2004

Summary of Legislation

Related to Education

 

 

 

Iowa Department of Education

May 21, 2004
Table of Contents

 

Page                      Bill Number                  Brief Title

 

4                            SJR 2010             Constitutional Amendment – Vote to increase certain taxes

 

5                            SF 2026             Phase-out of certain sales and utility taxes

SF 2154                    Citations for disobeying a school bus stop arm

SF 2174                    Appointment of 9th member (student) of the state Board of Regents

 

6                            SF 2177             Student possession and self-medication of asthma medication

SF 2202                    Meningitis Information to college students

 

7                            SF 2298             Omnibus Budget Bill

HF 2039                    General Fund expenditure limitation and other related items

                              HF 2241             School credit for successful completion of military basic training

 

8                            HF 2262             IPERS technical corrections

                              HF 2350             Eliminates truancy provisions related to the Family Investment Program (FIP)

HF 2418                    Changes date by which Regents institutions must set tuition increases

                              HF 2419             Changes the number of signatures required for school board election                                                                               petitions

 

9                            HF 2431             Provisions for university-based research utilization programs

HF 2441                    Qualifications for Spanish language interpreters

HF 2452                    Licensure requirements for the practice of athletic training

                              HF 2460             School district may prohibit enrollment of student listed on the sex offender                                                                    registry

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents (continued)

 

Page                      Bill Number                  Brief Title

 

10                          HF 2481             Conditions under which Child in Need of Assistance (ChINA) orders may be                                    vacated

HF 2497                    Sick leave and vacation incentive program for state employees

HF 2520                    Purchasing preferences for Iowa-based products and services

                              HF 2537             Redesign of county systems for services to persons with disabilities

                             

 

11                          HF 2538             Transfer of funds from cash reserve to RIIF for standing appropriations

HF 2553                    Changes to Iowa Educational Savings Plan Trust

                             

                             

12                          HF 2559             College Student Aid Commission bill including provisions for the approval and                                                                 registration of out-of-state teacher preparation programs

 

13                          HF 2568             Changes to individual health insurance program and related items

                              HF 2577             Appropriations from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust

 

14                              Summary of SF 2298 – Omnibus Budget Bill

 

16                            Other Bill information – bills that did not pass

Summary of Legislation

Bills related to Education

2004

 

This table includes enrolled bills signed by the Governor that address educational issues. A list of other unsuccessful bills related to education is included after this table.

 

Enrolled Bill Number

 

Brief Title

Code Section Changed

Description

SJR 2010

Constitutional Amendment – People must vote on certain tax increases.

Article XIII of State Constitution

  This joint resolution proposes an amendment adding a new Article XIII to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, giving the people of Iowa the right to vote on certain adopted increases of taxes and fees, so that the increases will not take effect unless approved by majority vote at a state general election.

   The amendment requires that a law or laws increasing any taxes or fees that would result in new annual revenue of more than 1 percent of total state general fund revenue received in the fiscal year preceding enactment of the law or laws must receive voter approval at a state general election. The amendment defines "new annual revenue.” The amendment also defines "increase.” This definition includes legislation that allows or requires a local government to impose or increase any tax on income, sales, or property; legislation that has the effect of reducing total state funds transferred to all local governments; and legislation that requires local governments to incur aggregate net cost increases in a fiscal year.

   The amendment allows the general assembly, at the governor's request and by two-thirds vote, to increase taxes in emergency situations.

   The amendment allows any citizen or taxpayer to bring suit to enforce compliance with the voter approval requirement within two years of adoption of a tax or fee increase. The amendment also provides that the general assembly shall enact laws to implement the amendment.

   The resolution, if adopted, will be referred to the next general assembly. If the next general assembly adopts the resolution, the amendment will be submitted to the voters for ratification.

 

SF 2026

Phase-out of the sales and use taxes on the sale and furnishing of gas, electricity, and fuel to residential customers.

