SENATE FILE 15

BY  SODDERS

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring that the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy be appointed by the governor for a four-year term from nominees selected by the law enforcement academy council and including applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 80B.5, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   80B.5  Administration.
   The administration of this chapter shall be vested in the office of the governor. A director of the academy and such shall be appointed by the governor from a slate of nominees submitted to the governor by the Iowa law enforcement academy council. The council shall submit a slate of up to three nominees for the position to the governor for the governor’s consideration. The nominees shall be chosen by the affirmative vote of a majority of council members upon the basis of their qualifications and without regard to political affiliation. The slate of nominees may include the current director. The director shall serve for a four-year term beginning on January 1 of an even-numbered year in which a general election for the office of governor will not take place. A vacancy in this position shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointee. An appointee filling a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the original term. Other staff as may be necessary for it the academy to function shall be employed pursuant to the Iowa merit system provisions of chapter 8A, subchapter IV.
   Sec. 2.  POSITION ABOLISHED.  The position of the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy, subject to the merit system provisions of chapter 8A, subchapter IV, is abolished on December 31, 2011.
   Sec. 3.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to the appointment of the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy for terms beginning on or after January 1, 2012.
EXPLANATION
   Current law provides that the position of director of the Iowa law enforcement academy is a state merit system position. This bill provides that the director is appointed by the governor from a slate of up to three nominees submitted by the Iowa law enforcement academy council. The bill provides that nominees be chosen by the affirmative vote of a majority of council members based on their qualifications and without regard to political affiliation. The bill provides that the council may include the current director in the slate of nominees. The bill provides that the director serves for a four-year term starting on January 1 in each even-numbered year in which a general election for the office of governor will not take place. The bill provides that a vacancy in the position be filled in the same manner as the original appointee, with the new appointee serving for the remainder of the original term.
   The bill abolishes the merit position of the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy on December 31, 2011.
   The bill applies to the appointment of the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy for terms beginning on or after January 1, 2012.