Text: HF00303 Text: HF00305 Text: HF00300 - HF00399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 258B.1 STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL
1 2 EDUCATION STRATEGY.
1 3 1. It is in the interest of the citizens of Iowa that a
1 4 comprehensive environmental education initiative be undertaken
1 5 that will result in environmentally literate and responsible
1 6 citizens who will effectively and constructively solve
1 7 existing environmental problems, prevent new environmental
1 8 problems, and maintain a sustainable environment for future
1 9 Iowans. A healthy economy is intimately linked to a healthy
1 10 environment. The appropriate audiences for environmental
1 11 education include both formal and nonformal audiences,
1 12 business, labor, governments, nonprofit entities, and
1 13 citizens.
1 14 2. The goal of this initiative is to assure that Iowans
1 15 are environmentally literate. An environmentally literate
1 16 citizen is committed to lifelong learning and understands the
1 17 following:
1 18 a. Basic principles of ecology, sociology, and economics.
1 19 b. The interconnection of all parts of the environment.
1 20 c. The environmental and social costs and benefits of
1 21 consumer decisions.
1 22 d. Sources of energy, the improving of energy efficiency,
1 23 and the relationships between energy use and lifestyle.
1 24 e. The implications of economic and population trends.
1 25 f. The impacts of personal life styles and personal
1 26 choices.
1 27 g. The importance of acting in a sustainable and
1 28 constructive manner to protect the quality and diversity of
1 29 the natural world.
1 30 3. An office of environmental education, an interagency
1 31 environmental education committee, state and county
1 32 environmental education plans, preschool-to-adult
1 33 environmental education programs, environmental education
1 34 assistance, and a grants program shall be established to
1 35 achieve the goal of accomplishing this initiative. For
2 1 purposes of this chapter, "nonformal education" means
2 2 education which takes place outside of the formal, educational
2 3 classroom setting.
2 4 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 258B.2 OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
2 5 EDUCATION.
2 6 1. An office of environmental education is established and
2 7 administratively attached to the department of education. The
2 8 full-time supervisor of the office shall be an experienced
2 9 environmental educator. The office shall be staffed by
2 10 appropriately trained personnel.
2 11 2. The office of environmental education shall do all of
2 12 the following:
2 13 a. Develop and publish a plan for environmental education
2 14 with assistance from the interagency environmental education
2 15 committee.
2 16 b. Accept, review, and approve county plans for
2 17 environmental education and administer the allocation of funds
2 18 to the county conservation boards provided for under section
2 19 258B.5.
2 20 c. Assess the status of environmental literacy of the
2 21 state's students, teachers, and citizens every four years.
2 22 d. Review the state's plan for environmental education
2 23 every four years with the assistance of the interagency
2 24 environmental education committee, revise the plan as needed,
2 25 and transmit the plan to the governor and the general
2 26 assembly.
2 27 e. Establish guidelines and specific criteria for the
2 28 grants program provided for in section 258B.4.
2 29 f. Administer the environmental education grants program.
2 30 g. Promote and aid in the establishment and evaluation of
2 31 school environmental education programs for preschool through
2 32 grade twelve.
2 33 h. Promote the development of environmental education
2 34 initiatives and programs for the adult population.
2 35 i. Cooperate with federal and state agencies and the
3 1 private sector in developing, promoting, and evaluating
3 2 environmental education programs.
3 3 j. Promote the development of cooperative environmental
3 4 education initiatives with the private sector.
3 5 k. Facilitate and encourage formal and nonformal
3 6 environmental education programs; facilitate, encourage, and
3 7 support multi-school districts' cooperative efforts to assess
3 8 the need for, develop, and evaluate environmental education
3 9 curricula, promote state government and private sector policy
3 10 that is consistent with the environmental education plan
3 11 established in this legislation, and assist in the
3 12 coordination of formal and nonformal environmental education
3 13 with the kindergarten through grade twelve and postsecondary
3 14 environmental education programs.
