HF 302 (LSB 1909YH (2) 86)

HOUSE FILE 302

BY  GAINES, KELLEY, STAED, MEYER, BROWN-POWERS, MASCHER, ABDUL-SAMAD, LENSING, GASKILL, and OLDSON

A BILL FOR

An Act renaming the commission and office on the status of African Americans to include Africans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 7E.5, subsection 1, paragraph s, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   s.  The department of human rights, created in section 216A.1, which has primary responsibility for services relating to Latino persons, women, persons with disabilities, community action agencies, criminal and juvenile justice planning, Africans and African Americans, deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, persons of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage, and Native Americans.
    Sec. 2.  Section 216A.1, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (5), Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   (5)   Office on the status of Africans and African Americans.
    Sec. 3.  Section 216A.3, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  The voting members shall consist of nine voting members selected by each of the permanent commissions within the department, and two voting members, appointed by the governor. For purposes of this paragraph “a”, “permanent commissions” means the commission of Latino affairs, commission on the status of women, commission of persons with disabilities, commission on community action agencies, commission of deaf services, criminal and juvenile justice planning advisory council, commission on the status of Africans and African Americans, commission of Asian and Pacific Islander affairs, and commission of Native American affairs. The term of office for voting members is four years.
    Sec. 4.  Section 216A.4, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  “Underrepresented” means the historical marginalization of populations or groups in the United States and Iowa, including but not limited to Africans and African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, persons with disabilities, Latinos, Native Americans, women, persons who have low socioeconomic status, at-risk youth, and adults or juveniles with a criminal history.
    Sec. 5.  Section 216A.132, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The departments of human services, corrections, and public safety, the office on the status of Africans and African Americans, the department of public health, the chairperson of the board of parole, the attorney general, the state public defender, and the governor’s office of drug control policy shall each designate a person to serve on the council.
    Sec. 6.  Section 216A.141, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2015, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  “Commission” means the commission on the status of Africans and African Americans.
   2.   “Office” means the office on the status of Africans and African Americans of the department of human rights.
    Sec. 7.  Section 216A.142, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The commission on the status of Africans and African Americans is established and shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. All members shall reside in Iowa. At least five members shall be individuals who are African or African American. 
    Sec. 8.  Section 216A.143, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Study the opportunities for and changing needs of the African and African American community communities in this state. 
    Sec. 9.  Section 216A.146, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   216A.146  Office on the status of Africans and African Americans.

   The office on the status of Africans and African Americans is established and shall do the following:

   1.  Serve as the central permanent agency to advocate for Africans and African Americans.
   2.  Coordinate and cooperate with the efforts of state departments and agencies to serve the needs of Africans and African Americans in participating fully in the economic, social, and cultural life of the state, and provide direct assistance to individuals who request it.
   3.  Develop, coordinate, and assist other public or private organizations which serve Africans and African Americans.
   4.  Serve as an information clearinghouse on programs and agencies operating to assist Africans and African Americans.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill renames the commission and office on the status of African Americans to the commission and office on the status of Africans and African Americans. The bill provides that the duties of the commission, its office, and the department of human rights includes Africans as well as African Americans.