House File 540 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY MERTZ and DRAKE Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to soil and water conservation district work 2 projects supporting water protection practices, and providing 3 an effective date. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 2445HH 82 6 da/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 161C.2, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 b. Any work project with an estimated cost in excess of 1 4 the competitive bid threshold in section 26.3, or as 1 5 established in section 314.1B, shall be undertaken as a public 1 6 contract as provided in chapters 73A and 573. However, the 1 7 district may waive the requirement for a bond as provided in 1 8 section 573.2 for a project, if the district estimates that 1 9 the cost of the project is less than the competitive bid 1 10 threshold provided in section 26.3. The local contracting 1 11 organization shall designate a contracting officer and shall 1 12 establish procedures to manage the contract, approve bills for 1 13 payment, and review proposed change orders or amendments to 1 14 the contract. 1 15 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 1 16 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 1 17 EXPLANATION 1 18 Code chapter 161C provides for water protection projects 1 19 and practices. Code section 161C.2 authorizes a soil and 1 20 water conservation district to carry out projects to protect 1 21 this state's groundwater and surface water from point and 1 22 nonpoint sources of contamination. The Code section provides 1 23 that any work project is governed under Code chapter 573 which 1 24 provides processes for contracting for public improvements. 1 25 Code section 573.2 requires the posting of a performance bond 1 26 for a contract involving a public improvement for $25,000 or 1 27 more. This bill provides that the commissioners of a soil and 1 28 water conservation district may waive the requirement if they 1 29 estimate the cost of the project will not exceed the general 1 30 competitive bid threshold of $100,000 for general construction 1 31 bidding as provided in Code section 26.3 (see 2006 Iowa Acts, 1 32 ch. 1017). 1 33 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 1 34 LSB 2445HH 82 1 35 da:rj/gg/14