Prepared by the Senate Democratic Staff

May 23, 2013

(PDF: 2013 Session Highlights)

This year, we took a comprehensive approach to creating a state where more Iowans have access to good jobs, great communities, strong local schools and affordable health care.

• We’re ensuring Iowans have access to health care by expanding coverage to 150,000 uninsured working Iowans and making sure mental health services are available close to home.
• We invested $34.3 million in worker training to help Iowans fill skilled job openings at local businesses.
• We keeping tuition affordable at our community colleges, state universities and private colleges so that all Iowans get  the educational opportunities that lead to great jobs. There won’t be a tuition increase at Iowa’s state universities for the first time in 30 years.
• We committed to boosting student achievement with an increase in funding for local schools for the next two years, small class sizes for young learners, and education reforms to raise standards, improve teaching and encourage innovation.
• We cut commercial property taxes—helping small businesses the most—without shifting the burden to residential property owners or hurting local schools and services.
• We’re helping low-income families work their way out of poverty by increasing the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit from 7 percent to 15 percent of the federal credit.
• We expanded job creation efforts, including financial incentives, tax credits, and programs that work with local businesses on technology commercialization, marketing and entrepreneurship.
• We’re improving Iowa’s water, environment and recreational opportunities by investing in programs and partnerships with farmers, landowners and communities.

Ensuring state government works for you

• Balancing the budget without raising taxes. Iowa is expected to have a budget surplus of about $844 million when this fiscal year ends on June 30. We also have $622 million in our reserve funds, the largest amount in state history.
• Freeing up $1.2 million for fixing our roads and bridges through the efficiency of online driver’s license renewal (HF 355).
• Qualifying for federal highway funds for Iowa roads by complying with federal regulations for commercial motor vehicles and drunk driving offenses (SF 386).
• Funding the Iowa Public Information Board to provide an efficient, free method to help government officials comply with Iowa’s open meetings and records laws, and help citizens with questions or concerns about their rights (HF 603).
• Investing in an online database that Iowans can use to search the state’s budget expenditures and tax revenue (HF 638).
• Providing convenience to companies with vehicle fleets by enabling them to renew the annual register on all their vehicles at the same time (SF 386).
• Providing convenience to the farming community by allowing the manure application certification program to be done electronically (HF 312).
• Enabling most Iowans to renew their driver’s license online every other time it comes up for renewal—no waiting in lines, no driving long distances and the convenience of renewing 24/7 (HF 355).
• Adding the option for Iowans to show proof of insurance on their electronic driving record, making it easier to provide to a requesting officer (SF 386).
• Making driver’s licenses valid for 8 years (rather than 5 years) for Iowans between the ages of 18 and 74 (SF 224).
• Allowing Iowans who voluntarily give up their driver’s license for age-related or medical reasons to get a free state ID (SF 224).
• Extending to 6 months the length of time Iowans have to claim the money they’re owed on their vehicle registration fee when they sell, transfer or junk a vehicle (SF 349).

Education and job training for a strong Iowa future

• Reducing Iowa’s skilled worker shortage with an investment of $34.3 million in worker training to help Iowans qualify for job openings at local businesses and grow Iowa’s economy (HF604).
• Keeping tuition affordable at our community colleges, state universities and private colleges so all Iowa families have the educational opportunities that lead to great jobs (HF604).
• Ensuring Iowa kids are good readers by keeping class sizes small in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms (HF 215).
• Continuing our commitment to strong local schools by raising academic standards, increasing teacher and administrator effectiveness and accountability, and implementing innovation that improves learning (HF 215).
• Providing a 4 percent increase in support for local schools for the 2013-14 school year and a 4 percent increase for the following school year.This is the money that pays for textbooks, heating bills, technology, gassing up the buses and other necessities (HF 215).
• Encouraging student groups to establish entrepreneurial education funds to invest in start-up companies and products that enhance their experience and entrepreneurial education (HF 533).
• Increasing support for ISU’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, which helps improve livestock health, saving Iowa farmers millions of dollars and boosting the state’s ag economy (SF 435).
• Special one-time investments in educational facilities (HF 648).
  • Community College Fire Safety/Deferred Maintenance – $1 million
  • Regents, Fire Safety/Deferred Maintenance – $2 million
  • ISU Veterinary Surgery Modernization – $1 million
  • Investing in education, research and training facilities that prepare a highly skilled workforce (HF 638):
    • ICN Park II Maintenance & Leases – $2.7 million
    • ICN Equipment Replacement – $2.2 million
    • Statewide Education Data Warehouse – $600,000
    • IPTV Equipment Replacement – $960,000
    • State Library Computers – $250,000
    • Tuition Replacement – $27.9 million
    • ISU Ag/Biosystems Eng. Complex Phase II – $21.75 million
    • UI Dental Building – $9.75 million
    • UNI Bartlett Hall Renovation – $10.27 million

Stimulating job creation and economic growth

• Establishing a Main Street business property tax credit that reduces commercial property taxes—helping small businesses the most—without shifting the burden to residential property owners or sacrificing local schools and services (SF 295).
• Cutting taxes for low-income working Iowa families by increasing the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit from 7 percent to 15 percent of the federal credit. Iowa communities would receive a boost in economic activity when those dollars are spent locally (SF 295).
• Increasing Iowa’s Historic Tax Credits and expanding eligibility to encourage rehabilitation of historic commercial properties and business districts (SF 436, SF 452).
• Creating a new tax credit for farmers and other growers that donate produce to Iowa food banks or other Iowa emergency feeding organizations (SF 452).
• Encouraging our next generation of farmers by expanding a tax credit program in which retiring farmers lease or rent land to beginning farmers (HF 599) and giving preference to qualified beginning farmers for leasing DNR-managed agricultural land (HF 457).
• Expanding the definition of agricultural property for tax purposes to include land used for the cultivation and production of algae for animal feed, nutrition or biofuels (HF 632).
• Adjusting fees and other requirements for animal feeding operations that operate at reduced capacity for a time (HF 512).
• Giving local car dealers a say when the big auto manufacturers want to alter the sales territory (HF 395).
• Increasing incentives for businesses to locate and expand in Iowa. Financial incentives were increased to $16.9 million (SF 430), and tax credits were increased by $50 million (HF 620).
• Helping startup businesses grow and move Iowa’s economy forward by providing a tax credit for investment in early-stage, innovative companies (HF 615).
• Increasing support for the Main Street Iowa Program by providing $1 million in grants for building improvements in Iowa’s Main Street communities (HF 620).
• Proving $10 million in tax credits for cleaning up abandoned, blighted or contaminated industrial or commercial properties, known as “brownfields” and “grayfields” (HF 620).
• Providing targeted incentives to businesses in Iowa’s border communities (SF 433).
• Expanding efforts by our universities to spur economic growth when they work with businesses on technology commercialization, marketing and entrepreneurship (HF 604).
• Allowing municipalities to establish reinvestment districts where a portion of the sales tax revenue helps finance the projects that boost economic development (HF 641).
• Improving facilities and infrastructure that boost Iowa’s economic growth (HF 638):
  • Public Transit Vertical Infrastructure – $1.5 million
  • Commercial Service Air Vertical Infrastructure – $1.5 million
  • General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure – $750,000
  • State Housing Trust Fund – $3 million
  • World Food Prize Borlaug/Ruan Scholar Program – $100,000
  • Historical Building Renovation – $1 million in FY14 & $3.8 million in FY15

