Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal:
“We did some things on job creation in this state on making sure that the resources are there to provide for education and training of employees in this state to match the skills to the jobs that are out there and get thousands of Iowans back to work. So I’m pretty excited about some of the things we did for higher education and in particular community colleges. There are disappointments, there are disappointments in every session. I would have really loved to have gotten something done on commercial property taxes in this state. In the end we felt the plan that the Governor was advancing was one that would shift taxes to homeowners and we couldn’t go along with that.”

Video, audio and a transcript can be found at IPTV.

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2112 allows any U.S. military veteran to request that their veteran status be noted on their driver’s license or non-operator’s identification card issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). The person must provide satisfactory proof of veteran status as established by the DOT. The license or card will have the word “VETERAN” prominently on its face. The provisions will apply to new or renewal issuances, not to replacement, duplicate or substitute licenses or cards. The program would begin no later than July 1, 2013. The bill passed the Senate 50-0.

The House amended SF 2112 to allow the Commission of Veterans Affairs to allocate funding to pay for changes to the driver’s license design and to address recent concerns regarding a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) program in which surplus military vehicles are sold to the public and state agencies, some of which are ultimately purchased by local governments.

The disposal of surplus military vehicles by DOD has increased and the DOT has encountered a number of situations where a person bought a surplus military vehicle and was unable to title and register it in Iowa. The DOT also became aware of an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) surplus military vehicle program used by local agencies. The DNR program, managed by the State Forestry Bureau working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Services agency, screens and passes excess military equipment on to local Iowa fire departments for use in fighting wildland fires.

Some military vehicles are uniquely designed for military purposes, and others are used for military purposes but are virtually identical to vehicles built and certified for use on public highways. Manufacturers selling directly to the U.S. Armed Forces must meet contractual specifications but are not required to certify the military vehicles as meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety (FMVS) standards, although many of the vehicles do. Iowa law requires that the vehicles be certified to be titled and registered for use on public roads. The House amendment allows the DOT or a county treasurer to title and register a military vehicle that is in “substantial compliance” with FMVS standards, if the owner presents satisfactory evidence to the DOT, which will propose administrative rules for the process. [4/9: 48-2 (Hancock, Sodders “no”)]

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2245 requires the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) to study the establishment of an on-site post-traumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program, including an evaluation of various funding sources, program structure, program requirements and the need for such a program for veterans in Iowa. The focus will be a dual-diagnosis program for individuals seeking treatment for service-connected post-traumatic stress and substance abuse. The House amended the Senate version by striking the language setting up an interim committee and moving the responsibility of the study to the Commandant and staff, which includes IVH medical professionals and mental health specialists.

The IVH Commandant will prepare a report on the findings and submit it to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Legislature and the Governor by January 15, 2013. The report will include recommendations regarding creation of such a program at the IVH. The Senate concurred with the House amendment. [4/3: 48-0]

HF 2402 – Allow VTF money to be used for veteran’s cemetery grant development

HF 2403 – CDL driving requirement waiver if veteran shows active-duty training

HF 2404 – Military active-duty documentation if driver’s license expired

FLOOR ACTION:

HF 2403 allows the Department of Transportation to waive the driving skills testing requirement for an applicant for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) who is currently on active military service or was separated from service within the past 90 days. Federal motor carrier safety regulations allow this type of exemption if the applicant meets experience and safety requirements. The applicant must still pass a knowledge skills test to receive a CDL.

To qualify for the waiver the applicant: 1) must be have been employed in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle; 2) must have been exempt from commercial motor vehicle licensing requirements while operating a commercial motor vehicle for military purposes; and 3) during the two-year period immediately preceding honorable separation from military service, must have operated a motor vehicle representative of the same class of motor vehicle the applicant will operate.

The applicant must certify that during the preceding two years he or she hasn’t had more than one  driver’s license other than a military license; hasn’t had a driver’s license suspended, revoked or canceled; hasn’t been convicted of disqualifying offenses committed while operating any type of motor vehicle; hasn’t had more than one conviction of any serious traffic offense; hasn’t had a  conviction for a violation (other than a parking violation) in connection with any traffic accident; and has no record of a traffic accident in which the applicant was at fault.

