APPROPRIATIONS-Week of April 23

SF 2338—Government Efficiency

HF 2458—Primary Care Loan Repayment

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2338 makes numerous changes to promote efficiency in state government, including:

** Government Information Technology Services – (1) Duplex Printing encourages all state agencies (excluding board of regents institutions) to use duplex printing and a print-on-demand strategy to reduce printing costs; (2) IT Device Inventory requires the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to complete an inventory of IT devices and submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2013; (3) IT Coordination & Management requires DAS to develop an IT schedule of services for all agencies to comply with requirements by December 31, 2013 (DAS is to submit a copy of the schedule to the Legislature by July 31, 2012, and periodic updates are required); and (4) Procuring IT through leasing should be explored.

** Medication Therapy Management – Codifies the MTM pilot program, which has been implemented through DAS for state employees.

** State Physical Resources – By September 30, 2012, DAS must conduct a high-level needs analysis of state employee work stations and office standards, focusing on adequate square footage needs and creating healthy, productive and efficient work environments. Overall objectives of the analysis must include improving employee density, properly allocating space for individual and group work, improving worker health and safety, improving technology integration, and improving energy efficiency and sustainability in state offices.  The department must submit findings and recommendations to the Capitol Planning Commission and to the Legislature’s Fiscal Committee by October 30, 2012.

** Eliminate Audit Fees – Eliminates audit fees for Mental Health Centers/Substance Abuse Community Action Agencies (HF 2362) and for commodity organizations (corn, turkey, egg, sheep and wool).

** Public Defense and Homeland Security & Emergency Management – Creates separate departments.

** Electronic Communications – promotes communication through electronic mail.

** State Records – Eliminates the state records commission and transfers their authority to the director of the Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department can establish rates to be charged to an agency for storage and retention of records. The Department may charge agencies for storage and deposit payment in an internal service fund. The receipts are to be used for the operations of the Department in records storage and retention. Annual accounting reports are due to the Department of Management and the Legislature. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Regents are exempt from these requirements.

** DOT Modernization – Allows for online driver’s license and nonoperator identification card renewal under certain circumstances. The bill also eliminates the reduced fee for electric automobiles.

** Department of Revenue State Debt Report – The Department of Revenue will develop and recommend legislative proposals necessary for the continued efficiency of the office of the state debt coordinator. A report is to be filed with the Governor and Legislature no later than January 14, 2013.

** Department of Natural Resources Auditor Clean-up Bill – Updates Iowa’s waste management policy (455B).

** Ongoing Program Review – Adds to the duties of the Legislature’s State Government Efficiency Review Committee, to comprehensively review on a regular basis, programs and projects to determine whether they are effectively and efficiently meeting needs, and whether the needs remain applicable. The review will consider whether modifications to programs or projects could better meet the needs identified in a more effective manner.

** Deletes IJOBS Board

** Maintains the E911 Board, which will advise the Interoperability Board, rather than the Homeland Security Administration.

** Strikes Farm to School Council. The Departments of Agriculture and Education assume its duties.

** Obsolete Provisions – Repeals Farmworks matching funds (15.112); ls 15C – World Trade Center; 15D – Midwest Nuclear Compact. [4/19: 47-0 (Houser, McKinley, Ward excused)]

HF 2458 establishes a Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program to be administered by the College Student Aid Commission. The program provides loan repayments for medical students who agree to practice as physicians in service commitment areas for five years and meet certain requirements. The amount of loan repayment for an eligible student will be not more than $50,000 annually for an eligible loan. A service commitment area is defined as a city in Iowa with a population of less than 26,000 that is located more than 20 miles from a city with a population of 50,000 or more and provides a $20,000 contribution for deposit in the fund for each physician in the community who is participating in the program. [4/19: 47-0 (Houser, McKinley, Ward excused)]