 Better health for all Iowans

• Expanding health care coverage to 150,000 uninsured working Iowans through a new Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (SF 446).
• Appropriating $11.6 million to maintain county mental health and disability services as Iowa transitions for a more efficient way of providing mental health services to Iowans (HF 160).
• Providing $2.4 million in support for families living with autism (SF 446).
• Improving advocacy for Iowans who are involuntarily committed for mental health reasons (SF 406).
• Allowing licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines and immunizations (SF 353).
• Preventing fraud by providing more tools for Iowa’s Department of Human Services to identify problems, collect overpayments and assess civil penalties associated with Medicaid (SF 357).
• Ensuring kids get screened for vision problems at least once before kindergarten and again before third grade (SF 419).
• Providing funding to inspect and investigate complaints at Iowa health care facilities (HF 603).
• Enabling teens to access tobacco cessation counseling through the Iowa Tobacco Quitline (SF 202).
• Allowing the sale of FDA approved HIV home test kits (SF 202).
• Special one-time investments in health systems (HF 648):
  • Four Oaks PMIC – $1 million
  • Homestead Autism Clinics – $800,000
  • Improving our health care facilities (HF 638):
    • Nursing Home Facility Improvements – $300,000
    • Medicaid Technology – $3.4 million FY14, $3.34 million in FY15
    • Homestead Autism Clinics Technology – $154,000
    • Department of Public Health, Technology Consolidation Projects – $480,000

 Maintaining safe communities.

• Allowing Iowans to add emergency/medical information to their electronic record for their driver’s license or ID (SF 386).
• Making it an offense for commercial vehicle drivers to text or use hand-held phones, in compliance with federal law (SF 386).
• Requiring an ignition interlock device for one year for repeat OWI offenders who wish to obtain a temporary restricted license to drive to work and substance abuse treatment (SF 386).
• Ensuring teens learning to drive get supervised practice in all four season by requiring those under 18 to hold an instruction permit for 12 months (SF 115).
• Reducing distractions during a teen’s first six months with an intermediate driver’s license by permitting only one unrelated minor passenger in the vehicle (SF 115).
• Preventing rail accidents and fatalities by ensuring drivers who transport rail crew get the rest they need to do their job safely (SF 340).
• Avoiding wear and tear on our roads by allowing big trucks to raise their retractable axle they make turns (HF 14).
• Requiring criminal record checks of health care employees (SF 347).
• Requiring more criminals to submit DNA samples. Research shows that those who commit property crimes—theft, arson, vandalism—have a high chance of reoffending, and their crimes and violence rates often escalate (HF 527).
• Ensuring effective response to emergencies by providing necessary funding to Iowa’s E911 emergency communications system (HF 644).
• Ensuring children are brought up in safe homes and get the care they need (HF 590).
• Ensuring justice is served by increasing funding for Iowa courts to hire more staff to provide the services Iowans need, such as clerk of court and juvenile court services (SF 442).
• Protecting victims by allowing law enforcement to provide notice of a no-contact order if an officer comes across the offender through a traffic stop, for example. The no-contact order will then be enforceable (HF 496).
• Enhancing safety and energy efficiency by adjusting certain boiler inspection requirements (HF 484).
• Keeping our roads in good shape by providing $352.8 million to the Department of Transportation for facilities, staff and programs (HF 602).
• Toughening Iowa laws to help ensure law enforcement can prosecute and put away sex offenders (SF 298).
• Enabling victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to get the help, advocacy and services they need by increasing funding for Victims Assistance Grants to implement new approaches (SF 447).
• Keeping citizens safe and enforcing the law by increasing funding to Iowa’s Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections and certain community based corrections facilities (SF 447).
• Increasing funding for corrections education, which helps offenders earn a GED and other skills that will help them get a job and be less likely to reoffend once they are out of prisons (SF 447).
• Protecting vulnerable kids by investing in Iowa’s statewide Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, which recruits, trains and supports community volunteers to serve as an effective voice in court for abused and neglected children (HF 603).
• Raising the pay of child welfare providers, including adoptive families and foster care providers. Although these folks do important work to help vulnerable kids learn and grow, their pay has not kept up with inflation in recent years (SF 446)
• Improving communications and facilities that enhance public safety (HF 638, HF 648):
  • $18.7 million to finish Mitchellville & Fort Madison prisons
  • Criminal Justice Info System (CJIS) – $1.45 million
  • Department of Public Safety, Radio Upgrades – $2.5 million
  • Department of Corrections, Mitchellville – $11.2 million

 Honoring our veterans and service members

• Ensuring those serving on active duty remain eligible to receive tuition assistance benefits and attend school once they return (SF 332).
• Providing assistance from the Veterans Trust Fund for initial screening for a military service-connected traumatic brain injury (HF 545).
• Emphasizing the admission of homeless, honorably discharged veterans to the Iowa Veterans Home (HF 544).
• Including a mental health treatment staff member on the care committee for patients at the Iowa Veterans Home (HF 544).
• Providing care at the Iowa Veterans Home for Gold Star parents—that is any parent of a service member who died on active duty (HF 544).
• Transferring $129,000 to the Veterans Trust Fund, which helps low-income veterans get vision, hearing and dental care, durable medical equipment, and emergency home or vehicle repairs (HF 613).
• Allowing veterans to immediately get their veteran status marked on their driver’s license or state ID (SF 224).
• Establishing special hunting licenses for non-resident disabled veterans (HF 361).
• Providing more than $6.5 million to the Iowa National Guard, including an increase of over $700,000 for operations and maintenance at Camp Dodge (SF 447).
• Recording our veterans war experiences with an additional $129,450 for the Grout Museum Veterans Oral History Project (HF 638).
• Special one-time investments in veterans facilities (HF 648):
  • Department of Veterans Affairs, Building Relocation/Renovation – $137,940
  • Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Legion Community Center – $600,000
  • Improving our military and veterans facilities (HF 638):
    • Facility Armory Maintenance – $2 million
    • Statewide Modernization of Readiness Centers – $2 million
    • Camp Dodge Infrastructure Upgrades – $500,000
    • Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Equipment Building – $250,000