IC 423.3

   This bill sets the state sales and use tax rates on gas, electricity, and fuel for residential customers as follows:  2 percent for the second half of the 2004 calendar year; 1 percent for the 2005 calendar year; and 0 percent, total state exemption, for the 2006 and subsequent calendar years.

SF 2154

Traffic citations for failure to obey school bus warning device.

IC 321.372A

   This bill provides that a peace officer investigating a report by a school bus driver of a motor vehicle that failed to obey school bus warning devices may issue a citation to the owner of the vehicle if the identity of the driver cannot be determined. In a proceeding where the peace officer was not able to identify the driver of the vehicle, proof that the vehicle described in the citation was used to commit the violation, together with proof that the person named in the citation was the registered owner of the vehicle at the time the violation occurred, creates a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner was the driver who committed the violation.

   Current law requires the driver of a motor vehicle, when meeting a school bus with flashing amber warning lamps, to reduce speed to not more than 20 miles per hour and stop no closer than 15 feet from the bus when the bus stops and has its stop signal arm extended. In addition, a driver may not pass a school bus while red or amber warning lights are flashing. Failure to obey school bus warning devices is punishable as a scheduled violation subject to a $100 fine.

 

SF 2174

Appointment of the ninth member (student) of the state board of regents.

IC 262.2

   This bill requires the governor, prior to appointing the ninth or student member of the state board of regents, to consult with the student body government of the institution from which a prospective appointee is enrolled. The bill also provides that if the student member of the state board of regents graduates or is no longer enrolled in a regents university, the student member's term expires a year from the date on which the student graduates or is no longer enrolled in a regents university. However, if the student member reenrolls in a regents university, the student's six-year term continues in effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SF 2177

Possession and self-administration of asthma or other airway constricting disease medication by public and accredited nonpublic school students.

IC 280.16

   This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to allow a student to possess and self-administer asthma medication if the student's parent or guardian submits written authorization, along with the name and purpose of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and the times at which or the special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered.

   The parents or guardians must indemnify and hold harmless the school district or nonpublic school and its employees and agents against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton misconduct, arising out of the self-administration of medication by the student.

   The permission for self-administration of medication is effective for the school year. However, the parent or guardian shall immediately notify the school of any changes in the circumstances relating to the self-administration of the medication.

   The bill allows the student to possess and use the medication while in school, at school-sponsored activities, under the supervision of school personnel, and before or after normal school activities, such as while in before-school or after-school care on school-operated property.

   The school must maintain the information on file in the office of the school nurse or, in the absence of a school nurse, the school's administrator.

 

SF 2202

Meningococcal disease vaccination information for students who are enrolled in an institution of higher learning that has an on-campus dormitory or residence hall.

IC 139A.26

   This bill requires institutions of higher education that have on-campus residence halls or dormitories to provide students with meningococcal disease vaccination information in student health forms. The forms must include space for the student to indicate whether or not the student has received the vaccination, and shall include recommendations issued by the national centers for disease control and prevention regarding the disease. Data obtained shall be submitted annually to the Iowa department of public health in such a manner that no individual person can be identified.

   The bill specifies that institutions of higher education are not, under any provision of the bill, required to provide vaccinations against meningococcal disease.

   The Iowa department of public health is directed to adopt rules to administer the new Code section.

 

 

SF 2298

Omnibus Budget Bill – Making, reducing, and transferring appropriations and providing for other properly related matters.

 

 

Numerous

See summary after this table.

HF 2039

State budget provisions involving the ending balance in the general fund of the state, and the state general fund expenditure limitation by transferring funds from the cash reserve fund and by revising the percentage amount used for the limitation. Also standing limited appropriation to the senior living trust fund.

Various – Partially vetoed

   This bill relates to the state general fund expenditure limitation by revising the percentage amount used for the limitation.

