![[Dome]](../../dome.gif)
Interim
Calendar and Briefing
December 4, 1996
- Contents:
- Calendar of Scheduled Meetings
- Agenda Information Regarding Scheduled Meetings
- BRIEFINGS - Information Regarding Recent Meetings
 |
|
- Wednesday, December 11, 1996
- ADMINISTRATIVE RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE
10:00 a.m., Room 22
- Wednesday, December 12, 1996
- ADMINISTRATIVE RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE
9:00 a.m., Room 22
- Friday, December 13, 1996
- COMPENSATION OF JUSTICES, JUDGES, & MAGISTRATES STUDY COMMITTEE
10:00 a.m., Room 22
- Tuesday, December 17, 1996
- LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS STUDY COMMITTEE
10:00 a.m., Room 116
- Friday, December 20, 1996
- HEDGE TO ARRIVE CONTRACTS STUDY COMMITTEE
Time and Location to be Announced
|
Co-chairperson: Senator Berl E. Priebe
Co-chairperson: Representative Janet Metcalf
- Location: Committee Room 22, State House, Des Moines
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 11, 1996, 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12, 1996, 9:00 a.m.
- Contact Person: Joe Royce, Legal Counsel, Administrative Rules
- LSB Staff: Kathie Bates, Administrative Code Office
- Tentative Agenda: Agenda (as Published in the Administrative Bulletin)
- FURTHER INFORMATION: | CHARGE | MEMBERS | STAFF | HEARINGS |
Temporary Co-chairperson: Senator Eugene Fraise
Temporary Co-chairperson: Representative Jeff Lamberti
- Location: Committee Room 22, State House, Des Moines
- Date & Time: Friday, December 13, 1996, 10:00 a.m.
- Staff: Leslie Hickey, Mike Kuehn
- Tentative Agenda: Agenda to be Announced
- FURTHER INFORMATION: | CHARGE | MEMBERS | STAFF | FINAL REPORT |
Temporary Co-chairperson: Senator Larry Murphy
Temporary Co-chairperson: Representative Barry Brauns
- Location: Committee Room 116, State House, Des Moines
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 17, 1996, 10:00 a.m.
- Staff: Susan Crowley
- Tentative Agenda: Agenda to be Announced
- FURTHER INFORMATION: | CHARGE | MEMBERS | STAFF | FINAL REPORT |
Co-chairperson: Senator John Kibbie
Co-chairperson: Representative Russell Teig
- Location: To be Announced
- Date & Time: Friday, December 20, 1996, Time to be Announced
- Staff: Doug Adkisson, Tim McDermott
- Tentative Agenda: Agenda to be Announced
- FURTHER INFORMATION: | CHARGE | MEMBERS | STAFF | FINAL REPORT |
November 14, 1996
Highlights of the meeting are as follows:
- Attorney General's Corrections Planning Task Force.
- Attorney General Miller reviewed the Attorney General's Corrections Planning Task Force work concerning the adult and juvenile corrections systems, including issues related to the age and capacity of the current jails, community correction, juvenile detention, and prison systems. He also discussed the progress in developing a continuum of correctional services to deal with inmate populations as well as the need for greater coordination of the work of the various prevention programs.
- Technical Assistance Grants.
- Dick Moore, Administrator of the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, discussed a technical assistance grant available through the federal Office of Juvenile Justice Planning. The grant would provide for training and technical assistance for juvenile delinquency planning and programs.
- Model Program.
- John Calhoun discussed the selection of Sioux City as a model juvenile delinquency program.
- Human Services - Child Welfare Funding.
- Mary Nelson from the Department of Human Services (DHS) discussed the Department's budget request for Fiscal Year 1997-1998, as well as historical information on availability of funds for group foster care, shelter care, psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), and the alternatives to those types of placements. She noted that the Department's budget request is basically stable in all areas but the State Juvenile Home--they are requesting additional funding there for conversion of programming to deal with populations with mental health problems. The Task Force discussed the issue of the $7 million dollar shortfall for in-home services and the ability of the DHS regions to move funds to help to deal with shortages. Also discussed was the reduction in numbers of available beds for group care due to level funding and the increased cost of bed space. A Polk County lawsuit over prioritization of placement in group care placements was also discussed.
