Senate Study Bill 3224
SENATE/HOUSE FILE
BY (PROPOSED GOVERNOR'S BILL)
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 5708XL 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 repairing unused or underused urban property; revitalizing
2 24 blighted areas; maximizing existing transportation resources;
2 25 and encouraging mass transit. In establishing the initiative,
2 26 the department shall:
2 27 a. Create a plan to ensure that all of the department's
2 28 current community growth and development programs, efforts,
2 29 and initiatives incorporate an environmentally conscious
2 30 approach and policies that promote sustainability.
2 31 b. Cooperate with local governments in the promotion of
2 32 sustainable growth and development by providing information,
2 33 technical assistance, and financial incentives to communities
2 34 pursuing sustainable growth.
2 35 c. Cooperate with other agencies, departments, and
3 1 divisions within state government, including but not limited
3 2 to the department of natural resources, the department of
3 3 cultural affairs, and the department of transportation in
3 4 order to develop a more comprehensive approach to sustainable
3 5 development statewide.
3 6 d. Develop an internet site with information and resources
3 7 educating the public about and promoting sustainable
3 8 development.
3 9 e. Plan and host conferences to bring together sustainable
3 10 development stakeholders and members of communities.
3 11 f. Provide technical and financial assistance for pilot
3 12 projects promoting environmentally sensitive development and
3 13 sustainable communities.
3 14 Sec. 2. Section 15G.111, subsection 1, Code Supplement
3 15 2007, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 16 NEW PARAGRAPH. dd. The department may use up to five
3 17 hundred thousand dollars of the moneys appropriated under this
3 18 subsection for the administration of the sustainable community
3 19 development initiative established pursuant to section 15.109,
3 20 subsection 5.
3 21 EXPLANATION
3 22 This bill relates to the development of sustainable
3 23 communities.
3 24 The bill directs the department of economic development to
3 25 establish a sustainable community development initiative. As
3 26 part of this initiative, the department is required to ensure
3 27 that all of its current programs promote sustainability, to
3 28 cooperate with local governments, to cooperate with other
3 29 state government entities, to develop an internet site
3 30 promoting sustainability, and to provide technical and
3 31 financial assistance to pilot project communities promoting
3 32 sustainable development.
3 33 The bill authorizes the department to expend annually up to
3 34 $500,000 from the grow Iowa values fund to fund the
3 35 initiative.
4 1 LSB 5708XL 82
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