House File 377 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 377 BY KAJTAZOVIC A BILL FOR An Act relating to greater transparency for state board of 1 regents meetings, forums, and proposals. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2364HH (3) 85 kh/sc
H.F. 377 Section 1. Section 262.8, Code 2013, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 262.8 Meetings —— public forums —— public readings . 3 1. The board shall meet four times a year. Special meetings 4 may be called by the board, by the president of the board, or 5 by the executive director of the board upon written request of 6 any five members thereof. 7 2. Each regular meeting of the state board of regents 8 shall begin with at least thirty minutes for public comment if 9 requested by members of the public. A member of the public 10 shall be granted up to five minutes to make comments and may be 11 granted more time by a member of the board. 12 3. At least two members of the state board of regents 13 shall hold public forums at which issues relating to the 14 activities of the board and the institutions the board governs 15 can be discussed and addressed. The forums shall provide 16 the community with opportunities to pose questions, receive 17 answers, and make comments. The board shall divide the 18 state into at least six geographic regions, including but 19 not limited to northwest, southwest, north central, south 20 central, northeast, and southeast Iowa, and shall hold a forum 21 in accordance with this subsection in each region at least 22 quarterly. Notice of a forum shall be prominently posted on 23 the board’s internet site at least two weeks prior to the date 24 of the forum. 25 4. The board shall hold public readings of a proposal at two 26 regular meetings of the board before the board takes action on 27 a proposal before the board if the proposal affects an academic 28 program at an institution governed by the board, or if the 29 estimated cost of the proposal is one hundred thousand dollars 30 or more. A quorum of the board must be physically present at 31 any board meeting that includes a public reading required by 32 this subsection. The affirmative vote of a majority of the 33 membership of the board is necessary for any action to be taken 34 by the board on a proposal subject to this subsection. 35 -1- LSB 2364HH (3) 85 kh/sc 1/ 2
H.F. 377 Sec. 2. Section 262.9, Code 2013, is amended by adding the 1 following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 38. The board is subject to chapters 21 and 3 22. 4 EXPLANATION 5 This bill establishes additional requirements for state 6 board of regents meetings, including a period for public 7 comment, public forums, and public readings. 8 Each regular board meeting shall begin with at least 30 9 minutes for public comment if requested by members of the 10 public. A member of the public shall be granted up to five 11 minutes to make comments and may be granted more time by a 12 member of the board. 13 At least two members of the board shall hold public forums in 14 each of at least six geographic regions of the state quarterly. 15 Notice of a forum must be prominently posted on the board’s 16 internet site at least two weeks prior to the date of the 17 forum. 18 If a proposal before the board affects an institution’s 19 academic program or if its estimated cost is $100,000 or 20 more, the bill requires that the board hold public readings 21 of the proposal at two regular meetings of the board before 22 taking action on the proposal. A quorum of the board must be 23 physically present at these meetings, and the proposal must 24 receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the membership 25 for any action to be taken on the proposal. 26 The bill specifies that the board is subject to and required 27 to comply with Code chapters 21 and 22, the open meetings and 28 open records laws. 29 -2- LSB 2364HH (3) 85 kh/sc 2/ 2