- Local Information Sharing.
- The Task Force received information from a panel of individuals who have developed a collaborative information sharing program in the Nevada area. The local sheriff, and a representative from the school district and from the local department of human services discussed how they combined resources to bring various health and human services to the community, and the children in the district, through use of education allowable growth funds. They also discussed how they established a case management team which set protocols to deal with confidentiality issues, but yet allow the various partners to provide more effective services to the children and families in the area. The Task Force also discussed the problem raised for guardians ad litem by Iowa Code section 622.10, which prevents school counselors from testifying about what a child may have told them, even when they have reported the information to the guardian ad litem.
- Next Meeting.
- The next meeting of the Task Force is scheduled for January 9, 1997. The agenda is to be announced.
- LSB Monitor: Leslie Hickey
- Contact person: Marilyn Lantz, Director, Juvenile Law Division, Iowa Department of Justice
November 25, 1996; Second of Two Meetings
- Background.
- The Task Force was created pursuant to a directive in the fiscal year 1996-1997 appropriations bill for the Department of Human Services, enacted in the 1996 Legislative Session. The Legislation suggests the Task Force may extend beyond the 1996 interim. Members of the Task Force include chairs, vice-chairs, and ranking members of the House and Senate standing committees on Human Resources and the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services, and two citizen members of the Council on Human Services. (The Council is a citizen council providing direction to the Department of Human Services.)
- National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Ms. Shelly Smith of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), discussed efforts in other states to restructure human services programs. Ms. Smith's presentation included the following points:
- Iowa's efforts in juvenile justice funding decategorization, family preservation, and other human services programs have been models for other states.
- Many states have rearranged the administrative responsibilities for human services. Some states have consolidated these services into large umbrella agencies. Others have reorganized based upon other criteria such as grouping all early childhood programs together.
- It is important to focus upon policy objectives when considering a change in administrative structures.
- Recently, many states are looking for ways to empower local ownership as a means of improving the quality of services. There is no clear definition as to what constitutes "local."
- There are not yet mature models from other states upon which to base an approach to change. For example, Oregon is implementing consolidated prevention funding for expenditure at the local level and allowed an initial period of time to facilitate local capacity building.
- Administrative Rules.
- Joe Royce, legal counsel, Administrative Rules Review Committee, and Mary Ann Walker, Department of Human Services, presented an overview of the administrative rules process utilized in Iowa. Consideration was given to the conflict which can occur between constitutional requirements for equal protection or equal treatment under the law and the need for waivers of rules and other forms of flexibility.
- Discussion.
- Committee discussion included the following:
- Local involvement in program administration is desirable but there needs to be further discussion as to the size of the local level used.
- Is it appropriate to incorporate some determination of worthiness for assistance in welfare programs as is done for some other forms of government assistance, and who would be in the best position to make that determination?
- Can bureaucratic elements of programs be relaxed without sacrificing accountability measures?
- Do communities currently have the capacity to become more involved in public assistance efforts or is this better done with professionals?
- There is need for public input regarding improvement of human services in the state. There was not a clear consensus as to how to obtain the public input. Some professional assistance may be needed to conduct a public input process.
- Recommendation.
- Although there were insufficient members present from one of the chambers to adopt a recommendation in accordance with the Task Force rules, a majority of the Task Force members concurred on the following proposal by unanimous consent:
- That the chairs and ranking members of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services should meet early in the 1997 Legislative Session to develop a work plan for consideration by the full Task Force.
- LSB Staff: John Pollak, Rick Nelson
November 26, 1996; First of Two Meetings
- LFB.
- Mr. David Reynolds, Legislative Fiscal Bureau, made a presentation to the Committee on the State's efforts pertaining to infrastructure, including establishment of the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, and recent State appropriations for infrastructure.
- Councils of Government.
