House File 2087 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY SCHICKEL Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act providing for a feasibility study of conducting floor 2 debate and other legislative business via the internet. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5072HH 82 5 jp/rj/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. INTERNET LEGISLATIVE SESSION == FEASIBILITY 1 2 STUDY. 1 3 1. The legislative services agency, with the assistance of 1 4 the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of 1 5 representatives, and the department of administrative services 1 6 and other appropriate state agencies, shall complete a 1 7 feasibility study of holding a one=day legislative session 1 8 during the 2009 regular legislative session utilizing the 1 9 internet as the primary means for members of the general 1 10 assembly to participate in the session. 1 11 2. The options addressed in the feasibility study shall 1 12 include but are not limited to all of the following: 1 13 a. Legal requirements or impediments under the 1 14 Constitution of the State of Iowa or the Code of Iowa 1 15 regarding the general assembly's performance of its 1 16 constitutional lawmaking authority, including but not limited 1 17 to article III, sections 10 and 13 of the Constitution of the 1 18 State of Iowa and section 2.1 of the Code of Iowa. 1 19 b. Holding floor debate and voting on legislation in both 1 20 the senate and house of representatives via the internet. 1 21 c. Provision for the members of the general assembly to 1 22 participate via the internet from their home districts. 1 23 d. Providing real=time voice and image access to committee 1 24 and subcommittee meetings, debate, and voting. 1 25 e. Enabling public observation of testimony, public 1 26 hearings, and committee and floor deliberations via the 1 27 internet. 1 28 f. Providing a means for voice, recorded, and unrecorded 1 29 voting to be observed via the internet. 1 30 g. Identifying considerations to be addressed for the 1 31 session to conduct actual business or to be a demonstration. 1 32 h. Identifying actual and projected costs and cost savings 1 33 that may be realized if the internet would be used on a 1 34 permanent basis to conduct legislative business. 1 35 3. The legislative services agency shall report to the 2 1 governor and general assembly on or before December 1, 2008, 2 2 outlining the findings of the feasibility study, including 2 3 identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the options 2 4 presented, potential costs and cost savings, and potential 2 5 issues to be addressed if internet access to legislative 2 6 deliberations would be provided on a permanent basis. 2 7 EXPLANATION 2 8 This bill provides for a feasibility study of the legality 2 9 and practicality of conducting a one=day session of floor 2 10 debate and other legislative business via the internet. The 2 11 study is required to be conducted by the legislative services 2 12 agency with the cooperation of the secretary of the senate, 2 13 chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the 2 14 department of administrative services. 2 15 Specific options to be addressed are identified, including 2 16 providing for the capacity on a permanent basis and addressing 2 17 legal requirements under the Iowa Constitution and Iowa law 2 18 involving voting and the physical meeting location, and the 2 19 agency is required to submit a report to the governor and 2 20 general assembly on or before December 1, 2008. 2 21 LSB 5072HH 82 2 22 jp/rj/8