Senate File 189 - Introduced SENATE FILE 189 BY FEENSTRA A BILL FOR An Act relating to the mechanism by which a county may 1 consolidate the functions of certain county officers. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1794XS (3) 84 aw/sc
S.F. 189 Section 1. Section 331.323, subsection 1, paragraphs b and 1 c, Code 2011, are amended to read as follows: 2 b. If a petition of electors equal in number to twenty-five 3 percent of the votes cast for the county office receiving the 4 greatest number of votes at the preceding general election 5 is filed with the auditor the board of supervisors adopts a 6 resolution for officer consolidation no later than five working 7 days before the filing deadline for candidates for county 8 offices as specified in section 44.4 for the next general 9 election, the board shall direct the commissioner of elections 10 to call an election for the purpose of voting on the proposal 11 proposition . If the petition resolution contains more than one 12 proposal for combining duties, each proposal shall be listed on 13 the ballot as a separate issue. If the majority of the votes 14 cast is in favor of a proposal, the board shall take all steps 15 necessary to combine the duties as specified in the petition 16 resolution . 17 c. The petition resolution shall state the offices and 18 positions to be combined and the offices or positions to be 19 abolished. Offices and positions that have been combined may 20 be subsequently separated by a petition and election in the 21 same manner as provided in paragraph “b” . 22 EXPLANATION 23 This bill relates to the mechanism by which a county may 24 consolidate the functions of certain county officers. 25 Current law allows a county to consolidate the duties of 11 26 county officers or employees, including the sheriff, treasurer, 27 recorder, auditor, medical examiner, general assistance 28 director, county care facility administrator, commission on 29 veterans affairs, director of social welfare, county assessor, 30 or county weed commissioner. The county may consolidate two or 31 more of these officers or employees. 32 Current law requires that in order for a county to combine 33 the duties of any of these officers, a petition of eligible 34 electors equal to 25 percent of votes cast for the county 35 -1- LSB 1794XS (3) 84 aw/sc 1/ 2
S.F. 189 office receiving the most votes at the most recent general 1 election must be filed with the county auditor no later than 2 five days before the deadline for filing nomination papers 3 for county office. If such a petition is filed, the board of 4 supervisors is required to direct the commissioner of elections 5 to call an election to vote on the proposal. The proposal is 6 adopted if a simple majority of voters approves it. 7 This bill would transfer the authority to submit a proposal 8 for combining duties from a petition process to adoption of 9 a resolution by the board of supervisors. If the board of 10 supervisors adopts a resolution to combine duties, then the 11 board must direct the commissioner of elections to call an 12 election to vote on the proposition. 13 -2- LSB 1794XS (3) 84 aw/sc 2/ 2