- Mr. Tim Ostroski, of the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG), made a presentation to the Committee on the efforts of SICOG and other councils of governments to assist local governments in financing both horizontal and vertical infrastructure projects. He cited a program established by his COG, which, in partnership with federal agencies and local lenders, provides infrastructure financing assistance to local governments.
- Cities.
- Mayor Ann Hutchinson spoke to the Committee on the difficulties faced by many Iowa communities which are faced with a growing need for infrastructure construction, repair, and replacement. She noted that cites have been able to make some gains on needed infrastructure improvements through the used of general obligation bonds, the use of lease purchase and loan agreements, and local option sales tax proceeds.
- Construction Firms.
- Ms. Lori Elliott, of Associated Builders and Contractors, also made a presentation to the Committee. Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction management association which represents over 19,000 construction and construction-related firms. Associated Builders and Contractors is involved primarily in training and, on the local level, advocacy. Associated Builders and Contractors works closely with the Rebuild Iowa Coalition which supports reducing Iowa's bond referendum super majority requirement of 60 percent to a simple majority.
- Bond Financing.
- Mr. Ken Haynie, a partner in the Ahlers Law Firm of Des Moines, spoke with the Committee about bond financing by local governments. Mr. Haynie stated that the State needs to inject more rationality and symmetry into the property tax system because that is the primary source of infrastructure funding for local governments. He also stated that local governments need a source of revenue other than property tax, such as the local option sales tax, which they can utilize to finance infrastructure.
- Builders.
- Mr. Scott Norvell and Mr. James Obradovich, Master Builders of Iowa, informed the Committee that for every additional $1 million spent on infrastructure in Iowa, 36.7 jobs in Iowa are created. They suggested that the State make available local infrastructure grants and loans and that the General Assembly reform the current bond referendum requirements.
- Next Meeting.
- The second meeting of the Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, December 17, 1996.
November 27, 1996; First and Only Meeting
- Background.
- The Legislative Council established the Law Enforcement Training Interim Study Committee and requested that the Iowa League of Cities and the Iowa State Association of Counties convene a law enforcement training summit during the 1996 legislative interim to examine modifications and alternatives to Iowa's current regulations concerning law enforcement training and resources provided for the training, and to provide the Committee with a report containing the recommendations resulting from the summit. The Council provided the Committee with one meeting date and charged the Committee with determining whether changes should be made to Iowa's laws regarding law enforcement training in Iowa. The League and ISAC responded to the Council's request by working together, in association with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), on a survey of Iowa's law enforcement professionals.
- Members and Presenters.
- The Committee approved as Co-chairpersons Senator Randal J. Giannetto and Representative Teresa Garman. Also serving on the Committee were Senator Richard F. Drake, Senator Don E. Gettings, Representative Paul Bell, and Representative Beverly J. Nelson. Presenters at the meeting included representatives from the following organizations, agencies, academies, community colleges and police departments:
- the Iowa Police Executive Forum
- the Iowa State Sheriffs' & Deputies Association
- the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police and Peace Officers
- the Iowa Department of Transportation
- the Decorah City Police Department
- the Des Moines Police Academy
- the Cedar Rapids Police Academy
- the Muscatine Police Department
- Hawkeye Community College
- Kirkwood Community College
- the Iowa Department of Education
- the Iowa State Association of Counties, and
- the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
- Recommendations.
- 1. Pass legislation to lengthen the probation period from 12 to 18 months.
- 2. Encourage the lengthening of the time period for law enforcement training.
- 3. Encourage the use of the Iowa Communications Network for continuing education.
- 4. Look at providing student loan options for persons seeking law enforcement training.
- 5. Look at ways of addressing the concerns of local government agencies hiring and paying to train law enforcement recruits who, within a short period after receiving certification, leave the agency to work for another, often larger, agency as a certified law enforcement officer.
- 6. Look at increasing the funding for ILEA.
- Staff: Kathy Hanlon, Jan Simmons
Back to top of Interim Information
Iowa General Assembly
Search: 1996 Interim (76th General Assembly)
© 1996 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments?
webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Last update: Fri Dec 6 10:40:03 CST 1996
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/Interim/1996/calendar/961204.htm
sw