Rebuild Iowa – Week of Feb. 22, 2010

STAFF CONTACT:  Theresa Kehoe

SF 2265 – Smart Planning Principles

SF 2317 – Watershed management authorities

HF 2422 – Disaster Recovery Case Management

FLOOR ACTION

SF 2265 is proposed by the Rebuild Iowa Office and is a recommendation from the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission. Highlights include:

• Establishing smart planning principles. State agencies, local governments and other public entities are required to consider and may apply the principles during planning, zoning, development and resource management decision.

1. Smart planning principles encourage collaboration with other groups; identify the importance of efficiency, transparency and consistency; advise the use of clean and renewable energy; advise the use of energy-efficient and sustainable design options; encourage occupational, transportation and housing diversity; encourage revitalization; identify the importance of community character; and encourage decisions that will protect natural and agricultural resources. 

• Establishing an Iowa Smart Planning Task Force. The task force is required to submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor by November 15, 2010. [2/18: 39-7]

SF 2317 authorizes the creation watershed management authorities, which would be formed by an agreement between two or more political subdivisions within a watershed under Chapter 28E of the Iowa Code. These authorities would consist of political subdivisions located within the same watershed. Political subdivisions within a watershed where a management authority has formed would not be required to joint the authority, and it is not required that a watershed management authority be formed. The authorities would help identify and manage flood risk and water quality issues in that watershed when they cannot be addressed by a single political subdivision.

The watersheds targeted for organization by this bill are those designated by the U.S. Geologic Survey as hydrologic unit code 8 watersheds, of which there are 57 in the state of Iowa. These watersheds generally consist of the land area that forms a watershed for a river. [2/18: 48-0]

HF 2422 is proposed by the Rebuild Iowa Office. The Rebuild Iowa Office and the Department of Human Services are required to work with nonprofit, voluntary and faith-based organizations active in disaster recovery and response in coordination with the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of the Department of Public Defense to establish and coordinate a statewide system of disaster case management. The disaster case management system would be activated following the Governor’s proclamation of an individual assistance disaster emergency of a Presidential disaster declaration. A Business Disaster Case Management Task Force is created to research disaster recovery case management assistance needed for businesses following a major disaster. The task force is required to submit their recommendations by November 15, 2010. [2/23: 50-0]