SF 366 – Radon Testing
SF 2185 – Native Horses
SF 2305 – Homeland Security & Disaster Emergencies
HF 381 – Horseracing
HF 2274 – Internet site for state agency fees
HF 2288 – Eliminates Reports/Publications
HF 2366 – City Elections/County Auditors
SF 366 pertains to radon testing. It includes:
• Directing the Department of Education (DE) to notify each school district and accredited nonpublic school of the risks associated with radon gas. The notification is to include information on and sources of funding available for radon testing and mitigation. The DE must encourage schools to implement a radon testing and mitigation plan.
• Requiring school districts to notify the DE by December 1, 2014, about whether they have a radon testing and mitigation plan. If they do not have a plan in place, they must notify the DE about any plans to implement one in the future.
• Requiring DE to submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2015, on the data collected. [4/8: 39-10 (Behn, Boettger, Breitbach, Chapman, Feenstra, Guth, Johnson, Kapucian, Sinclair, Zumbach “no”; Houser excused)]
SF 2185 makes changes to the Code section relating to native horses and pari-mutuel wagering in Iowa. The bill strikes the section requiring that 51 percent of an Iowa registered stallion is required to be owned by bona fide Iowa residents. [2/25: 49-0 (Feenstra excused)]
SF 2305 concerns the Department of Homeland Security as it relates to disaster emergencies. Code section 29C.6 is amended to provide that the Governor’s authority to enter into mutual aid arrangements with other states may include arrangements that extend the terms and conditions of the interstate emergency management assistance compact to situations in which a disaster proclamation of an affected state has not been made by that state’s governor. [2/27: 48-0 (Ernst, Houser excused)]
HF 381 relates to horseracing in Iowa. Highlights include:
• Allowing the Racing & Gaming Commission to establish restrictions on dosage amounts for phenylbutazone, which would result in concentrations of less than 5 micrograms of the substance or its metabolites per milliliter of blood, in races recognized as graded stake thoroughbred races.
• Amending Code section 99D.7 (5), concerning purse money for horseracing. The change allows purse money designated for standard bred racing to also be used for breeders’ awards, standard bred harness racing expenses and the construction of harness racing tracks in Iowa.
• Clarifying that an unlicensed advance deposit wagering operator or an individual taking or receiving wagers from residents of Iowa is guilty of a class “D” felony. [3/10: 46-0 (Ernst, Greiner, Houser, Kapucian excused)]
HF 2274requires Iowa’s Chief Information Officer to establish and maintain a user-friendly state services fee database and Internet site for use by the public by December 1, 2014. The Internet site is required to provide timely notice of any modifications in fees, rates and charges imposed by an agency. [3/27: 46-0 (Bertrand, Boettger, Ernst, Houser excused)]
HF 2288 is the 2014 government efficiency legislation. Highlights Include:
• Biennial reports – Deletes odd-numbered year reports; retains even-numbered year reports.
• State employee suggestion system – Deletes.
• Department Internal Service Funds – An annual report is still required but redundant reports are deleted.
• Physical Resources and Facility Management – Deletes requirement that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) annually issue a request for proposals (RFP) for leasing privately owned office space for state employees in the downtown area of Des Moines. DAS will do an RFP when needed.
• Fleet Management, Fuel Economy Requirements – Deletes requirement of a report on compliance.
• State Capitol View Preservation – Deletes quarterly reports. The Capitol Planning Commission deals with this.
• Recycled Products – Allows DAS to purchase non-recycled items if it will result in significant savings.
• Setoff Procedures – Strikes requirement that DAS send a copy of a setoff notice to the collection agency.
• Setoff Procedures – Redesignates the term “agency” rather than “state agency” while keeping the definition the same. Defines “debtor” as a person who is liable on a claim to an agency. Corresponding changes to terms in Code section 8A.504 are made to reflect these changes. Code section 8A.504 (2) (k), relating to additional setoff requirements for debts owed and payable to a community college, is amended. The additional requirements apply to political subdivisions, which must establish and implement these enhanced procedures, and that the procedures will permit a debtor to contest the validity or the amount of the debtor’s claimed liability.
• ICN Network – Deletes annual reports certifying the savings associated with the agency’s use of the ICN.
• Educational Leave and Educational Assistance – Deletes annual report from state agencies.
• Monthly report on military pay differential – Deletes. [3/18: 43-2 (Petersen, Sodders “no”; Greiner, Hogg, Houser, Zaun, Zumbach excused)]
HF 2366 makes a number of changes to procedures in local elections. Highlights include:
- Allowing county auditors to store voter registration forms electronically, including the applicant’s signature.
• Moving the repository for filing local election paperwork from the city clerk to the county auditor, ensuring uniform election practices.
• Ensuring vacancies on city councils are filled by either appointment or by election in a timely fashion. An appointment must be made within 60 days after the vacancy occurs. The appointment lasts until the next regular city election, unless there is an intervening special election in that city. If there is a special election, the election for the office must be placed on the ballot. If the council fails to make an appointment within 60 days, the city clerk must give notice to the county auditor. The county auditor must call a special election to fill the vacancy at the earliest practical date, but no fewer than 32 days after the notice is received.
• Under current law, voter registration closes at 5 p.m. 10 days prior to a general or primary election, requiring county auditors to be open on a Saturday. The proposal closes voter registration one day earlier for the primary election, allowing the auditor’s office to be closed on Saturday. Since Iowa allows same-day registration, voters can register to vote at the polls.
• Reducing the number of envelopes required for an absentee ballot.
• Repealing Code section 53.14, which requires the printed affidavit to designate the voter’s party affiliation if the ballot enclosed is a primary election ballot. [3/31: 47-0 (Dix, Houser, McCoy excused)]