Enhancing Iowa’s quality of life

• Investing more than $22 million to jumpstart a new initiative that will work with farmers, landowners and communities on conservation practices and other efforts to improve water quality (SF 435, HF 648).
• Establishing an Iowa Nutrient Research Center to provide expertise, technical and research support to reduce nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, making their way into our water (SF 435).
• Increasing funding to $16 million for REAP, Iowa’s successful Resource Enhancement & Protection Program that promotes outdoor recreation, conservation, and preservation of our natural and cultural resources (SF 435).
• Keeping manure out of Iowa’s waterways by adding more inspectors to ensure Animal Feeding Operations comply with the law (SF 435).
• Increasing funding for maintenance and operations at our state parks, which are popular vacation and recreation destinations for Iowans (SF 435).
• Improving water quality by ensuring proper use of pesticides on or near waterways to control invasive species (HF 311).
• Expanding eligibility for rural residents to access funding to improve their wastewater treatment facility (HF 311).
• Protecting renter and landlord rights by clarifying landlord and tenant relationships and responsibilities (HF 495).
• Establishing a lifetime resident fur harvester license similar to what already exists for hunting and fishing for Iowans 65 and older (HF 394).
• Encouraging charitable giving by allowing community colleges to authorize deductions from employee salaries for payment to eligible charities. Cities, counties and school districts already do this (HF 131).
• Encouraging more farmers and private land owners to open up their property to the public for hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and other outdoor recreational and educational activities (HF 649).
• Increasing to $6 million the amount available for Endow Iowa Tax Credits for donations to endowment funds of qualified community foundations (HF 620).
• Making sure workers get paid for the work they’ve done by adding an additional wage theft investigator at Iowa Workforce Development (SF 430).
• Providing more funding for grants for cultural organizations in Iowa (SF 430).
• Special one-time quality-of-life investments (HF 648):
  • Food purchases for food bank organizations – $1 million
  • State Fair Authority, Plaza Improvements – $1 million
  • State Fair, Cultural Center Renovation – $250,000
  • AAU Junior Olympics – $250,000
  • Camp Sunnyside Renovations – $250,000
  • Improving our recreational and cultural opportunities and facilities (HF 638):
    • Great Places – $1 million
    • Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) grants – $7 million
    • River Enhancement CAT grants – $1 million
    • Regional Sports Authorities – $500,000
    • State Park Infrastructure – $5 million
    • Lake Restoration – $8.6 million
    • Lake Delhi Dam Restoration – $2.5 million
    • Water Trails & Low Head Dam Grants – $1 million
    • County Fairs – $1.1 million
    • Recreation Trails – $3 million

SENATE-ONLY PASSAGE – Things we’re proud of that did not make it through the House.

• Going after those who break the law by deliberately evading Iowa’s vehicle registration fees (SF 364).
• Expanding eligibility for Iowans to qualify for tax credits when they install solar energy systems (SF 431).
• Establishing $5 million in tax credits for the costs of purchasing and installing electric or natural gas vehicle fueling facilities (SF 434).
• Providing a state health care tax credit for businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees (SF 449).
• Putting Iowa businesses first by making sure they get the first crack at state contracts (SF 170).
• Reopening Iowa Workforce field offices to help unemployed Iowans get back to work (SF 430).

Senate President Pam Jochum

2013 End of Session Address

Senate President Pam Jochum

May 22, 2013

  (Video of end of session press avail)

Congratulations.

We did it.

We showed that Republicans and Democrats CAN work together to solve important problems.

The health care compromise reached by this Legislature is a perfect example.

We put aside partisan divisions.

Instead, we focused on solving problems, and on listening to Iowans.

Most importantly, we remembered our conversations with Iowans who are living without health insurance.

And conversations with Iowans WHO HAVE insurance, but are worried sick about someone they love who DOES NOT have insurance.

The biggest challenge of this session was how to help Iowans who, despite working every day, still cannot afford health insurance.

We met that challenge.

And by doing that, we showed the nation how to put lasting progress ahead of short-term partisanship.

Thanks to the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, 150,000 working Iowans will finally be able to go to a doctor when needed.

The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan will make Iowa’s entire health care system more financially secure.

The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan will slow rising health care costs for every Iowa family and Iowa business.

The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan will bring health insurance to 80,000 currently uninsured working Iowans, and preserve health care for 70,000 Iowans currently on IowaCare.

Iowans look at the mess divided government in Washington D.C. has created, and they shake their heads.

Iowans expect better from their state legislature, and we delivered.

We delivered on health care, our most difficult issue, and on a host of other issues.

Here’s an example of how we did it.

The key to Iowa’s health care compromise was the work of Democrat Amanda Ragan, the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and Republican Linda Upmeyer, the House Majority Leader.

These two North Iowa residents are longtime friends, guests at the weddings of each other’s children.  They came to the Legislature at about the same time.  One is a strong Democrat.  The other is a passionate Republican.

In the final days of the session, these two put partisanship to the side and hammered out the health care compromise.

The work they did brought health care security to tens of thousands of Iowa families.

The bipartisanship of Senator Ragan and Majority Leader Upmeyer was repeated time and time again on the other issues by other legislators.

I want to thank every Senator and every Representative who likewise rose above short-term, narrow-minded concerns and reached across the aisle to solve problems.

It was an honor to be part of this process.  We will have to work hard next year to top this year’s accomplishments.

I want to thank the Senate staff for their work this year.  I also want to thank the thousands of Iowans who contacted members of the Legislature this year.  Your comments and suggestions made a difference.

-end-

End of 2013 Session Remarks
by Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal

 (Video of end of session press avail)

Last November, Iowans elected a Democratic Senate and a Republican House and Governor.

Iowans voted for divided state government, and when this session started, many people predicted gridlock.

But gridlock is not what Iowans want, and gridlock is NOT what they got.

Iowans voted for divided government, not dysfunctional government.

No Iowan wants our state government to imitate what’s happening in Washington, DC.

That doesn’t mean this session has been easy.  Each caucus has its own priorities.

Senate Democrats, for example, are focused on strengthening and expanding Iowa’s middle class.

We believe that the more Iowans with good jobs, stable homes, great neighborhood schools, and affordable health insurance, the better Iowa’s future will be.

Because we all have our own priorities, governing is about finding common ground—especially finding common ground with people you do not agree with.

Find common ground, and you will be successful.  Find common ground, and you move your state forward. It is that simple.

I want to thank President Jochum, Speaker Paulsen, House Majority Leader Upmeyer, Senate Republican Leader Dix, House Democratic Leader McCarthy and every member of the Iowa House and Senate.

I want to thank you, because this year, as the results of this session make absolutely clear, we did find common ground, we were successful, and we are moving Iowa forward.