The bill passed the House on a vote of 98-0. [3/21: 49-0]

FLOOR & COMMITTEE ACTION:

HF 2264 requires a cemetery controlled by a governmental subdivision to allow any veteran to purchase an interment space for the veteran and spouse, if space is available. In addition, if space is available a surviving spouse must be allowed to purchase an interment space in the cemetery where their spouse is already interred. Current law only allows a veteran to purchase an interment space for the veteran and for only the veteran to be interred within the cemetery. The bill passed the House 98-0. [3/21: 50-0] [3/15: short form]

HF 2402 allows money in the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) to be used for veterans’ cemetery grant development. The money must be paid back to the VTF. In order to apply for federal grant money to develop the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, the state must show matching funds or the ability to cash-flow the project. These grants are 100 percent federal, so the VTF will not decrease. The bill passed the House 97-1. [3/21:49-0] [3/15: short form]

HF 2404 specifies the military documentation a veteran must have to support a six-month extension of renewing his or her Iowa driver’s license if a peace officer asks the individual furnish satisfactory evidence of military service. Current law provides that the effective date of a driver’s license held by a person at the time of entering military service is extended without fee until six months following the person’s initial separation from active duty. If the person is charged with driving without a valid driver’s license, the person may avoid conviction by producing in court, within a reasonable time, the driver’s license previously issued to the person along with evidence of the person’s military service. HF 2402 states that a Department of Defense common access card is satisfactory evidence of current service, and a certificate of release from active duty (a.k.a. DD214) is satisfactory evidence of previous service and honorable discharge from active duty. A person who produces either a common access card or DD214, along with the driver’s license previously issued to the person, does not need to give additional documentation to a peace officer or to a court in order to satisfy the requirements for a military extension. The bill passed the House 98-0. [3/21: 49-0] [3/15: short form]

HF 2403 – CDL driving requirement waiver if veteran shows active-duty training

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2112 allows any U.S. military veteran to request that their veteran status be noted on their driver’s license or non-operator’s identification card issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The person must provide satisfactory proof of veteran status as established by the department. The license or card will have the word “VETERAN” prominently on its face. The provisions will apply to new or renewal issuances, not on replacement, duplicate or substitute licenses or cards. The program would begin no later than July 1, 2013. [3/13: 50-0]

COMMITTEE

HF 2403 allows the Iowa Department of Transportation to waive the driving skills testing requirement for an applicant for a commercial driver’s license who is currently on active military service or was separated from service within the past 90 days. Federal motor carrier safety regulations allow this type of exemption if the applicant meets experience and safety requirements. To qualify for the waiver the applicant: 1) must be have been employed in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle; 2) must have been exempt from commercial motor vehicle licensing requirements while operating a commercial motor vehicle for military purposes; and 3) during the two-year period immediately preceding honorable separation from military service, must have operated a motor vehicle representative of the same class of motor vehicle the applicant will operate. The applicant must certify that during the preceding two years they haven’t had more than one  driver’s license other than a military license; haven’t had a driver’s license suspended, revoked or canceled; haven’t been convicted of disqualifying offenses committed while operating any type of motor vehicle; haven’t had more than one conviction of any serious traffic offense; haven’t had a  conviction for a violation (other than a parking violation) in connection with any traffic accident; and have no record of a traffic accident in which the applicant was at fault. The applicant must still pass a knowledge skills test to receive a commercial driver’s license. The bill passed the House on a vote of 98-0. [3/13: short form]

SF 2244 – Injured Veterans Grant medical guidelines

SF 2245 – IVH study of dual diagnosis treatment program

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2097 is a recommendation by the Military Division of the Department of Public Defense that:

** Exempts the Department and the Armory Board from the requirement that all state property leases be administered by the Department of Administrative Services, and conforms state military status definitions and terms, such as “federal service” to “federal active duty,” to more closely align with federal law for clarity.

** Expands the responsibility of the State Quartermaster to include all state military facilities, equipment and state military property to more accurately reflect the current role of that position, and strikes reporting and bond requirements relating to the Quartermaster.

** Redefines the Iowa National Guard Civil Relief Act relating to suspension or postponement of the performance of certain civil obligations (e.g., lease termination, eviction,  disconnection of gas or electric services) while a person is engaged in military service, by reducing the period of duty required from 90  days to 30 days. In many cases State Active Duty is for 30 or 60 days of service and adjusting the protections will help those called to serve in Iowa in emergencies or natural disasters. This section takes effect upon enactment.

** Requests the Legislative Council appoint an interim study committee to assess the feasibility of allowing  military occupational specialty training to qualify toward professional or other certifications required in Iowa for certain occupations and to recommend legislative or regulatory changes to implement the recommendations by  January 1, 2013.

