House File 521 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY MAY
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act requiring county commissions of veteran affairs to employ
2 an executive director.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2926YH 81
5 ec/pj/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 35B.6, subsection 1, Code 2005, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 1. a. The members of the commission shall qualify by
1 4 taking the usual oath of office, and give bond in the sum of
1 5 five hundred dollars each, conditioned for the faithful
1 6 discharge of their duties with sureties to be approved by the
1 7 county auditor. The commission shall organize by the
1 8 selection of one of their members as chairperson, and one as
1 9 secretary. The commission, subject to the approval of the
1 10 board of supervisors, shall have power to employ an executive
1 11 director and other necessary administrative or clerical
1 12 assistants when needed, the compensation of such employees to
1 13 be fixed by the board of supervisors, but no member of the
1 14 commission shall be so employed. The executive director must
1 15 possess the same qualifications as provided in section 35B.3
1 16 for commission members. However, this qualification
1 17 requirement shall not apply to a person employed as an
1 18 executive director prior to July 1, 1989.
1 19 b. Upon the employment of an executive director, the
1 20 executive director shall complete a course of initial training
1 21 provided by the commission of veterans affairs pursuant to
1 22 section 35A.3. If an executive director is not appointed, a
1 23 commissioner or a clerical assistant shall complete the course
1 24 of training. The commission shall issue the executive
1 25 director, commissioner, or clerical assistant a certificate of
1 26 training after completion of the initial training course. To
1 27 maintain annual certification, the executive director,
1 28 commissioner, or clerical assistant shall attend one
1 29 commission training course each year. Failure to maintain
1 30 certification may be cause for removal from office. The
1 31 expenses of training shall be paid from the appropriation
1 32 authorized in section 35B.14.
1 33 Sec. 2. Section 35B.6, subsection 4, Code 2005, is amended
1 34 to read as follows:
1 35 4. In counties where a Each commission has established an
2 1 office, the of veteran affairs office shall be open a minimum
2 2 of four hours each work day. The hours that the office is
2 3 open shall be posted in a prominent position outside the
2 4 office. In lieu of an office being open a minimum of four
2 5 hours each work day, the names, home addresses, telephone
2 6 numbers, and duties of commission members shall be posted.
2 7 Sec. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT. Section 25B.2, subsection
2 8 3, shall not apply to this Act.
2 9 EXPLANATION
2 10 This bill requires that each county commission of veteran
2 11 affairs employ an executive director and, if needed, any
2 12 administrative or clerical assistants. Current law does not
2 13 require that an executive director be appointed. The bill
2 14 also requires that a county commission of veteran affairs
2 15 office shall be open at least four hours each work day and
2 16 eliminates the option of posting the names, phone numbers, and
2 17 duties of commission members in lieu of office hours.
2 18 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code
2 19 section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section
2 20 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political
2 21 subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for
2 22 the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified.
2 23 Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with
2 24 any state mandate included in the bill.
2 25 LSB 2926YH 81
2 26 ec:nh/pj/5