3 15 l. Initiate research on environmental education as called
3 16 for in the environmental education plan by issuing contracts
3 17 to organizations, colleges, universities, and other research-
3 18 based institutions.
3 19 m. Coordinate environmental education conferences to
3 20 assist in the dissemination, development, and achievement of
3 21 the state's environmental education plan.
3 22 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 258B.3 INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL
3 23 EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
3 24 1. An interagency environmental education committee is
3 25 established. The committee shall be composed of individuals
3 26 with knowledge in environmental education and the members
3 27 shall be employees appointed by each agency head. These
3 28 agencies may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the
3 29 departments of agriculture and land stewardship, cultural
3 30 affairs, education, economic development, human services,
3 31 natural resources, public health, and transportation, the
3 32 state board of regents, and the attorney general's office.
3 33 The chair shall be elected by the members.
3 34 2. Members of the committee shall serve as environmental
3 35 education coordinators for their respective agencies. They
4 1 shall direct an assessment of their own agency's target
4 2 audiences and develop appropriate programs to educate these
4 3 audiences regarding environmental issues. The committee shall
4 4 establish subcommittees as needed and assist with the
4 5 development and implementation of the state's environmental
4 6 education plan.
4 7 3. The committee shall develop and maintain a memorandum
4 8 of understanding to specify methods by which the agencies can
4 9 share their resources to benefit environmental education in
4 10 the state.
4 11 4. The committee shall promote networking, coordination,
4 12 and cooperation among state agencies, promote the efficient
4 13 distribution of information, and facilitate the planning and
4 14 development of educational programs and materials. The
4 15 department of education is responsible for convening and
4 16 facilitating the functions of the committee.
4 17 5. Members of the committee are not eligible to receive
4 18 any separate compensation and are not eligible for
4 19 reimbursement of expenses from the committee.
4 20 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 258B.4 GRANTS PROGRAM.
4 21 An environmental education grants program is established in
4 22 order to accomplish the goals set forth in section 258B.1.
4 23 Guidelines established by the office of environmental
4 24 education shall include, but are not limited to, a requirement
4 25 that grant proposals conform with county and state
4 26 environmental education plans. The department of education
4 27 shall administer the environmental education grant program. A
4 28 grant proposal affecting a single county shall be submitted to
4 29 and receive the approval of that county's environmental
4 30 education committee prior to submission to the department of
4 31 education. A grant proposal affecting more than one county or
4 32 the entire state shall be submitted directly to the department
4 33 of education.
4 34 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 258B.5 ASSISTANCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
4 35 EDUCATION – APPROPRIATION.
5 1 1. Financial assistance shall be administered by the
5 2 office of environmental education of the department of
5 3 education, and shall be provided to county conservation boards
5 4 to support the hiring of professional environmental educators
5 5 to assist schools and nonformal education sectors in planning
5 6 and leading environmental education programs. The financial
5 7 assistance shall be used to provide staff and equipment for
5 8 these programs and shall not be used for the construction or
5 9 maintenance of parks, buildings, or other physical facilities.
5 10 The financial assistance shall not replace existing county
5 11 moneys budgeted for environmental education. Financial
5 12 assistance shall be provided as follows:
5 13 a. Within thirty days of receipt of a county conservation
5 14 board's environmental education plan, pursuant to subsection
5 15 2, the sum of ten thousand one hundred dollars shall be
5 16 allocated to the county conservation board for use in
5 17 implementing the board's environmental education plan. One
5 18 million one hundred thousand dollars shall be divided among
5 19 eligible counties on a population-based formula detailed in
5 20 paragraphs "b" through "d".
5 21 b. A county shall be declared eligible if the county
5 22 submits certification that the county will do both of the
5 23 following:
5 24 (1) Provide county funding or support equivalent to one
5 25 cent per thousand dollars of the assessed value of taxable
5 26 property in the county or thirty-five thousand dollars,
5 27 whichever is less, according to a formula outlined in
5 28 paragraph "c", for environmental education.