   Current law provides that the expenditure limitation calculated for a fiscal year is 99 percent of the adjusted revenue estimate agreed to by the revenue estimating conference for that fiscal year at the meeting held by December 15 prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. The bill changes the percentage amount to 98 percent of the adjusted revenue estimate.

   The bill takes effect December 15, 2004, or the date the revenue estimating conference agrees to a revenue estimate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005, that shall be used by the governor and the general assembly for preparation and passage of the state budget for that fiscal year pursuant to Code section 8.22A, subsections 3 and 4, whichever date is earlier. The bill is first applicable to the budget activities of the governor and general assembly for fiscal year 2005-2006.

   Everything in this bill was vetoed except for the portion relating to the appropriation to the senior living trust fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HF 2241

Credit to students for the successful completion of military basic training.

IC 256.11

   This bill permits school districts and nonpublic schools to award credit toward graduation to a student who completes national guard or United States military basic training.

 

 

 

HF 2262

IPERS technical corrections.

Various in IC 97

   This bill makes numerous changes to public retirement systems, including the public safety peace officers' retirement, accident, and disability system, the Iowa public employees' retirement system, and the statewide fire and police retirement system. The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The state mandated funding requirement in Code section 25B.2, however, does not apply to public employee retirement systems.

 

HF 2350

Eliminates FIP reduction in cases of school truancy among other things.

IC 299.12

   This bill relates to family investment program (FIP) eligibility requirements involving motor vehicle equity and required school attendance.

   Under current law in Code section 239B.7, a certain amount of the equity value of a motor vehicle is disregarded in determining a family's initial and continuing eligibility for the program. The base amount of $3,889 was established in 1997, subject to an annual increase for inflation. The disregard was applicable to each adult and working individual age 19 or younger. The bill applies the disregard to the value of one motor vehicle, provides that the equity value of any additional motor vehicle is applied to the overall resource limitations applicable to the family, and eliminates the individual applicability of the disregard.

 

HF 2418

Date by which Regents must make final decision on tuition increases.

IC 262.9

   This bill extends from November to March the regular meeting date by which the state board of regents must make its final decision on an increase in tuition or mandatory fees charged to all students at an institution of higher education under its control. The bill prohibits the board from holding the meeting during spring break.

 

HF 2419

Changes the number of signatures required on nomination petitions for school board elections.

IC 277.4

   This bill establishes a limit on the number of eligible electors that need to sign the nomination petition for a candidate for an at-large seat or a seat which is voted for only by the voters of a director district. Under current

Code, the petitions must be signed by at least 10 eligible electors or a number of eligible electors equal in number to not less than 1 percent of the registered voters of the school district, whichever is more. The bill provides that the petitions must be signed by the greater of at least 10 eligible electors or a number of eligible electors equal in number to not less than 1 percent of the registered voters of the school district, but provides that this number need not be more than 50. The bill strikes a provision that provides that a petition need not have more than 100 signatures.

HF 2431

Provisions for university-based research utilization program.

IC 262B.11

   This bill relates to educational institutions under the university-based research utilization program.

   The bill defines "educational institution" to mean a university under the control of the state board of regents, a community college, or an accredited private university located in the state. The bill provides that a new or existing business that utilizes a technology developed by an employee at an educational institution may apply to the department of economic development for approval to participate in the program. The bill provides that a business approved under the program and the employee of an educational institution responsible for the development of the technology utilized by the approved business shall be eligible for a tax credit under the program. Currently, only technologies developed by an employee at a university under the control of the state board of regents trigger eligibility under the program.

 

HF 2441

Qualifications of Spanish language interpreters.

IC 216A.15

   This bill provides that the commission of Latino affairs shall adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to develop a mechanism to ensure Spanish language interpreter qualifications. Currently, the commission is required simply to maintain information on such qualifications as one of its statutory duties. The bill also provides that the commission shall provide a list of qualified Spanish language interpreters to a list of agencies and entities, which has been expanded to include social service agencies and health.

