APPROPRIATIONS

STAFF CONTACT: Theresa Kehoe

SF 2023 — Mental Health Risk Pool

FLOOR ACTION

SF 2023 appropriates funds from the sale of regulated utility property near Palo, Iowa to the Mental Health and Disabilities (MHDS) risk pool. Approximately four or five years ago, Iowa changed how it taxed regulated utilities. It is referred to as the “Replacement Generation Tax.” If certain circumstances occur, revenue is deposited into the property tax relief fund and distributed to all 99 Iowa counties. Up until now, no funds have been generated for this purpose. Now, due to the sale of property at the Palo plant to an out-of-state entity, funds will be available. SF 2023 directs these funds to the MHDS risk pool. Counties will have until February 25, 2008, to apply for the funds, which are distributed by an independent review board. The board has until March 25, 2008, to make final decisions on the distribution.

Administrative rules spell out the allowable purposes for the funds. If adequate funds are not available, funds are pro-rated among all approved requests. Currently, the MDHS risk pool has a balance of $560,000. SF 2023 will add an additional $627,000 in FY08 for the MDHS risk pool, for a total of $1,187,000 of available funds in FY08. Beginning in FY09, this legislation will provide $1.2 million annually to the MDHS risk pool for distribution to those counties that are in the most need of mental health funds. [1/22: 46-0]

JUDICIARY

STAFF CONTACT: Cathy Engel

SSB 3019 – Makes changes related to the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP) of the Department of Human Rights

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SSB 3019, a departmental bill, includes three primary proposals:

· Adding a representative from the Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Advisory Council.

· Adding employment data from Iowa Workforce Development to the list of confidential information available to CJJP.

· Permanently establishing a Sex Offender Research Council (formerly the Sex Offender Task Force). [1/22: 14-0, short form]

STATE GOVERNMENT

STAFF CONTACT: Julie T. Simon

SF 2035 – ECDB recommendations for campaign signs, contributions

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2035 (SSB 3031) is a departmental proposal by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board that amends portions of the campaign laws. The bill:

· Consolidates Iowa Code sections regarding prohibitions on yard sign placements near absentee voting sites and satellite voting sites so that the language is found in one section (68A.406). This will help those who give advice and enforce sign placement provisions.

· Specifies that the 300-foot restriction on campaign sign placement is measured from the outside door of the voting premises. This addresses issues raised in recent elections.

· Reduces the limit for the reporting of an independent expenditure (a communication that is done without the consent/coordination of a campaign committee) from $750 to $100. This will increase public disclosure and should reduce the complaints received by the Board concerning campaign activities done outside of the normal campaign contribution process. This does not affect reports filed by candidates, political parties, or political action committees.

· Clarifies that Subchapter S corporations and limited liability companies are subject to the prohibition on corporations making political campaign contributions, and that family farm operations are not. [1/22: short form]