The 2013 session of the Iowa Legislature will be remembered as one of the most productive in recent history.  Here’s why:

Education reform:

Last year, we passed education reforms to help children learn to read by the end of third grade, but it wasn’t funded.  This year, we not only funded those reforms, we also increased basic state support for local schools for the next TWO years while raising standards, improving teaching, and encouraging innovation.  The funding we provided to the Regents will allow Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa will freeze tuition for the first time in 30 years

Health Reform:

Thanks to the health care compromise which created the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, 150,000 working Iowans will finally be able to go to a doctor in their community when they need to. We also approved 42 million dollars to continue the reform of Iowa’s mental health delivery system.

Tax Reform:

For 35 years, Iowa legislators tried and failed to address property tax inequities.  This year, we did. We approved the largest property tax cut in state history.  It includes a Main Street commercial property tax cut which is especially helpful to small businesses and a tax cut for the working families that are home to almost 40% of the Iowa’s children.  We also fully funded all property tax credits.

Water quality:

No Iowa legislative session has ever done more to clean up Iowa’s water. $22 million will fund new initiatives, including a Iowa Nutrient Research Center to keep high levels of nutrients from impairing our waterways. In addition, REAP will receive $16 million, the most ever.

Lastly, we finally got serious about the workforce skills shortage holding back Iowa’s economy.

This is the largest investment ever in our community colleges.  They will help Iowans improve their skills and match them with local businesses recruiting skilled workers.  Pilot projects have shown this approach works, and we are investing more than 34 million dollars to take it statewide.

Despite divided government, despite our differences, the result of this session will be a stronger Iowa economy, better Iowa schools, and a better quality of life for all Iowans.

In closing, I want to thank the Senate backroom staff, the Republican and Democratic Senate staffs,

the Senate doorkeepers, the Legislative Service Agency, and the pages.

Your work and professionalism help make this successful session possible.

Thank you all.

-end-

]]> http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/final-comments-on-2013-session-by-senate-leader-gronstal/feed/ 0 http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/ways-means-week-of-may-13-2013/ http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/ways-means-week-of-may-13-2013/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 13:33:59 +0000 Senate Staff http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/?p=17653 SF 455 – Sales tax exemption for environmental testing services

HF 599 – Beginning farmer tax credits

HF 615 – Innovation Investment Tax Credits

HF 620 – Economic Development Tax Credit Cap Increase

HF 640 — Blending of biofuels

HF 641 – Reinvestment Zones

FLOOR ACTION: 

SF 455 exempts the furnishing of environmental testing services from the state’s sales tax. [5/16: 45-0 (Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach excused]

FLOOR & COMMITTEE ACTION: 

HF 599 increases the Beginning Farmer Tax Credits cap from $6 million to $12 million and restricts individual tax credits from exceeding $50,000. The Senate amended the bill on the floor to include a report to the Legislature and a sunset of the credit in five years. [Floor 5/16: 47-1 (Dearden “no”; Behn, Houser excused); Committee 5/15: short form]

HF 615 relates to Innovation Investment Tax Credits. The Senate adopted an amendment to the bill that strikes everything after the enacting clause and inserts new language. The bill, as amended, changes the tax credit percentage from 20 percent of the taxpayer’s equity investment in an innovation fund to 25 percent. The bill strikes the three-year wait for redeeming the tax credit. The bill allows the tax credit to be transferrable, but it can only be transferred once.

In addition, the bill puts certain current IEDA administrative rules regarding the program into the Code. To receive a tax credit, a taxpayer must submit an application to the IEDA board and then the board shall issue certificates on a first-come, first-served basis. If in a fiscal year the aggregate amount of tax credits applied for exceeds the amount allocated, the IEDA board shall establish a wait list for certificates.

The bill adds criteria requirements for an innovation fund to be certified. Criteria are added to further the goals of the program. The fund has to propose to obtain at least $15 million in binding investment commitments and to invest a minimum of $15 million in Iowa companies.

The bill requires IEDA to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor. The report will describe the activities of the innovation funds in the preceding fiscal year.

IEDA will not be allowed to certify any new funds after June 30, 2018. In addition, the tax credit program will be reviewed by the Legislative Tax Expenditure Committee in the year 2017.

The changes in the bill are effective upon enactment and apply retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. IEDA cannot issue tax credit certificates until after September 1, 2014 (fiscal impact will begin in FY15). [Floor 5/16: 46-1 (Chelgren “no”; Behn, Houser, Kapucian excused); Committee 5/15: short form]

HF 620 makes changes to Iowa Economic Development Authority’s tax credit cap and Endow Iowa. The bill, as amended by the Senate, allows the Authority to assess, collect and retain fees from businesses and individuals seeking and receiving financial assistance through IEDA. A charge of $500 would be collected prior to the issuance of tax incentives under the High Quality Jobs and Enterprise Zones programs. In addition, a fee will be charged equal to 0.5 percent of the value of tax incentives claimed under any High Quality Jobs or Enterprise Zones agreement where the agreement has an aggregate incentive value of $100,000 or more. The fee provisions are effective upon enactment and apply to agreements entered into on or after the effective date of the bill.

The bill increases the aggregate tax credit cap for certain economic development programs under IEDA’s administration. The bill also restricts IEDA from not exceeding 20 percent of the tax credit cap in the next fiscal year. Currently there is no restriction on the amount of the next year’s cap that can be allocated in the current fiscal year.

The cap is increased by $50 million ($120 million to $170 million). This provision is retroactively effective to include the FY 13 cap. HF 620 allows IEDA to reallocate an amount of tax credits awarded that were declined or not all claimed within the same fiscal year and in the previous fiscal year. In addition, the bill allows IEDA to reallocate unused capacity within the allocation for community-based seed capital funds ($2 million) and Innovation fund tax credits ($8 million).

The bill increases Brownfields tax credits from no more than $5 million to no more than $10 million (the tax credit is still under the $170 million cap).

The bill increases the cap on the annual amount of Endow Iowa Tax Credit awards that may be approved for a calendar year from the present level of $3.5 million to a level of $6 million. The bill strikes the reference to the allocation of Gambling Tax receipts (usually around $1 million per year) to the Endow Iowa Tax Credit. The change is effective retroactive to calendar year 2012.

The bill allocates to the City Development Board any fees collected by the Board for application and petitions submitted to the Board. The Board is to use the fees collected to reimburse the Authority for the administrative expenses association with Board operations. Currently, if any fees are collect by the Board, they are deposited in the state’s General Fund. This provision is effective FY14.