The bill changes the term “state military service” to “National Guard duty” and defines it as training or other duty that is paid for with federal funds. That includes, but is not limited to, full-time National Guard duty, inactive duty training and annual training. An amendment was adopted to include full-time dual status technicians who support the Iowa Army National Guard or Iowa Air National Guard. These technicians currently are included under “state military service” but inadvertently omitted under the new category. [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2244 requires that a veteran be seriously injured or very seriously injured, as defined in the most recent U.S. Department of Defense joint publication [1-02], in order to be eligible to receive  a grant under the State’s Injured Veterans Grant program. As of January 15, the publication defines “seriously injured” as the casualty status of a person whose injury is classified by medical authority to be of such severity that there is cause for immediate concern but not imminent danger to life, and “very seriously injured” as the casualty status of a person whose injury is classified by medical authority to be of such severity that life is imminently endangered. [2/29: 50-0]

SF 2245 requires that the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH)  initiate and coordinate a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program study committee and provide staffing assistance to the committee. The committee will focus on establishment of a dual diagnosis program for individuals seeking treatment for service-connected posttraumatic stress and substance abuse, including funding sources, program structure and requirements, and an assessment of the need for such a program for veterans in Iowa. The committee will have five voting members including the Commandant of the IVH, or designee; the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or designee; the Director of Public Health, or designee; a Commission of Veterans Affairs member designated by the Commission; and a member of the public, selected by the Commandant of the IVH, who has experience in providing treatment to individuals with service-connected posttraumatic stress. Two state senators and two state representatives appointed by the leaders of their respective majority and minority parties will serve as ex officio non-voting members. The committee must meet at least once during the 2012 legislative interim, and may meet up to three times during the interim as deemed necessary by the Commandant. The committee must submit a report regarding the establishment of such a program to the Legislature and the Governor by January 15, 2013. [2/29: 50-0]

SSB 3150 – IVH study of dual diagnosis treatment program

SSB 3157 – Injured Veterans Grant medical guidelines

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2076 requires the Natural Resource Commission to issue a special hunting license to a non-resident person who has served or is serving in the US Armed Forces if they were disabled during military service (and is at a service-connected rating of 30 per cent or higher) and awarded the Purple Heart as a result of the injury incurred in action so that they may participate in a hunt conducted by a nonprofit organization that conducts hunting experiences in Iowa for disabled veterans. The person may purchase a hunting license and pay the wildlife habitat fee for the same fee as a resident. Iowa’s current hunter safety and ethics education requirements apply.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will prepare a special application form and adopt rules necessary to administer provisions of this bill, including specifying what requirements a nonprofit organization must meet to be approved to conduct hunts for disabled veterans. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will assist in verifying applicants’ Purple Heart and disability status.

The special license is valid for use only on a hunt conducted by the approved nonprofit organization. The Commission will issue no more than 40 of each of the special licenses annually. The original proposal was amended and the bill will be redrafted as a committee bill. [2/21: short form]

SSB 3150 requires the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) to initiate and coordinate a posttraumatic stress dual diagnosis treatment program study committee and provide staffing assistance to the committee. The committee will focus on establishment of a dual diagnosis program for individuals seeking treatment for service-connected posttraumatic stress and substance abuse, including funding sources, program structure and requirements, and an assessment of the need for such a program for veterans in Iowa. The committee will have five voting members, including the Commandant of the IVH, or designee; the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or designee; the Director of Public Health, or designee; a Commission of Veterans Affairs member designated by the Commission; and a member of the public, selected by the Commandant of the IVH, who has experience in providing treatment to individuals with service-connected posttraumatic stress. Two state senators and two state representatives appointed by the leaders of their respective majority and minority parties will serve as ex officio, non-voting members. The committee must meet at least once during the 2012 legislative interim, and may meet up to three times during the interim as deemed necessary by the Commandant. The committee must submit a report regarding the establishment of such a program to the Legislature and the Governor by January 15, 2013. [2/21: short form]

SSB 3157 requires that a veteran be seriously injured or very seriously injured, as defined in the most recent U.S. Department of Defense joint publication [1-02], to be eligible for  a grant under the State’s Injured Veterans Grant program. As of January 15, the publication defines “seriously injured” as the casualty status of a person whose injury is classified by medical authority to be of such severity that there is cause for immediate concern but not imminent danger to life, and “very seriously injured” as the casualty status of a person whose injury is classified by medical authority to be of such severity that life is imminently endangered. [2/21: short form]