5 29 (2) Explain how the financial assistance will be spent for
5 30 environmental education.
5 31 c. In order to meet county funding or support
5 32 requirements, county conservation boards may include the
5 33 dollar equivalent of the following county support:
5 34 (1) Salaries and benefits for all full-time and part-time
5 35 naturalists, environmental education coordinators,
6 1 environmental program specialists, and other positions whose
6 2 responsibilities lie solely within the county conservation
6 3 board's environmental education program.
6 4 (2) For staff positions involving some responsibilities
6 5 outside the environmental education program, such as a ranger,
6 6 a percentage of the salary and benefits equal to that portion
6 7 of time devoted specifically to the environmental education
6 8 program.
6 9 (3) Operation and maintenance, but not purchase, of a
6 10 county vehicle designated to be used specifically by the
6 11 environmental education program staff.
6 12 (4) Funds budgeted specifically for the environmental
6 13 education program, including, but not limited to: program
6 14 supplies, office supplies, telephone and communications,
6 15 uniforms, newsletters and other public relations tools,
6 16 publicity, library and resource materials, printing or
6 17 purchase of environmental and conservation education resource
6 18 materials, travel, and professional development workshops and
6 19 conferences.
6 20 The costs of construction or maintenance of parks,
6 21 buildings, or any physical facilities shall not be used to
6 22 meet the county funding or support requirements.
6 23 d. Counties declared eligible shall receive financial
6 24 assistance under this section according to the following
6 25 formula: official population figure of the county according
6 26 to the most recent federal decennial census times forty cents.
6 27 e. In order to fulfill the county funding or support
6 28 requirements of this section, county conservation boards may
6 29 contract with private nature centers, camps, or other private
6 30 or public entities to provide these environmental education
6 31 services. The boards shall submit an annual report to the
6 32 office of environmental education demonstrating and certifying
6 33 the proper use of these funds.
6 34 f. The focus of this financial assistance shall be, but is
6 35 not limited to: helping teachers, group leaders, and other
7 1 environmental educators to plan, develop, and implement
7 2 environmental education programs, including leading outdoor
7 3 environmental education classes for all ages and for both
7 4 formal and nonformal educational groups; providing program
7 5 resources such as environmental education activity guides and
7 6 curricula, learning kits, audiovisual materials, literature,
7 7 and equipment; and interpreting Iowa's natural and cultural
7 8 resources and how to use them wisely.
7 9 2. To receive funds under this section, a county shall
7 10 establish a county environmental education committee. The
7 11 county conservation board shall be responsible for the
7 12 establishment and membership of the committee. Members shall
7 13 include, but are not limited to, representatives from soil and
7 14 water conservation districts, local schools, conservation
7 15 groups, and business and industry groups with established
7 16 interests in environmental education. Responsibilities of the
7 17 committee shall include, but are not limited to, the
7 18 following:
7 19 a. Establishing operating rules for the committee.
7 20 b. Developing and submitting to the county conservation
7 21 board annual eligibility reports.
7 22 c. Developing and submitting the county environmental
7 23 education plan to the office of environmental education. The
7 24 plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the
7 25 following:
7 26 (1) Long-term goals for environmental education in the
7 27 county and an outline of the relationship of the plan to the
7 28 goal of achieving environmental literacy.
7 29 (2) A description of the manner in which the plan utilizes
7 30 existing professional environmental education personnel,
7 31 programs, and facilities.
7 32 (3) An outline of the resources needed to achieve plan
7 33 goals, including sufficient professional educators to meet a
7 34 target of one full-time equivalent environmental educator for
7 35 every three thousand to four thousand kindergarten through
8 1 grade twelve students in the county.
8 2 (4) Letters of support for the plan from the members of
8 3 the county environmental education committee.
