Local Government Committee Report – week 8, 2017
Committee votes on SSB 1100 – Recorders notices; SSB 1152 – Electronic pay via county treasurer; and SSB 1153 – Deputy county auditor salary.
Committee votes on SSB 1100 – Recorders notices; SSB 1152 – Electronic pay via county treasurer; and SSB 1153 – Deputy county auditor salary.
SSB 1145 prohibits government entities (e.g., state, cities, counties, schools, community colleges) from requiring a potential bidder on a public improvement project to provide any information that the bidder deems confidential or proprietary as a requirement for being deemed a responsive, responsible bidder.
The University of Iowa’s response to these Republican takebacks was to renege on scholarships already awarded to Iowa students. I reached out to UI officials and asked them to reconsider. I’m glad they have reversed that decision.
SF 362 exempts damages and liability from district and county fairs sought by a person who alleges an injury or death caused by a pathogen transmitted from an animal. An amendment in committee adds the Iowa State Fair; applies to spectators and participants; and if signs are posted, there is no liability.
Friday marks the “first funnel” under legislative rules, which is a first procedural hurdle that will stop some legislative proposals for the year. If we can stop bad bills this week, it will reduce the damage that could be done later.
Iowa children are falling through the cracks and government policies may be part of the problem, according to members of the House and Senate Government Oversight Committee. Natalie Finn is a 16-year old Des Moines girl who died after she was tortured and starved by her parents. Malayia Knapp, another Des Moines resident, was beaten, starved, and imprisoned by her adoptive parents.
A new law, exclusively drafted and implemented by Republican legislators and the Branstad-Reynolds administration, strips away a wide range of rights from public workers in Iowa. Some comments in debate and since enactment have led to misunderstandings, but it is important that the true impact of the law is understood.
“In 2009, Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds promised to create 200,000 jobs in five years,” said Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids. “After more than 6 years, Iowa has gained less than 126,000 jobs, slower than the rate of job growth in the country as a whole. Instead of working on legislation to create jobs, Republicans are pursuing a partisan agenda that ignores the best interests of hard-working Iowans.”
SSB 1081 eliminates the Iowa Emergency Response Commission and transfers the powers and duties to the Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. It also makes other technical changes to transfers and renumbers the remaining Code sections.
Senate File 183 relates to the Newborn Safe Haven Act, which allows a parent to relinquish physical custody of a newborn infant up to 14 days old, without fear of prosecution for abandonment.
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