HF 2225 (LSB 5865YH (2) 86)

HOUSE FILE 2225

BY  HALL

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing state grants equitable distribution requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 8.10, Code 2016, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9.  Monitor compliance with the state grants equitable distribution requirements established in section 8.12.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  8.12  State grants —— equitable distribution requirements.
   1.  In addition to the function of developing and administering a system to track, identify, advocate for, and coordinate nonstate grants as provided in section 8.9, the office shall develop and administer a system for monitoring compliance with the state grants equitable distribution requirements specified in subsection 2.
   2.  a.  To the extent possible and consistent with the objective, nature, and scope of a particular grant, each state agency, as defined in section 8.11, that administers a nonfederal, discretionary state grant program or fund shall ensure that grants are distributed equitably on the basis of population across the state. An equitable distribution shall be considered to be achieved by distributing grant funds equally per state congressional district over the course of an ongoing three-year period. Grant programs which by their nature are restricted to or focused on a more localized scope of distribution shall be exempt from this requirement. 
   b.  The facilitator shall develop a system for obtaining and tracking state agency reporting on an annual basis regarding the extent to which an equitable distribution has been achieved for grant programs to which the equitable distribution requirements are applicable. The facilitator shall submit a report by January 1 annually to the general assembly regarding compliance with the requirements.
    Sec. 3.  STATE GRANTS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION STUDY.  The office of grants enterprise management established in section 8.9 shall conduct a study regarding the extent to which nonfederal, discretionary state grants have been distributed equitably from the standpoint of population across the state. The study shall analyze the distribution of grant funds for grant programs which by their nature have been or could have been distributed partially or completely statewide over the preceding ten-year period. The office shall complete the study and submit a report to the general assembly by January 1, 2017.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes state grant equitable distribution requirements and requires a state grant equitable distribution study to be conducted.
   The bill provides that in addition to its functions relating to nonstate grants, the office of enterprise management shall develop and administer a system for monitoring compliance with state grant equitable distribution requirements.
   The bill provides that to the extent possible and consistent with the objective, nature, and scope of a particular grant, each state agency that administers a nonfederal, discretionary state grant program or fund shall ensure that grants are distributed equitably on the basis of population across the state. An equitable distribution shall be considered to be achieved by distributing grant funds equally per state congressional district over the course of an ongoing three-year period. The bill exempts grant programs which by their nature are restricted to or focused on a more localized scope of distribution.
   The bill directs the facilitator of the office to obtain and track annual reports from agencies regarding the extent to which an equitable distribution has been achieved for grant programs to which the equitable distribution requirements are applicable. The facilitator is required to submit a report by January 1 annually to the general assembly regarding compliance with the requirements.
   Additionally, the bill directs the office to conduct a study regarding the extent to which nonfederal, discretionary state grants have been or could have been distributed equitably from the standpoint of population across the state over the preceding 10-year period. The office shall complete the study and submit a report to the general assembly by January 1, 2017.