Legislative Update for 04/14/2018
There were a few education bills that were debated this week and other than that things seemed quiet under the golden dome. There is presumably a great deal of work that is currently being done on the tax plan and the annual budgets. April 17, the official last day of session, is only three short days away, and I don’t think the words sine die (final adjournment) will be heard.
This week the Governor signed the following bills:
SF 2364 - Security Plans – This bill requires all public and accredited nonpublic schools to develop a high-quality emergency operations plan for the district and individual school buildings. The plan needs to include responses to active shooter scenarios and natural disasters and be completed no later than June 30, 2019. All public and accredited nonpublic schools are also required to determine which school personnel participate in the drill and whether students or local law enforcement agencies are participants in those drills. The drills need to be conducted at least once per year. The bill passed in the House 100-0 and passed in the Senate 47-0.
HF 2441– School District Program Funding Flexibility – The bill includes changes to early intervention, at-risk, and dropout prevention programming categorical funds. The bill states that early intervention funds can be used for general fund purposes. At-risk and dropout prevention program plans must be approved by local school boards, and requests for modified supplemental amount (MSA) will be submitted to and reviewed by the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) rather than the Department of Education (Department). Administrative staff, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, school security personnel costs, and any purpose that directly benefits students in the adopted program are added to the list of specified allowable uses of at-risk and dropout prevention funds. Additionally, the bill removes the five-year limitation on the length of time allowed for a lease of school district property and allows moneys deposited in the childcare fund that exceed the amount necessary to operate the program to be transferred, by board resolution, to the general fund. The bill passed the House 99-0 and passed in the Senate 46-0.
Bills that are on their way to the Governor.
HF 648 – Technical Corrections to CTE Statute –This bill passed the House last year and was introduced in the Senate this session. The bill amends Iowa Code chapter 258 to provide flexibility in the disbursement of state career and technical education funds to Regional Planning Partnerships (RPP). The bill also modifies an existing allowable use of funds to include certain consumable supplies. The bill passed the House last session on a 98-0 vote. It passed the Senate this week on a 47-0 vote.
HF 2442 – High School Collision Sports – This bill includes the following:
The bill passed in the House 96-2 and passed in the Senate 46-0. This bill has been a work in progress for at least two legislative sessions. There are many legislators and interested parties, who were diligent in making sure the bill made it to the Governor's desk this legislative session.
The following bills are eligible for debate in the Senate.
HF 2481 – SAVE Extension – The bill was formerly HF 2438. This bill as amended and passed by the House on April 10, extends the SAVE fund from December 31, 2029 to January 1, 2050, increases the amount dedicated to providing property tax relief (foundation base supplement fund), creates a new career academy fund, and includes provisions to address expiration of existing revenue purpose statements. The bill clarifies the funds can be used for school safety and security infrastructure, but specifically excludes personnel and development of safety and security plans (including training). The bill leaves the existing enrollment thresholds for requiring certificates of need. However, it adds the cost-benefit analysis of remodeling, reconstructing, or repairing existing buildings and the benefits and effects of the new construction on student learning to the list of Department considerations. Additionally, the bill provides for additional public engagement for athletic facility infrastructure projects and bonding against anticipated SAVE revenues. The bill passed the House 95-3.
HF 633 – Operational Sharing Incentives Extension – This bill removes the five-year limitation and 2019 deadline for claiming operational function sharing with another political subdivision in the areas of superintendent management, business management, human resource director, transportation director, operations and maintenance director, curriculum director, and/or guidance counselor. Districts and Area Education Agencies would continue generating supplementary weighting up to a maximum of 21 full time employees per year for sharing any of these positions. The bill passed the House in 2017 on a 99-0 vote.
As the legislative session draws to an end, the Governor will regularly be signing bills. If you would like to see the bills that have been signed by the Governor, you can click here. Also, if you would like to read my previous legislative updates, you can click here.
Shan Seivert
Policy Liaison
Iowa Department of Education
Cell: 515-326-5595
Office: 515-281-3399
shanlyn.seivert@iowa.gov