Finally, the bill allows IEDA to use no more than $1 million of the High Quality Jobs Incentives that are appropriated in the Skilled Worker Fund in HF 604 (out of the $16.9 million) for infrastructure grants for Main Street Communities. [Floor 5/17: 44-1 (Bolkcom “no”; Behn, Bertrand, Houser, Kapucian, Sorenson excused); Committee 5/17: short form]

HF 640 protects the right of motor fuel retailers to blend renewable fuels on their own instead of being required by a fuel distributor (refiner) to use the blended fuel delivered to them. This preserves the ability of Iowa retailers to access “blender’s credits” under the federal renewable fuel standard. The bill also provides that service contracts between a fuel supplier (refiner) and a retailer cannot impede the retailer’s ability to offer higher renewable fuel blends of motor fuel.

The bill extends liability protections in the event blended fuel is used in a vehicle not designed to use that blend of fuel. It also increases the cost for registering aboveground storage tanks from $10 per year to $20, and exempts aboveground storage tanks up to 5,000 gallons in capacity from registration if the tank is located on a farm. Currently, all tanks up to 1,100 gallons in capacity are exempt from registration. [Floor 5/16: 47-0 (Behn, Houser, Kapucian excused); Committee 5/15: short form]

HF 641 establishes a program to help municipalities develop projects and encourage economic development across Iowa. This program will allow municipalities to establish reinvestment districts where a portion of the sales tax revenue and the applicable hotel and motel sales tax revenues to help finance the capital investment associated with the project. The bill authorizes local governments to establish reinvestment districts to encourage development within their boundaries by using a portion of the sales tax generated by the project and hotel and motel taxes generated by the project. The district will only incorporate areas that will be substantially and directly benefitted by the development within the district. 

A district will be established by the local government, and then a proposed district plan will be developed to be submitted to the Economic Development Authority Board. The plan will list all projects to be undertaken within the district and the amount of funding and the type of funding sources proposed to be used to fund the project development. The plan must be accompanied by a feasibility study for the project.

The board will review the plan to ensure:

•That the area of the proposed district meets the requirements of a district

•The project is of a unique nature and will have a substantial beneficial economic impact to the state and municipality

•The proposed funding sources are feasible

•The project has a minimum capital investment of $10 million

•The project does not propose to use retained sales taxes or hotel and motel taxes to finance more than 35 percent of the costs in the proposed district plan

•The plan does not include capital investment for retail businesses that exceed 50 percent of the capital investment for the project or a gaming facility or any facility connected to or operated in conjunction with a gaming facility

The board will not approve any applications after five years. The board may only approve plans that use up to $100 million of retained taxes for financing, and the Department of Revenue may not remit more than $100 million to projects approved by the board. [Floor 5/15: 43-2 (Greiner, Segebart “no”; Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach excused); Committee 5/9: short form]

FLOOR ACTION:

HF 586 allows the Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) to object to an emergency adopted rule and suspend it for 70 days with a two-thirds vote. Action to suspend emergency rules must be taken within 35 days of the effective date of the rule. In addition, the ARRC, upon a two-thirds vote, may suspend an emergency rule until the adjournment of the next regular session of the Legislature. This action must be taken within 35 days of the effective date of the rule. [5/15: 44-1 (Chelgren “no”; Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach absent)]

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 406: Background:  Chapter 229 of the Iowa Code provides for the commitment of persons with mental illness. Those who are involuntarily committed are assigned an “advocate,” who is to follow them through the mental health system and advocate for them. There are problems with the existing system. Currently, counties hire and pay the advocates. Under this system, there is little consistency in qualifications, training and compensation for the advocates. In addition, although many of the advocates are dedicated and hardworking, under the present system they are really not accountable to anyone. As part of the mental health redesign, a Judicial Branch and Department of Human Services work group was established to look at issues related to the current involuntary commitment process. That workgroup met for several years, and this bill is a result of the recommendations that came out of those meetings. The Senate previously passed SF 406 and sent it to the House. The House amended the bill and sent it back to the Senate, which concurred with the House amendment.

As amended, the bill establishes an Office of Mental Health Advocate in the Department of Inspections and Appeals and specifies the duties of the director of the Division of Mental Health Advocate. The director’s duties will include appointing persons to serve as mental health advocates, training and supervising advocates and other staff, and implementing procedures for appointing, dismissing and supervising advocates. The minimum qualifications for mental health advocates include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, college or university in social work, counseling, human services, health, psychology or nursing, and one year of experience in the provision of mental health services. Licensed registered nurses who are current with applicable continuing education will meet the minimum qualifications.  In addition, anyone serving as a mental health advocate at the county level as of June 30, 2013, is deemed to be automatically qualified to serve as an advocate in the new Division of Mental Health Advocate. The bill, as amended, also specifies that when there is a vacancy open for a mental health advocate position, the person appointed to fill that position must reside in the assigned geographic area.

The bill provides for a transition period of one year in order for the Department of Inspections and Appeals to organize and create the Division of Mental Health Advocate. In order to be the Division Director, a person must meet the qualifications for being an advocate.

The bill sunsets the involuntary commitment process set out in Chapter 222 for persons with an intellectual disability per the work group recommendation. These commitments are not used anymore; people pursue guardianships instead. If an involuntary commitment of a person with an intellectual disability is necessary, the process in Chapter 229 can be used.

The last division of the bill:

• Consolidates the application process for Chapters 125 (substance abuse) and 229 so that there will be one application when an interested person goes to a clerk of court office to pursue involuntary commitment. (Stakeholders said that many persons do not know whether the respondent has a substance abuse disorder or is mentally ill and thus don’t know which application to fill out.) 

• Provides for a pre-application screening process for all applications pursuant to Chapters 125 and 229. This could divert persons from the involuntary commitment process while helping them connect with resources that are available for whatever issues they might be having.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to study the development of a hospital bed tracking system that will identify available beds for persons suffering from mental illness. [5/16: 47-0 (Behn, Houser, Kapucian excused)]

FLOOR & COMMITTEE ACTION:

HF 649 amends Chapter 461C – Public Use of Private Lands and Waters — which is also known as the Recreational Use Chapter. The bill addresses the holding in Sallee v Stewart, a case recently decided by the Iowa Supreme Court, which raised concerns that private landowners would not open their lands to members of the public as a result of the decision. The purpose of Chapter 461C is to encourage landholders to open up their land for recreational uses, including hunting, to members of the public by limiting an owner’s liability if a member of the public is injured while during recreational pursuits on the land. This bill is the result of extensive negotiations among interested parties. In addition:

• The bill amends the stated purpose of Chapter 461C with inclusion of language directing that the chapter is to be construed liberally and broadly in favor of private holders of land in order to accomplish the purpose of the Chapter.