8 4 The plan shall be reviewed and accordingly revised every
8 5 four years in coordination with a state assessment of
8 6 environmental literacy provided for in section 258B.2.
8 7 d. Facilitating communication among all parties active in
8 8 environmental education in the county to maximize the use of
8 9 local resources.
8 10 e. Reviewing and commenting on grants proposals submitted
8 11 to the office of environmental education pursuant to section
8 12 258B.4.
8 13 3. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
8 14 state to the department of education for each fiscal year the
8 15 sum of one million dollars for the purpose of providing
8 16 financial assistance for environmental education as provided
8 17 in subsection 1.
8 18 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 258B.6 RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
8 19 EDUCATION PROGRAMS – APPROPRIATION.
8 20 1. A residential environmental education program is
8 21 created to recognize the critical role that both direct
8 22 experience with the outdoors and a several-day residential
8 23 experience away from the home and formal school environment
8 24 play in the formation of an environmentally literate
8 25 citizenry.
8 26 2. Phase I of the program shall provide supplemental
8 27 funding of thirty-five dollars per pupil to school districts
8 28 that choose to provide for the attendance of the pupils in one
8 29 grade level at a certified residential environmental education
8 30 center. To receive this funding, school districts must
8 31 provide proof of attendance by their pupils at such a center
8 32 and participation by pupils in a certified program for a
8 33 minimum of two consecutive days for each pupil. In addition,
8 34 school districts shall submit evidence of matching
8 35 contributions of at least fifty percent of the total program
9 1 cost. Local school districts shall choose the grade level and
9 2 the time of year they feel is most developmentally appropriate
9 3 for this residential experience.
9 4 3. Phase II of the program shall consist of all of the
9 5 following:
9 6 a. Development of certification criteria for facilities,
9 7 staff, and programs.
9 8 b. Census of existing facilities, staff, and programs
9 9 relative to the certification criteria.
9 10 c. Assessment of the needs of these facilities.
9 11 4. The program shall be administered by the office of
9 12 environmental education.
9 13 5. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
9 14 state to the department of education for each fiscal year, the
9 15 sum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars for the purposes
9 16 of phase I of the residential environmental education program
9 17 as provided in subsection 2.
9 18 Sec. 7. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. There is appropriated
9 19 from the general fund of the state to the department of
9 20 education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and
9 21 ending June 30, 1998, the following amount, or so much thereof
9 22 as is necessary, to be used for the purpose designated:
9 23 OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
9 24 For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
9 25 and for not more than the following full-time equivalent
9 26 positions:
9 27 .................................................. $ 600,000
9 28 ................................................ FTE 2.00
9 29 EXPLANATION
9 30 This bill establishes an environmental education strategy
9 31 for the state of Iowa. The bill also establishes and funds a
9 32 state office of environmental education for all of Iowa's
9 33 citizens from preschoolers to adults. The office is
9 34 administratively attached to the department of education to
9 35 establish and coordinate a plan for the state. The office is
10 1 to coordinate with federal and state agencies and the private
10 2 sector in developing and implementing environmental education
10 3 strategies. The bill appropriates $600,000 from the general
10 4 fund to fund the office for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
10 5 1997. A grants program is also established to be administered
10 6 by the department of education.
10 7 An interagency environmental education committee is
10 8 established to coordinate efforts among state agencies to
10 9 promote and assist in providing environmental education
10 10 programs in the state.
10 11 An assistance program is established and the bill creates a
10 12 $1 million standing appropriation to provide assistance for
10 13 county conservation boards. The bill provides a formula for
10 14 determining the eligibility of each county board.
10 15 The bill also appropriates $350,000 to reimburse a school
10 16 district on a per pupil basis when the school district permits
10 17 pupils from one grade level to spend two or more consecutive
10 18 days at a certified residential environmental education
10 19 center.
10 20 LSB 1422HH 77
10 21 kh/jw/5
Text: HF00303 Text: HF00305 Text: HF00300 - HF00399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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