowed administrative fee for private providers from 5 percent to 10 percent and allows private providers to use funding for rental costs and transportation funding. The Department of Education will submit a report to the Legislature after completion of the expansion program. [4/9: 15-5, party-line (except Segebart, Smith “yes”; Ernst excused)]
HF 2450 is the FY15 Justice Budget, which appropriates $554,376,308. Highlights include:
• Department of Corrections – $378,266,432
• Department of Public Safety -$89,736,856
• Attorney General – $17,299,305
• Civil Rights Commission – $1,169,540
• Public Defender – $55,784,172
• Iowa Law Enforcement Academy – $881,214
• Board of Parole – $1,204,583
• Department of Public Defense – $6,554,478
• Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning – $1,260,105
• Homeland Security – $2,229,623
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES:
Attorney General:
• Senate and Governor are $175,000 over the House. This money is for two FTEs for criminal appeals and area prosecutions division.
• Victims’ Assistance Grants – Senate and Governor are $397,376 over the House. House says this was one-time transition money, but it is needed for ongoing expenses.
Department of Corrections – Institutions:
• Ft. Madison: Senate is $365,918 over House and Governor. This hires six or more corrections officers.
• Anamosa: Senate is $324,000 over House and Governor. This is for six corrections officers.
• Oakdale: Senate is $108,000 over House and Governor. This is two corrections officers.
• Newton: Senate is $108,000 over House and Governor. This is two corrections officers.
• Mt. Pleasant: Senate is $378,000 over House and Governor. This is for seven corrections officers.
• Rockwell City: Senate is $108,000 over House and Governor. This is for two corrections officers.
• Clarinda: Senate is $216,000 over House and Governor. This is for four corrections officers.
• Mitchellville: Senate is $108,000 over House and Governor. This is for two corrections officers.
• Ft. Dodge: Senate is $108,000 over House and Governor. This is for two corrections officers.
Total over House and Governor for Corrections Institutions – $1,823,918 (33 corrections officers).
NOTE: Governor and House budget include an increase of $176,200 for Central Office for two FTEs for Prison Rape Elimination Act compliance.
NOTE: Governor and House budget include $215,504 for four corrections officers at Mitchellville.
Community Based Corrections – Drug Court Funding:
• CBC District 1 (Dubuque, etc.): Senate is $100,300 over the House and Governor
• CBC District 2 (Ames, Mason City, Ft. Dodge): Senate is $402,300 over House and Governor
• CBC District 5 (Des Moines, Dallas County, etc.): Senate is $285,000 over House and Governor
• CBC District 7 (Davenport, etc.): Senate is $111,700 over House and Governor
Total over House and Governor for CBC Drug Courts – $988,400
NOTE: Governor and House have an increase of $947,744 for an increase of 14 PPOs spread throughout the CBCs for sex offender supervision
NOTE: Governor and House have an increase of $189,200 for a drug court in the First District and $127,390 for a drug court in the Sixth District.
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy: Senate is $122,000 below the Governor and the House. This is the salary and benefits for the deputy director. We eliminate this position. The bill also changes Code language to indicate that the director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy will be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The director is currently a merit employee.
Department of Public Safety:
• Iowa State Patrol: Senate is $2,908,694 below the House; Senate is $2,038,389 above the Governor; and House is $4,947,083 above the Governor and FY 14.
• Endangered Person Alert System: This is new and the House appropriated $25,000. The bill says, “For the review, training, information dissemination, and implementation of the endangered person advisory alert system:”
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning: Senate is $160,000 over the Governor and the House. This amount would keep Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning at status quo.
Homeland Security: Senate is $400,000 below the House and the Governor. This is the amount that Homeland Security & Emergency Management for its statewide emergency notification system. Significant Language in the Senate Amendment:
• Increases the amount of money that the Attorney General can take from the Consumer Education & Litigation Fund for FY15 and FY16.
• Includes a “cancer presumption” for Public Safety Peace Officers.
• Makes CBC high risk units a protected occupation class in IPERS (applies to 23 people statewide)
• Prohibits any appropriation in this bill from being used to pay for a confidential employee settlement agreement. [4/9: 13-7, party-line (Ernst excused)]
HF 2460 is the FY15 Economic Development budget. It funds small business development centers, research and economic development at our Regent Universities, funding for arts, culture and history, safety of our workers through Labor Division funding, and employer and worker assistance through workforce field offices. Highlights include:
• Funding for Department of Cultural Affairs for Community Cultural Grants, and stabilization and restoration of civil war battle flags.
• Funding for tourism at the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) – $3.2 million out of the General Fund, plus gaming receipts total estimate = $4 million.
• Funding for financial assistance for businesses under the High Quality Jobs Program at IEDA.
• Funding to economic development programs at the Regents.
• Funding for Iowa Finance Authority for the Home & Community-Based Services Rent Subsidy Program. This program helps certain Iowans to remain in their homes and avoid entering an institution.
• Funding for Iowa Workforce Development Programs, including Wage & Hour Division, OSHA, Workers Compensation, field offices and Employee Misclassification program.
CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR’S BUDGET
• $1 million for STEM internships. The moneys will be used to expand the Innovative Business Internship Program administered by IEDA. The expanded program will place Iowa students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) into internships with Iowa employers. The funds will be spent on business incentives tied to how much the employer spends for the program.
• An increase of $1.75 million to the Workforce Development Fund for the apprenticeship program and retraining at our community colleges.
• Small Business Development Centers will see an increase of $101,000.
•An increase to the Councils on Government of $25,000.
• An increase to the Offender Reentry Program that is administered by Iowa Workforce Development. A $74,000 increased is used to fulfill four FTEs. [4/7: 11-8, party-line (except McCoy, Petersen “no”; Segebart, Smith excused)]