• The bill expands the current definition of “land” that is covered by the Recreational Use Chapter. The current definition of “land” is “private land…that includes abandoned or inactive surface mines, caves, land used for agricultural purposes, including marshlands, timber, grasslands, privately owned roads, water, water courses, buildings, structures, and machinery or equipment appurtenant thereto.” The definition is expanded to include paths, trails, waters, and exteriors and interiors of buildings. “Land” is also land that is not open to the public by the owner and land in a municipality that is used in conjunction with urban deer control.

• The definition of “recreational purpose” is expanded to include educational activities, and it clarifies that persons who accompany others who are participating in a recreational activity are considered to be engaging in the recreational use. “Recreational purpose” also includes entry onto, use of, passage over and presence on any part of the land in connection with or during the activity.

• “Urban Deer Control” is also defined to include entry onto, the use of, passage over and presence on any part of the land for the purpose of engaging in urban deer control.

• The bill amends the Chapter to specify that a landholder does not owe a duty of care to others solely because the holder is guiding, directing, supervising or participating in any recreational purpose or urban deer control with others on the holder’s land.

• Numerous technical changes clean up language in the bill, such as changing “landowner” to “land holder” throughout the Chapter. [Floor 5/16: 48-0 (Behn, Chelgren, Houser excused); Committee 5/16: Short Form]

FLOOR ACTION:

HF 489 is based on recommendations by the Iowa Insurance Division (IID) of the Department of Commerce. In addition to technical Code changes, including providing consistent terminology and definitions within insurance policy language, the bill:

• Removes the Insurance Commissioner from the Advisory Council on Brain Injuries.

• Allows the Commissioner to adopt rules to provide for a definition of “place of business’’ and ‘‘supervised person’’ rather than the current method, which is determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

• Updates maximum fines that can be levied for securities violations.

• Specifies that failure to comply with a cease and desist order issued by the IID Securities Bureau can result in certain monetary and other penalties.

• Allows the IID to assess the costs of examining a regulated entity to ensure compliance with Iowa insurance laws.

• Provides that a plan for voluntary dissolution of an Iowa-licensed domestic mutual insurance company must be submitted to the Insurance Commissioner for approval at least 90 days before notice is provided to the company’s policyholders. Approval of the plan requires compliance with applicable laws and a determination by the Commissioner that it is fair and equitable to policyholders and the company.

• Allows for the board of directors of an insurance company to signal its review of an examination report by a notation in the meeting minutes, instead of requiring the filing of affidavits saying each member has received the report.

• Creates Code section to address liquidation of a domestic insurer that is covered under the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The new section keeps the regulatory authority with the state instead of a federal regulator in these cases. This section would go into effect immediately. 

• Revises the types of real property that a life insurance company can include in its legal reserves.

• Allows companies to allocate premiums to Iowa for employer-owned life insurance when that premium is not specifically allocated to another state. This will create the ability to count among assets when doing financial exams.

• Removes a provision that requires directors of mutual insurance companies be policyholders of the company, to allow non-members to serve as directors.

• Allows non-life insurance companies to invest in limited partnerships and limited liability companies. Requires that the interest shall not be acquired if the investment exceeds two percent of the capital and surplus of the company, OR if the investment plus the book value on the date of the investment of all limited partnership or limited liability company interests then held by the company exceeds ten percent of the capital and surplus of the company. For an investment to be allowed, the limited partnership or limited liability company must be audited annually by an independent auditor.

• Changes language to more accurately conform to foreign insurance entities.

• Clarifies confusing Code language specifically regarding the process of notification for a non-renewal of commercial lines policies or contracts. Currently, an insured receives a non-renewal letter in cases where a ‘non-renewal’ is not occurring. 

• Creates a separate, clearer provision of notification in the event that the insurer has an increase in premium rates of 25 per cent or more, an increase in the deductible of 25 percent or more, or a material reduction in the limits of coverage of the policy or contract. The notification must come in the form of a letter of explanation at least 45 days prior to the expiration date. As is the case for a non-renewal, if an insurer fails to meet the notice requirements, the named insured has the option of continuing the policy or contract for the remainder of the notice period plus an additional 30 days at the premium rate of the existing policy contract.

• Amends provisions for both county and state mutual insurance companies to allow them to include limited liability partnerships in their asset holdings.

• Includes fraternal insurance companies among entities using risk-based capital assessments.

• Revises the trend test used in insurance risk calculations to conform to National Association of Insurance Commissioners model.

• Adds language regarding the licensing of Public Adjusters to provide for enforcement authority in the use of cease and desist orders in cases where a public adjuster has been found to have violated the law. This language was inadvertently omitted when the licensing was created to clamp down on adjusters taking advantage of people who needed assistance from insurance companies after natural disasters.

• Corrects problematic language that currently lists the insured party as the person controlling an insurance contract under the dissolution of marriage portion of Code. The standard of insurance policies maintains that the owner of the policy actually possesses control. It corrects this inconsistency, ensuring the owner of the insurance policy maintains control over the policy through a marriage or dissolution rather than the insured.

The Senate amended the House version in these four areas: 

• Maintains language pertaining to individuals who may serve on the board of a dental service corporation licensed as an insurance company under Chapter 514 so that the Code remains status quo. 

• Strikes three new sections regarding Funeral and Cemetery provisions that :1) add language to the Medicaid portion of Iowa Code stating that an insurance policy or annuity purchased to fund a pre-need contract for cemetery merchandise, funeral merchandise or funeral services shall be excluded as a resource for eligibility; 2) remove the current process for proceeds of an insurance-based pre-need contract in excess of the cost required for funeral and burial arrangements for individuals who receive state aid through the Medicaid program; and 3) require  the owner of the policy or annuity to designate the Department of Human Services as the primary beneficiary for the proceeds of an insurance-based pre-need contract in excess of the cost required for funeral and burial arrangements for individuals who receive state aid through the Medicaid program, unless the primary beneficiary of the policy or annuity is the spouse or disabled child of the insured or annuitant.

• Strikes a new section that permits an insurance company, other than life, to insure risks on an excess and aggregate limit basis to allow them to aggregate forms of payments rather than relying on individual payments, and replaces it with new language that specifically allows a dram shop liability insurance policy to be written on an aggregate limit basis, and adds a purpose statement that dram shop liability insurance is to provide protection for members of the public who experience damages as a result of licensees or permittees serving patrons beer, wine or intoxicating liquor to a point that reaches or exceeds the standard set forth in law for liability, and minimum coverage requirements for dram shop are not for the purpose of making the insurance affordable regardless of claims experience. The Alcoholic Beverage Division will continue to determine the minimum liability insurance policy requirements that must be obtained and is a mandatory condition for holding a license or permit for on-premise consumption.

• Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a one-time audit of the investment income of any health insurance carrier that covers more than 40 percent of people in Iowa, i.e. Wellmark, from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. The cost is assessed to the insurance carrier that is audited. A written report must be delivered to the Legislature by September 30, 2013. The report must include a determination by the Commissioner of whether the performance of the carrier’s investments was used as a factor by the carrier in proposing or effectuating premium rate increases for individual or group policies issued by the carrier. [5/16: 48-0 (Behn, Houser absent)]

SF 435 – Ag & Natural Resources Budget FY14 & FY15

SF 447 – Justice Systems Budget FY14 & FY15

HF 603 – Administration & Regulation Budget FY14 & FY15

HF 604 – Education Budget FY14 & FY15

HF 638 – Infrastructure Budget FY14 & FY15

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 430, as proposed by the Conference Committee, appropriates a total of $41.1 million from the General Fund and 480 FTE positions for FY14. This is an increase of $3.4 million and a decrease of 98.8 FTE positions compared to estimated FY13. SF 430 also appropriates $6.3 million from other funds, no change compared to estimated FY13. Highlights (different from SF 430, as passed by the Senate) include:

Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA):

• Historical Division – $3.2 million from the General Fund.

• Arts Division – $1.2 million from the General Fund. The Conference Committee recommends the allocation of $300,000 for the operation of a Film Office.

• The Conference Committee recommends requiring the Treasurer of State to transfer $50,000 from the Cultural Trust Fund to the Cultural Trust Grant Account in fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

Economic Development Authority (IEDA):

• Economic Development Appropriation – $15.5 million from the General Fund.

• World Food Prize – $800,000 from the General Fund.

• Workforce Development Fund – $4 million from the Workforce Development Fund (non-General Fund dollars)

Iowa Finance Authority: Rent Subsidy Program – $658,000 from the General Fund.

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD):

• Labor Services Division – $3.5 million from the General Fund. The Conference Committee recommends the allocation of $53,280

• Workers’ Compensation Division – $3.3 million from the General Fund.

FY15: Funding for FY15 is at 50 percent of the FY14 appropriation levels for General Fund and other fund appropriations, and 100 percent for FTE position appropriations.

Appropriations to Iowa Economic Development for business incentives and Regents Economic Development are no longer funded out of SF 430. They are funded out of the new Iowa Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund. [5/15: 27-18, party-line (Bertrand “yes”; Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach absent)]

SF 435 – In resolving the differences between the House and the Senate, we have arrived at an agreement that total General Fund spending for FY14 will be $5,350,000 above FY13. That includes:

• Funding for IDALS will be $500,000 above FY13

• Funding for DNR will be $250,000 above FY13

• Funding for the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Iowa State will be $525,000 above FY13

• Funding for forestry health programs in DNR will be $100,000 above FY13

• We will have $2.4 million for the water quality initiative, with the Senate language

• There is an additional $75,000 for Loess Hills Conservation and Development

• There is $1.5 million for a nutrient research center. We have come to an agreement with the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture on the establishment of this center, which will use the knowledge and expertise of our Regents institutions to support the water quality initiative and to ensure its success. [5/16: 29-19, party-line (except Kapucian, Rozenboom, Segebart “yes”; Behn, Houser absent)]

SF 447 is the Justice Systems budget bill, which includes these highlights:

Policy language and other significant aspects of the bill:

• Victim Assistance Grant – Permits the unencumbered or unobligated balance of the appropriation to carry forward into FY15.

• Luster Heights Prison Camp – The bill includes intent language that with the appropriation to Anamosa State Penitentiary, the Legislature intends for Luster Heights to continue to be operated.

• Corrections Education – Appropriation for Corrections Education is to be used only for education. It cannot be transferred for any other purpose.

• Biennial Budgeting – Includes FY15 at 50 percent of FY14 level.

• Public Safety Interoperable and Broadband Communications Fund – Creates a fund relating to Interoperability and Broadband Communications in anticipation of federal grants relating to broadband and interoperability.

• Public Safety Training and Facilities Task Force – Creates a task force charged with developing a coordinated plan for a consolidated fire and police training facility. The task force will report to the Legislature, with a final report due December 31, 2016.

• Cigarette Fire Safety Standard Fund – Repeals the fund, requires future revenues be deposited into the General Fund and legalizes already spent monies from the fund by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Ending balance goes to Victims Assistance Grants.

• Gaming Enforcement – Requires the gaming industry to pay a regulatory fee for the salaries of no more than three special agents for each gaming facility. DCI is required to reduce the total number of special agents to 54 by July 1, 2016 (FY17). Requires reports relating to DCI activities at the facilities.

Appropriations:

• Total For Justice System (Excluding Judicial Branch): $547,300,811

• Attorney General – A total of $16,882,892 including $6,734,400 for Victims Assistance Grants, which is $3,858,000 more than the Governor proposed. It also includes Legal Aid money at approximately $73,000 over the Governor’s level.

• Corrections:

• $2,608,109 for Corrections Education. This is $250,000 above the Governor’s proposal; must be spent for education in conjunction with Community Colleges.

• Corrections Operations – $2,571,309, which is a new generic line item in the Justice Budget. [5/15: 27-18, party-line (Breitbach “yes”; Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach absent)]

HF 603, as proposed by the Conference Committee, appropriates a total of $55.2 million from the General Fund and 1,296 FTE positions for FY14. This is an increase of $2.2 million and 1.6 FTE positions compared to estimated FY2013. HF 603 also appropriates $51.2 million from other funds. This is a decrease of $2.7 million compared to estimated FY13. Office of Public Information set at $275,000 with three FTEs. HF 603, as proposed by the Conference Committee, appropriates for FY15 at 50 percent of the FY14 appropriations with the following exceptions:

• All FTE positions are appropriated at 100 percent of the FY14 level.

• The I/3 distributions outside the Subcommittee’s purview are appropriated at 100 percent of the FY14 level.

• A one-time FY14 appropriation for the gambling socioeconomic study that is repeated every eight years. [5/15: 26-19, party-line (Behn, Guth, Houser, Kapucian, Zumbach absent)]

HF 604, as proposed by the Conference Committee, contains these highlights:

Department for the Blind – increase of $350,000

College Student Aid Commission

• Kibbie Grant of $5 million transfers to new Skilled Worker Training and Job Creation Fund.

• DMU Health Care Professional Recruitment – An increase of $75,000 to allow expansion of the program into additional medical specialties.

• National Guard Educational Assistance Program – An increase of $300,000.

• Iowa Tuition Grant Program – An increase of $1 million to fund awards at the maximum level.

• Rural Primary Care Loan Forgiveness Program – New appropriation of $1.6 million; $400,000 is earmarked for physician assistants students and advanced registered nurses.

Department of Education – increase of $24.3 million

• Administration – increase of $175,000 to fund positions that had been moved to federal administration funds.

• State Library – increase of $500,000 to fund positions that had been moved to federal administration funds.

