House File 553 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY SCHICKEL Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act requiring governmental entities to hold a public hearing 2 prior to hiring a consultant for hiring personnel. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1531YH 82 5 ec/je/5 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 26A.1 PUBLIC CONSULTING 1 2 CONTRACTS FOR PERSONNEL == PUBLIC HEARING. 1 3 1. For purposes of this section, unless the context 1 4 otherwise requires, "governmental entity" means the state, a 1 5 political subdivision of the state, a public school 1 6 corporation, and any officer, board, or commission empowered 1 7 by law to enter into a consulting contract for personnel 1 8 hiring. 1 9 2. A governmental entity shall not enter into a contract 1 10 to hire a consultant for the purpose of hiring personnel until 1 11 the governmental entity has held a public hearing and has 1 12 approved the consulting contract. Notice of the hearing must 1 13 be published in a manner consistent with the requirements of 1 14 section 362.3. At the hearing, any interested person may 1 15 appear and file objections to the proposed consulting 1 16 contract. After hearing objections, the governmental entity 1 17 shall enter its decision on the consulting contract. 1 18 EXPLANATION 1 19 This bill provides that a governmental entity shall not 1 20 enter into a contract to hire a consultant for the purpose of 1 21 hiring personnel until the entity has held a public hearing. 1 22 The bill requires the governmental entity to give notice of 1 23 the hearing and to not make a decision on the contract until 1 24 after the hearing is conducted. The bill defines governmental 1 25 entity to include the state, political subdivisions of the 1 26 state, and public school corporations. 1 27 LSB 1531YH 82 1 28 ec:nh/je/5