House File 599 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY GASKILL, KRESSIG, and
KELLEY
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act expanding Iowa communications network access to include
2 counties.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2505HH 83
5 rn/nh/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 8D.2, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code
1 2 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 a. "Public agency" means a state agency, an institution
1 4 under the control of the board of regents, the judicial branch
1 5 as provided in section 8D.13, subsection 17, a school
1 6 corporation, a county, a city library, a library service area
1 7 as provided in chapter 256, a county library as provided in
1 8 chapter 336, or a judicial district department of correctional
1 9 services established in section 905.2, to the extent provided
1 10 in section 8D.13, subsection 15, an agency of the federal
1 11 government, or a United States post office which receives a
1 12 federal grant for pilot and demonstration projects.
1 13 Sec. 2. Section 8D.3, subsection 3, paragraph i, Code
1 14 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 15 i. Evaluate existing and projected rates for use of the
1 16 system and ensure that rates are sufficient to pay for the
1 17 operation of the system excluding the cost of construction and
1 18 lease costs for Parts I, II, and III. The commission shall
1 19 establish all hourly rates to be charged to all authorized
1 20 users for the use of the network and shall consider all costs
1 21 of the network in establishing the rates. A fee established
1 22 by the commission to be charged to a hospital licensed
1 23 pursuant to chapter 135B, a physician clinic, a county, or the
1 24 federal government shall be at an appropriate rate so that, at
1 25 a minimum, there is no state subsidy related to the costs of
1 26 the connection or use of the network related to such user.
1 27 Sec. 3. Section 8D.13, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 28 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 29 c. "Part III" means the communications connection between
1 30 the secondary switching centers and the agencies defined in
1 31 section 8D.2, subsections 4 and 5, excluding state agencies,
1 32 institutions under the control of the board of regents,
1 33 nonprofit institutions of higher education eligible for
1 34 tuition grants, and the judicial branch, judicial district
1 35 departments of correctional services, hospitals and physician
2 1 clinics, counties, agencies of the federal government, and
2 2 post offices.
2 3 Sec. 4. Section 8D.13, subsection 16, Code 2009, is
2 4 amended to read as follows:
2 5 16. Access shall be offered to hospitals licensed pursuant
2 6 to chapter 135B and physician clinics for diagnostic,
2 7 clinical, consultative, data, and educational services for the
2 8 purpose of developing a comprehensive, statewide telemedicine
2 9 network, to an agency of the federal government, to a county,
2 10 and to a post office defined as a public agency pursuant to
2 11 section 8D.2, subsection 5. A hospital, physician clinic, an
2 12 agency of the federal government, a county, or a post office
2 13 defined as a public agency pursuant to section 8D.2,
2 14 subsection 5, shall be responsible for all costs associated
2 15 with becoming a part of the network.
2 16 EXPLANATION
2 17 This bill expands the definition of a "public agency",
2 18 which is authorized to access the Iowa communications network,
2 19 to include counties. The bill provides that a county shall be
2 20 responsible for all costs associated with becoming a part of
2 21 the network.
2 22 LSB 2505HH 83
2 23 rn/nh/5