Senate File 2327 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3224)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to economic development by creating a sustainable
2 community development initiative.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5708SV 82
5 tw/rj/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 15.109, Code 2007, is amended to read
1 2 as follows:
1 3 15.109 ADDITIONAL DUTIES.
1 4 1. The department of economic development shall coordinate
1 5 the development of state and local government programs in
1 6 order to promote efficient and economic use of federal, state,
1 7 local, and private resources. The department shall:
1 8 1. 2. Provide The department shall provide technical and
1 9 financial assistance to local and regional government
1 10 organizations in Iowa, analyze intergovernmental relations in
1 11 Iowa, and recommend policies to state agencies, local
1 12 governments, the governor, and the general assembly.
1 13 2. 3. Apply The department shall apply for, receive,
1 14 administer, and use federal or other funds available for
1 15 achieving the purposes of this chapter. For purposes of this
1 16 subsection, the term "federal funds" includes federal tax
1 17 credits, grants, or other economic benefits allocated or
1 18 provided by the United States government to encourage
1 19 investment in low=income or other specified areas or to
1 20 otherwise promote economic development.
1 21 a. The department may enter into an agreement pursuant to
1 22 chapter 28E, or any other agreement, with a person, including
1 23 for=profit and nonprofit legal entities, in order to directly
1 24 or indirectly apply for, receive, administer, and use federal
1 25 funds.
1 26 b. As part of such agreements and in furtherance of this
1 27 public purpose and in addition to powers and duties conferred
1 28 under other provisions of law, the department may, including
1 29 for or on behalf of for=profit or nonprofit legal entities,
1 30 appoint, remove, and replace board members and advisors;
1 31 provide oversight; make its personnel and resources available
1 32 to perform administrative, management, and compliance
1 33 functions; coordinate investments; and engage in other acts as
1 34 reasonable and necessary to encourage investment in low=income
1 35 or other areas or to promote economic development.
2 1 c. The department, including department officials and
2 2 employees in their official and personal capacities, are
2 3 immune from liability for all acts or omissions under this
2 4 subsection.
2 5 3. 4. At the time the department approves assistance for
2 6 an applicant, the department shall provide the person with
2 7 information regarding the nature and source of other technical
2 8 assistance available in the state to assist the applicant on
2 9 design and management matters concerning energy efficiency and
2 10 waste reduction. The department shall review the extent to
2 11 which recommendations made to grantees are in fact implemented
2 12 by the grantees.
2 13 5. The department shall establish a sustainable community
2 14 development initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to
2 15 improve the sustainability of Iowa communities by promoting
2 16 environmental justice, ensuring long=term economic growth, and
2 17 fostering environmentally conscious growth and development.
2 18 "Sustainable community development" includes but is not
2 19 limited to encouraging development that improves or modifies
2 20 existing infrastructure before developing new infrastructure
2 21 such as upgrading or repairing roads, electrical conduits, and
2 22 sewers; reclaiming and redeveloping brownfield sites;
2 23 promoting renewable energy sources such as small scale wind
2 24 and solar; encouraging recycling and waste reduction;
2 25 repairing unused or underused urban property; revitalizing
2 26 blighted areas; maximizing existing transportation resources;
2 27 and encouraging mass transit. In establishing the initiative,
2 28 the department shall:
2 29 a. Create a plan to ensure that all of the department's
2 30 current community growth and development programs, efforts,
2 31 and initiatives incorporate an environmentally conscious
2 32 approach and policies that promote sustainability.
2 33 b. Cooperate with local governments in the promotion of
2 34 sustainable growth and development by providing information,
2 35 technical assistance, and financial incentives to communities
3 1 pursuing sustainable growth.
3 2 c. Cooperate with other agencies, departments, and
3 3 divisions within state government, including but not limited
3 4 to the department of natural resources, the office of energy
3 5 independence, the department of cultural affairs, and the
3 6 department of transportation in order to develop a more
3 7 comprehensive approach to sustainable development statewide.
3 8 d. Develop an internet site with information and resources
3 9 educating the public about and promoting sustainable
3 10 development.
3 11 e. Plan and host conferences to bring together sustainable
3 12 development stakeholders and members of communities.
3 13 f. Provide technical and financial assistance for pilot
3 14 projects promoting environmentally sensitive development and
3 15 sustainable communities.
3 16 Sec. 2. Section 15G.111, subsection 1, Code Supplement
3 17 2007, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 18 NEW PARAGRAPH. dd. The department may use up to five
3 19 hundred thousand dollars of the moneys appropriated under this
3 20 subsection for the administration of the sustainable community
3 21 development initiative established pursuant to section 15.109,
3 22 subsection 5.
3 23 EXPLANATION
3 24 This bill relates to the development of sustainable
3 25 communities.
3 26 The bill directs the department of economic development to
3 27 establish a sustainable community development initiative. As
3 28 part of this initiative, the department is required to ensure
3 29 that all of its current programs promote sustainability, to
3 30 cooperate with local governments, to cooperate with other
3 31 state government entities, to develop an internet site
3 32 promoting sustainability, and to provide technical and
3 33 financial assistance to pilot project communities promoting
3 34 sustainable development.
3 35 The bill authorizes the department to expend annually up to
4 1 $500,000 from the grow Iowa values fund to fund the
4 2 initiative.
4 3 LSB 5708SV 82
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