 

HF 2452

Licensure requirements relating to the practice of athletic training.

 

Various in IC 147 & 152

See bill. Very marginally related to education.

HF 2460

School district may prohibit enrollment of students listed on the sex offender registry.

IC 282.9

   This bill provides that a person who is required to register as a sex offender, but who is otherwise eligible for enrollment in a school district, may not be enrolled as a student unless the board of directors of the school district approves, by a majority vote, the enrollment of the person. If a person is denied enrollment by a school district, the school district of residence must provide the person educational services in an alternative setting.

 

 

 

 

HF 2481

Conditions under which Child in Need of Assistance (ChINA) orders may be vacated.

IC 232.103

   This bill expands the circumstances by which the juvenile court may modify, vacate and substitute, or terminate a child in need of assistance dispositional order.

   Current law under Code section 232.103 authorizes the court, upon a motion or upon the court's own motion, to terminate an order and release the child if the court finds the purposes of the order have been accomplished and the child is no longer in need of supervision, care, or treatment.

   The bill expands this authority to modification of a dispositional order or vacation and substitution of a dispositional order. Additional grounds are provided if the court finds that the purposes of the order cannot reasonably be accomplished, the efforts made to effect the purposes of the order were unsuccessful and other viable options are unavailable, or the purposes have been sufficiently accomplished and the continuation of supervision, care, or treatment is unjustified or unwarranted.

 

HF 2497

Sick leave and vacation incentive program for state employees.

Various

   This bill establishes a sick leave and vacation incentive
program in a manner similar to the program established in
2001.

 

 

 

HF 2520

Purchasing preferences for Iowa-based products and services.

IC 73.1

   The bill provides that all requests for proposals for materials, products, supplies, provisions, and other needed articles and services to be purchased at public expense shall not knowingly be written in such a way as to exclude an Iowa-based company capable of filling the needs of the purchasing entity from submitting a responsive proposal.

 

HF 2537

Redesign of county systems for services to persons with mental illness, mental retardation or other developmental disabilities or brain injury.

Various

   This bill addresses redesign of the system for services and other support provided for persons with mental illness, mental retardation or other developmental disabilities, or brain injury (MI/MR/DD/BI). The bill is organized into divisions.

 

 

 

 

HF 2538

Transfer of funds from cash reserve to RIIF for standing appropriation to the environment first fund.

IC 8.56 and 8.57

   This bill makes a transfer from the cash reserve fund to the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund (RIIF) for fiscal year 2003-2004. The transferred moneys are to be used for the standing appropriation from RIIF to the environment first fund. The transfer is exempt from provisions in Code section 8.56 which otherwise prohibit transfers from the cash reserve fund or use of the moneys in the fund by means other than an appropriation.

   If a tax on the adjusted gross receipts from gambling games conducted at racetrack enclosures is enacted by the Eightieth General Assembly, 2004 Regular Session, that is applicable to the period beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2004, and the proceeds are credited to RIIF, the amount transferred from the cash reserve fund is replaced from those receipts.

   The bill takes effect upon enactment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HF 2553

Changes to Iowa educational savings plan trust and the establishment of an additional optional program.

 

IC 12D

   This bill makes several technical and substantive changes regarding the operation of the Iowa educational savings plan trust pursuant to Code chapter 12D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HF 2559

Includes provisions for the approval and registration of out-of-state teacher preparation programs that establish physical bases in Iowa.

IC 256.7(3)

   This bill relates to the approval or registration of postsecondary schools by the department of education, the college student aid commission, and the secretary of state.

   The bill requires that practitioner preparation programs offered by out-of-state schools be approved by the state board of education and authorizes the state board to collect an amount equivalent to the department's necessary travel and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the approval of, out-of-state practitioner preparation programs.

   The bill directs the college student aid commission to adopt rules to establish standards for the approval of postsecondary schools that are required to register with the secretary. It permits the commission to require schools seeking registration to provide copies of their application to the Iowa coordinating council for post-high-school education and permits the commission to consider the council's comments. It also allows the commission to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations regarding the applications.

