Local Government Committee – All-Bill Summary 2019

HF 516 – County sheriff and police chief voting on joint 911 service board

HF 595 – Elections deputy salary

HF 685 – Cost of medical aid provided to prisoners in jails

HF 698 – Pioneer cemeteries

SF 93 – Abandoned structures and nuisance properties

SF 283 – Conflict of interest for school, county board and county employees

SF 502 – Political subdivision whistleblower protection

 

HF 516 – County sheriff and police chief voting on joint 911 service board

HF 516 provides voting membership on a joint 911 service board to county sheriffs and each local police chief within a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
[4/17: 50-0]

 

HF 595 – Elections deputy salary

HF 595 authorizes elections deputies to receive 85 percent of the auditor’s salary.
[4/26: 49-0 (Absent: Feenstra)]

 

HF 685 – Cost of medical aid provided to prisoners in jails

HF 685 creates a work group comprised of the Iowa Sheriff’s and Deputies Association, the Iowa Association of Counties and the Iowa Hospital Association to review current process of payment for medical aid provided in county jails. The group must consider and propose recommendations related to prisoner payment, responsibility, payment processes and rates, and submit recommendations to the Legislature by December 15, 2019.
[4/15: 49-0 (Absent: Shipley)]

 

HF 698 – Pioneer cemeteries

HF 698 would allow a county board of supervisors and a pioneer cemetery commission to jointly decide the care of cemeteries that no longer qualify as pioneer cemeteries. Currently, 20 counties are using up to 6.75 cent levy to fund the cemeteries, but the highest is only 4.5 cents.
[4/1: 48-0 (Absent: Breitbach, Zaun)]

 

SF 93 – Abandoned structures and nuisance properties

SF 93 makes changes to the abandoned structures and abatement law. The bill removes the length of time needed to consider a structure abandoned, along with evidence of financial responsibility, if the property is in need of abatement. A hearing is eliminated if those interested show intent and responsibility to restore the property in good faith. The bill’s aim is to motivate current owners to restore nuisance properties with local option. The bill exempts agricultural land.
[3/25: 50-0]

 

SF 283 – Conflict of interest for school, county board and county employees

SF 283 raises the threshold to $6,000 for conflicts of interest for school board members, county board members and county employees when they enter into a contract with the specified entity.
[4/1: 45-3 (No: Boulton, Celsi, Hogg; Absent: Breitbach, Zaun)]

 

SF 502 – Political subdivision whistleblower protection

SF 502 requires a political subdivision’s human resources department to provide notification of whistleblower protection, along with information about the state’s Office of Ombudsman protections. The legislation also provides for civil damages to the whistleblower.
[4/25: 50-0]