 In this edition:
- Early Budget Work - House Budget Bill Debate Scheduled for Today
- What's Survived the Second Funnel
- Viewing Floor Debate
- IDPH Director Gerd Clabaugh Confirmed by Senate
- Required Reports to the General Assembly
Budget Work
All budget bills were introduced by April 5, the end of the second funnel week (except the Standing Appropriations bill which is usually the last bill taken up).
Typically, budget bills aren't introduced until the policy process has been completed/or the end of the second funnel.
In addition to introducing the budget bills early, many have already been acted on, including the Health and Human Services (HHS) bill.
HF766 came out of the Appropriations Committee on April 4, and is tentatively scheduled to be debated in the House today, April 11. For the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), it includes a status quo budget with some reductions due to rounding. There are more than 20 amendments, with significant changes in H-1196 from Rep. Fry, who will floor manage the bill. (See Bill History at left and click on the number).
It has provisions to move line items to a request for proposal (RFP) process, as well as directing IDPH to work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding substance abuse prevention and treatment, specifically co-occurring conditions. In addition, it requires the Legislative Council to study hospital inpatient and outpatient data collection, and combines, eliminates and changes reimbursement for a number of health boards, councils and commissions.
The HHS budget sheet, with high level details, was released several weeks ago. Learn more about the process in the Appropriations Process Flow Chart.
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Debate Viewing
Find live broadcasts of debates at the camera icons here next to the "Currently in the House" and "Currently in the Senate" titles.
Debate Eligibility and Regular Calendars (left) contain the Senate and House calendars listing all bills and resolutions reported out of committee and eligible for consideration by the full chamber. Most bills are listed under the grouping named Regular Calendar, although some bills are organized into special calendars or lists that include appropriations, ways and means bills or unfinished business.
Daily Debate Calendar (right) lists bills and resolutions from the Senate or House calendar that may be debated on a particular day.
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Second Funnel - What's Still Moving
The list of bills we are tracking closely has narrowed again - from more than 280+ bills before the first funnel, to about 75 bills at the second funnel, and now about 50 bills of public health interest that are still moving forward and/or included in the unfinished business calendar. Find more details here.
Director Clabaugh Confirmed by Senate
The Iowa Senate has confirmed Gerd Clabaugh as the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Clabaugh was first appointed director in May 2014 by Gov. Terry Branstad. He has served the department in various other capacities including director of health policy, as well as serving as its deputy director, and interim director prior to his permanent appointment.
IDPH is Iowa’s comprehensive public health agency with programs responsible for substance use disorders, tobacco cessation, maternal and child health improvement, chronic diseases, environmental health, as well as the lead agency in licensing Iowa’s health care workforce. Read a message from Director Clabaugh here.
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Keeping the Legislature Up-to-Date
Before we know it, the legislative session will have wrapped up. The 110th Day of Session is May 3.
Departments keep the Iowa Legislature up-to-date during the interim in a number of ways - meetings, e-mails and other outreach, as well as filing reports that are required by the General Assembly. That includes reports on program progress and interim work groups that are required through legislation.
You can find those reports at this link. Just toggle the menu for the year and department you wish to view.
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