• State Library, Enrich Iowa – increase of $350,000.

• Core Curriculum – $1 million in status quo funding with another $1 million from FY13 one-time funding. 

• Competency-Based Education – $425,000.

• Student Achievement/Teacher Quality – increase of $1.5 million to make up for artificially low appropriation last year since the Department of Education had carry-over funds they used.

• Jobs for America’s Graduates – increase of $130,000.

• Nonpublic textbooks – increase of $40,000.

• Education Reform – new appropriation of $6,840,000 to implement education reform.

• Early Literacy – new appropriation of $8 million for school districts to provide intensive instructional services for the successful progression of early readers; $1.3 is provided for the Early Reading Center operations and an additional one-time appropriation of $669,000 is provided in HF 648.

• $400,000 to expand Early Head Start Pilot Projects addressing comprehensive cognitive, social, emotional and developmental needs of children from birth to three years old, including prenatal support for qualified families.

• Vocational Rehabilitation – increase of $150,000 for client services.

• Iowa Public Television – increase of $474,000 for the Ready for School Initiative.

Board of Regents – an increase of $14 million over FY13.

• The conference committee did not fund the Senate’s proposed $10 million in need-based student financial aid, in lieu of the previous practice of tuition set-aside funding. However, the $14 million increase provides for 2.66 percent increase, which the Board of Regents has indicated is enough funding to make sure we don’t need an increase in undergraduate tuition rates. This is the first time in a decade that students at Regents universities won’t see a tuition increase. 

• Prohibits the Board of Regents from using tuition dollars for any scholarship activities, effectively prohibiting the Board of Regents from establishing any type of new Tuition Set-Aside program.

• University of Iowa (UI) – increase of $5.6 million (2.6 percent).

• UI Hygienic Laboratory – increase of $866,000.

• Iowa State University – increase of $4.4 million (2.6 percent).

• ISU Cooperative Extension – increase of $330,000.

• University of Northern Iowa (UNI) – increase of $2.1 million. UNI also gets $10 million in one-time funds out of HF 648 to be spent in the next two years. This accounts for the second and third installment of a $4 million additional funding as well as an additional $2 million since UNI has a significant decrease in enrollment.

• UNI Math and Science Collaborative – increase of $500,000 to support the role of IT initiatives.

• Iowa School for the Deaf – A general increase of $177,000 (2 percent).

• Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School – A general increase of $73,000 (2 percent)

Skilled Workforce Training and Job Creation Fund – $66 million new fund

• $1.5 million in new funding for the Statewide Work-Based Learning Intermediary Network

• $15.3 million to the Workforce Training 260C funds, an increase of $7.5 million

• $5 million for the Pathways for Academic Career and Employment (PACE) Program.

• $5.5 million for the Adult Literacy for the Workforce Program, including adult basic education, high school equivalency testing and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. This is a new appropriation.

• ACE Infrastructure for Community Colleges – $6 million

• Economic Incentives IEDA – $16.9 million

• AMOS – $100,000

• Regents Innovations Fund – $3 million

• UI Entrepreneurial Program – $2 million

• ISU Economic Development – $209,279

• UNI Economic Development – $1,066,419 [5/16: 27-21, party-line (Bertrand “yes”; Chelgren, Houser absent)]

HF 638 – Highlights from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund & the Technology Fund include:

Department of Administrative Services

• Major Maintenance – $15.3 million

• Wallace Building Renovation – $500,000

Department of Corrections – $18.7 million to finish Mitchellville & Fort Madison

Department of Cultural Affairs

• Great Places – $1 million

• Historical Building Renovation – $1 million in FY14 & $3.8 million in FY15

• Grout Museum Veterans Oral History – $129,450

Department of Education

• ICN Park II Maintenance & Leases – $2.7 million

• Statewide Education Data Warehouse – $600,000

• IPTV Equipment Replacement – $960,000

• State Library Computers – $250,000

Economic Development

• Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) grants – $7 million ($2 million increase)

• River Enhancement CAT grants – $1 million increase (was not funded in FY13)

• Regional Sports Authorities – $500,000

• World Food Prize Borlaug/Ruan Scholar Program – $100,000

Department of Human Rights – Criminal Justice Info System (CJIS) $1.45 million

Department of Human Services

• Nursing Home Facility Improvements – $300,000

• Medicaid Technology – $3.4 million FY14, $3.34 million in FY15 (MMIS funded in FY15)

• Homestead Autism Clinics Technology – $154,000

ICN Equipment Replacement – $2.2 million

Iowa Finance Authority, State Housing Trust Fund – $3 million

Department of Management, Searchable Online Budget & Tax Database – $45,000

Natural Resources

• State Park Infrastructure – $5 million

• Lake Restoration – $8.6 million ($2.6 million increase)

• Lake Delhi Dam Restoration – $2.5 million (fulfills commitment)

• Water Trails & Low Head Dam Grants – $1 million

Department of Public Health, Technology Consolidation Projects – $480,000

Public Defense

• Facility Armory Maintenance – $2 million

• Statewide Modernization of Readiness Centers – $2 million

• Camp Dodge Infrastructure Upgrades – $500,000

Department of Public Safety, Radio Upgrades – $2.5 million

Regents

• Tuition Replacement – $27.9 million

• ISU Ag/Biosystems Eng. Complex Phase II – $21.75 million

• UI Dental Building – $9.75 million

• UNI Bartlett Hall Renovation – $10.27 million

State Fair, Cultural Center Renovation: $250,000

Transportation

• Recreation Trails – $3 million

• Public Transit Vertical Infrastructure – $1.5 million

• Commercial Service Air Vertical Infrastructure – $1.5 million

• General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure – $750,000

County Fairs – $1.1 million

Items to be funded in HF 649 (from FY13 Ending Balance)

• Capitol Lightning Protection System – $330,000

• Four Oaks PMIC – $1 million

• Homestead Autism Clinics – $800,000

• Dept. of Corrections, Mitchellville – $11.2 million

• Community College Fire Safety/Deferred Maintenance – $1 million

• AAU Junior Olympics – $250,000

• ISU Veterinary Surgery Modernization – $1 million

• Camp Sunnyside Renovations – $250,000

• Department of Veterans Affairs, Building Relocation/Renovation – $137,940

• Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Equipment Building – $250,000

• Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Legion Community Center – $600,000

• Judicial Branch, Electronic Database Management System – $3 million

• Regents, Fire Safety/Deferred Maintenance – $2 million

• State Fair Authority, Plaza Improvements – $1 million

• Total from FY13 ending balance – $22.8 million [5/17: 28-17, party-line (except Johnson, Segebart “yes”; Behn, Bertrand, Houser, Kapucian, Sorenson absent)]

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Check it out at www.iowadot.gov/interactiveiowabikemap.htm.