SF 2141 – ‘Hire a Hero’ employer tax credit

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2138 (SSB 3127) makes appropriations from the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) to the Commission of Veterans Affairs (CVA) to be used for the provision of veterans services. Currently, the interest and earnings from the VTF are used for certain services for eligible veterans in need (e.g., emergency home or vehicle repair, dental emergencies). Nationwide, interest has been low or nil on savings and investments, and as a result the VTF has little expendable money to help but has seen an increase in requests. The legislation would allow the first $300,000 transferred to the VTF from the proceeds of Iowa Lottery sales of Veterans scratch-off and pull-tab tickets each fiscal year to be used by the CVA to help meet the need. Moneys appropriated to the CVA that remain unobligated or unexpended at the end of each fiscal year revert to the VTF. SF 2138 also provides for a one-time appropriation of $300,000 from the VTF to the CVA for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) to help the immediate need to provide the specific services for eligible veterans, effective upon enactment. The bill was referred to Appropriations Committee for further consideration. [2/6: short form]

SF 2142 (SSB 3068) creates the “Hire a Hero” tax credit for state individual and corporate income taxes and the franchise tax, available for employers in the amount of $1,000 per eligible employee for the year in which the eligible employee is hired, $500 for each year of employment subsequent to the year of hiring, and $500 for each year an eligible employee is called to at least 30 days of military service. Eligible employees are Iowa residents who are members of the National Guard, Reserve or Regular component of the U.S. Armed Forces who are employed full-time or at least 30 hours per week permanent part-time. A servicemember is not an eligible employee if he or she was hired to replace a servicemember whose employment was terminated in the previous 12 months unless the servicemember being replaced left voluntarily or was discharged for misconduct. The annual credits for initial and continued employment will be prorated based on the number of weeks the employee worked if the employment does not extend through an entire tax year. The tax credit applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2012. [2/6: short form]

SF 2097 – Public Defense Military Division omnibus

SF 2112 – Veterans driver’s license identification

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2038 is a recommendation by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs to make Iowa Code Chapters 35 and 35A (IVC) more reader-friendly and to strike obsolete references and programs that have sunsetted. The proposal also clarifies training and service school provisions for county commissioners, and for county executive directors and administrators, and allows funds remaining in a county commission training program account at the end of a fiscal year to be used to train IDVA personnel, as well as county veterans’ affairs staff. [2/1: 49-0]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2097 (SSB 3081) is a recommendation by the Military Division of the Department of Public Defense that:

• Exempts the Department and the Armory Board from the requirement that all state property leases be administered by the Department of Administrative Services, and conforms state military status definitions and terms, such as “federal service” to “federal active duty,” to more closely align with federal law for clarity.
• Changes the term “state military service” to “national guard duty” and defines it as training or other duty that is paid for with federal funds. That includes but is not limited to full-time National Guard duty, inactive duty training and annual training.
• Expands the responsibility of the State Quartermaster to include all state military facilities, equipment and state military property to more accurately reflect the current role of that position, and strikes reporting and bond requirements relating to the Quartermaster.
• Redefines the Iowa National Guard Civil Relief Act relating to suspension or postponement of the performance of certain civil obligations (e.g., lease termination, eviction, disconnection of gas or electric services) while a person is engaged in military service, by reducing the period of duty required from 90  days to 30 days. In many cases, State Active Duty is for 30 or 60 days of service and adjusting the protections will help those called to serve in Iowa in emergencies or natural disasters. This section takes effect upon enactment.
• Requests the Legislative Council to appoint an interim study committee to assess the feasibility of allowing  military occupational specialty training to qualify toward professional or other certifications required in Iowa for  certain occupations and to recommend legislative or regulatory changes to implement the recommendations. The report would be due by January 1, 2013. [1/31: short form]

SF 2112 (SF 2037) allows any U.S. military veteran to request that their veteran status be noted on his or her driver’s license or non-operator’s identification card issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The person must provide satisfactory proof of veteran status as established by the Department. The license or card will have the word “VETERAN” prominently on its face. The provisions will apply to new or renewal applications. [1/31: short form]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SSB 3010 is a recommendation by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs to make Iowa Code Chapters 35 and 35A (IVC) more reader-friendly and to strike obsolete references and programs that have sunsetted. The proposal also clarifies training and service school provisions for county commissioners, and for county executive directors and administrator, and allows funds remaining in a county commission training program account at the end of a fiscal year to be used to train IDVA personnel as well as county veterans affairs staff. [1/18: short form]