House File 537 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY TOMENGA
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act establishing the position of state historian and providing
2 an appropriation.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 2150YH 82
5 ak/es/88
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 303.17, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
1 2 2007, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
1 3 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (4A) The state historian.
1 4 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 303.19 STATE HISTORIAN.
1 5 1. The position of state historian is created to encourage
1 6 Iowans to understand and celebrate the history of the state.
1 7 2. The state historian shall have the following duties:
1 8 (a) Advise the governor of anniversaries of important
1 9 events and developments in Iowa history and of ways to
1 10 increase public understanding of state history.
1 11 (b) Consult with the director of the department of
1 12 cultural affairs, the board of trustees of the state
1 13 historical society of Iowa, the executive director of
1 14 humanities Iowa, and other state officials regularly about
1 15 matters relating to Iowa history.
1 16 (c) Assist the board of trustees of the state historical
1 17 society in its administration of the Iowa heritage fund
1 18 pursuant to section 303.9A.
1 19 (d) Assist the historical division of the department of
1 20 cultural affairs with administration of the historical
1 21 resource development program pursuant to section 303.16.
1 22 (e) Serve on the Iowa studies committee pursuant to
1 23 section 303.17.
1 24 (f) Promote and engage in public educational programs that
1 25 assist Iowans in understanding state history, develop
1 26 community, and promote tourism.
1 27 (g) Submit a plan of work and an annual review of the past
1 28 year's activities to the governor, the director of the
1 29 department of cultural affairs, and the board of trustees of
1 30 the state historical society.
1 31 3. The state historian shall possess an advanced degree in
1 32 history or closely related field, a strong background in Iowa
1 33 history, and a demonstrated competence in programs involving
1 34 the general public.
1 35 4. a. A candidate for the position of state historian
2 1 shall be nominated by a public or private Iowa university,
2 2 college, or community college where the candidate holds
2 3 faculty status.
2 4 b. The chairperson of the board of trustees of the state
2 5 historical society of Iowa and the executive director of
2 6 humanities Iowa shall review candidates nominated for the
2 7 position and shall together recommend no more than three names
2 8 to the governor for consideration. The governor shall appoint
2 9 the state historian for a three=year term that will begin on
2 10 July 1 and end on June 30. A candidate may be reappointed to
2 11 the position at the governor's discretion.
2 12 5. During the period of appointment as state historian,
2 13 the state historian shall retain faculty status at the
2 14 nominating institution and shall remain an employee of the
2 15 institution, rather than an employee of the state. The
2 16 institution shall pay all expenses of the state historian
2 17 except salary, benefits, and travel. The department of
2 18 cultural affairs shall contract annually with the institution
2 19 at which the state historian holds faculty status to pay
2 20 salary, benefits, and travel expenses during the period of
2 21 appointment.
2 22 Sec. 3. STATE HISTORIAN == APPROPRIATION. There is
2 23 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
2 24 department of cultural affairs for the fiscal year beginning
2 25 July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount,
2 26 or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the
2 27 purposes designated:
2 28 For the position of state historian, including salary,
2 29 benefits, and travel expenses:
2 30 .................................................. $ 117,500
2 31 EXPLANATION
2 32 This bill creates the position of state historian to
2 33 encourage Iowans to understand and celebrate the history of
2 34 the state.
2 35 The bill provides the following duties for the state
3 1 historian: advise the governor of anniversaries of important
3 2 events and development in Iowa history and increase public
3 3 understanding of state history; consult with the director of
3 4 the department of cultural affairs, the board of trustees of
3 5 the state historical society, the executive director of
3 6 humanities Iowa, and other state officials as requested about
3 7 Iowa history; promote and engage in public educational
3 8 programs to assist Iowans in understanding public history,
3 9 develop community, and promote tourism; and submit a plan of
3 10 work and an annual review to the governor, the director of the
3 11 department of cultural affairs, and the board of trustees of
3 12 the state historical society.
3 13 Additionally, the state historian shall assist the state
3 14 historical board of trustees in administrating the Iowa
3 15 heritage fund and shall assist the historical division of the
3 16 department of cultural affairs with administration of the
3 17 historical resource development program. The state historian
3 18 shall also serve on the Iowa studies committee.
3 19 The bill requires that the state historian possess an
3 20 advanced degree in history or in a closely related field, have
3 21 a strong background in Iowa history, and demonstrate
3 22 competence in programs involving the general public. An Iowa
3 23 university, college, or community college will nominate for
3 24 state historian a candidate who holds a faculty position at
3 25 the nominating institution.
3 26 The chairperson of the board of trustees of the state
3 27 historical society of Iowa and the executive director of
3 28 humanities Iowa shall recommend to the governor the names of
3 29 three candidates nominated for the position of state
3 30 historian. The governor shall appoint one of the three
3 31 candidates for a term of three years that will begin on July 1
3 32 and end on June 30. A candidate may be reappointed to the
3 33 position at the governor's discretion.
3 34 The bill requires that the department of cultural affairs
3 35 contract annually with the institution at which the state
4 1 historian holds faculty status for compensation and expenses
4 2 during the period of appointment. The state historian shall
4 3 remain an employee of the institution, which shall provide all
4 4 expenses for the state historian except salary, benefits, and
4 5 travel.
4 6 The bill appropriates $117,500 from the general fund of the
4 7 state to the department of cultural affairs for FY 2007=2008
4 8 for the position of state historian to pay for salary,
4 9 benefits, and travel expenses.
4 10 LSB 2150YH 82
4 11 ak:sc/es/88