HF 2394 (LSB 5358YH (4) 83)

HOUSE FILE 2394

BY  PETTENGILL

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the purposes for which physical plant and equipment levy revenue and certain related revenues may be utilized, and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 298.3, subsection 1, paragraphs f and g, Code Supplement 2009, are amended to read as follows:
   f.  Repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses. For the purpose of this paragraph:
   (1)  “Repairing” means restoring an existing structure or thing to its original condition, as near as may be, after decay, waste, injury, or partial destruction, but does not include maintenance.
   (2)  “Reconstructing” means rebuilding or restoring as an entity a thing which was lost or destroyed.
   g.  (1)  Expenditures for energy conservation, including payments made pursuant to a guarantee furnished by a school district entering into a financing agreement for energy management improvements, limited to agreements pursuant to section 473.19, 473.20, or 473.20A.
   (2)  The costs of utilities.
    Sec. 2.  Section 298.3, subsection 1, Code Supplement 2009, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  n.  The salaries or service contract costs for maintenance staff.
    Sec. 3.  Section 298.3, subsection 4, Code Supplement 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  Revenue from the regular and voter-approved physical plant and equipment levies shall not be expended for school district employee salaries or travel expenses, except as provided in subsection 1, paragraph “n”; supplies,; printing costs; or media services,; or for any other purpose not expressly authorized in this section.
    Sec. 4.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to physical plant and equipment levies imposed on or after the effective date of this Act and to expenditures made from the secure an advanced vision for education fund under chapter 423F on or after the effective date of this Act for the purpose of reducing the physical plant and equipment levy.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the purposes for which physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) revenue may be utilized. The bill provides that maintenance costs and utilities costs shall now be covered expenses. The bill also allows the salaries or service contract costs of maintenance staff to be paid from PPEL revenues.
   The bill is applicable to physical plant and equipment levies imposed on or after the bill’s effective date, and because Code chapter 423F includes the “school infrastructure” purposes also authorized for the physical plant and equipment levy, the bill is also applicable to expenditures made from the secure an advanced vision for education fund on or after the effective date of the bill for purposes of reducing the physical plant and equipment levy.