   The bill strikes language that requires postsecondary schools to annually register with the secretary of state, and instead requires the schools to register once every four years, or upon any substantive change in program offerings, location, or accreditation.

   The bill directs the secretary of state to establish registration and renewal fees for postsecondary schools required to register with the secretary. Currently, the Code sets the fee for initial registration at $1,000, with annual renewals at $500. Moneys collected by the department for expenses and by the secretary in the form of fees must be deposited in the general fund of the state.

   The bill strikes a requirement that the secretary of state utilize the state advisory committee for postsecondary school registration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HF 2568

Changes to individual health insurance programs, restructuring and modification of eligibility, benefits, tax offsets and other issues, phase-out of guaranteed basic and standard insurance plans.

Various

See bill.

HF 2577

Appropriations from the healthy Iowans tobacco trust and the tobacco settlement trust fund.

Various

See bill.

 


 

 

Summary of the

Omnibus Budget Bill – SF 2298

 

Funding

 

Above the Governor’s Request

·       $4 million new dollars to Community Colleges, $1 million more than the Governor’s request

·       Nonpublic school transportation and textbook reimbursements were the only program that received replacement dollars for the 2.5% across-the-board cut. They also received 2% new money.

 

Equal to the Governor’s Request (approximately)

·       Roughly $30 million to Early Intervention/Class Size

·       $13.4 for Empowerment

·       $11.2 for at-risk early childhood programs

·       $14.4 for instructional support aid levy

·       $55.5 for Ed Excellence (Phase I & II)

·       $400,000 for JAG

 

Below the Governor’s Request

 

 

 

Other Items

 

Not Funded (Governor’s Request)

 

Policy issues included in the Bill

 

Policy issues line-item vetoed (these items will not happen as a result of these vetoes)


 

Other Bill Information

 

The following list includes bills that were “live” up to the last day of the session, but did not make it through:

 

HF 2082           Bingo exemptions for schools

HF 2121           Iowa Values fund monies for education

HF 2123           Board political balance – statewide boards must balance political parties

HF 2238           Additional limitations on government contracts

HF 2303           Right to Work – required annual registration for professional associations

 

HF 2321           Additional educational support for inmates

HF 2326           Specific money for Waterloo on the achievement gap effort

HF 2468           Additional limits to administrative rules processes

HF 2521           Study of health insurance issues

HF 2536           Sale of ICN assets

 

SF 440           Specific increases for nonpublic texts and transportation reimbursements

SF 2225           Additional limits to administrative rules processes

SF 2226           Community College Surtax

SF 2292           Automatic program repeal – discontinues programs that cannot demonstrate positive performance.

 

Other bills of interest that did not make it through the process:

 

HF 418           Obesity-related data collection

HF 2245           Child abuse records placed in permanent record

HF 2246           ICN delivery of PSOEA courses

HF 2266           Expanded use of PPE and Local Options levies

HF 2274           School bonds for Health Cost increases

 

HF 2436           Before/After School programs allowable growth

HF 2461           At-risk allowable growth date adjustments

HF 2466           Changes to open enrollment transportation issues

SF 383           Establishing an Iowa Virtual Academy

SF 2085           Expanded use of PPE and Local Options levies

 

SF 2097           Move school budget certification deadline

SF 2184           Changes to compulsory attendance age

SF 2237           Four-day School Week

SF 2246           3rd grade retention/reading assessment

SF 2248           Redesign of SPED MH/DD/BE categories

SF 2255           Iowa Studies Program

 

 

The Department of Education is always interested in your feedback. If you have an interest describing possible legislative issues that should be addressed next session, have specific feedback on this document, or simply have questions related to legislation or policy, please contact the Department’s legislative liaison Jeff Berger at 515-281-3399 or jeff.berger@ed.state.ia.us.