Senate Resolution 13 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13 BY GRONSTAL A Resolution conferring authority upon the senate 1 committee on government oversight to conduct an 2 investigation of specified issues relating to the 3 Iowa veterans home. 4 WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the 5 welfare of individuals residing at the Iowa veterans 6 home established pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 35D; and 7 WHEREAS, the concerns have specifically addressed 8 the quality of care received by residents of the Iowa 9 veterans home, the involuntary eviction or dismissal of 10 residents, the manner in which residents are addressed 11 and treated, and resulting questions regarding resident 12 safety; and 13 WHEREAS, concerns have also arisen regarding 14 contracts and purchasing agreements entered into by the 15 Iowa veterans home; and 16 WHEREAS, the senate committee on government 17 oversight is empowered, pursuant to Iowa Code sections 18 2.15 and 2.23, to require information of state agencies 19 and departments and to conduct investigations with 20 authority to call witnesses, administer oaths, issue 21 subpoenas, and cite for contempt; NOW THEREFORE, 22 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the senate 23 committee on government oversight is authorized to 24 conduct an investigation of issues relating to the 25 care, treatment, and safety of residents of the Iowa 26 veterans home, and contracts and purchasing agreements 27 entered into by the Iowa veterans home; and 28 -1- LSB 2541XS (5) 85 rn/rj 1/ 3
S.R. 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the investigation shall 1 be conducted in accordance with the full authority 2 granted the senate committee on government oversight 3 by law including but not limited to the authority to 4 conduct the investigation, call witnesses, administer 5 oaths, issue subpoenas, cite and impose punishment for 6 contempt, and otherwise exercise and enforce these 7 investigative powers as authorized by and in accordance 8 with law, subject to the following: 9 1. The scope of the investigation shall be confined 10 to resident care, treatment, and safety issues and 11 concerns, and contracts and purchasing agreements 12 entered into by the Iowa veterans home. 13 2. Subpoena authority conferred by this Resolution 14 shall exist for a 90-day period following the date of 15 passage of this Resolution. 16 3. A citation and punishment for contempt may be 17 issued and imposed according to the following schedule: 18 a. An initial citation may be issued by the senate 19 committee on government oversight by a majority vote 20 of the members of the committee and is punishable by a 21 fine of $500. 22 b. A second or subsequent citation may be issued 23 by the senate committee on government oversight by a 24 majority vote of the members of the committee and is 25 punishable by a fine of $1,000. 26 c. In addition to the fines authorized pursuant to 27 paragraphs “a” and “b”, the senate may by resolution 28 impose a punishment of imprisonment for a period of up 29 to six months. 30 -2- LSB 2541XS (5) 85 rn/rj 2/ 3
S.R. 13 4. Subpoenas and citations for contempt shall be 1 signed by the chairperson of the senate committee on 2 government oversight, the president of the senate, and 3 the secretary of the senate. Warrants for contempt 4 shall be signed by the president of the senate and the 5 secretary of the senate. 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the senate committee 7 on government oversight may meet at such times and at 8 such places as the chairperson of the committee deems 9 necessary; and 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the investigation shall 11 continue until completed, or until such time as the 12 investigation is terminated by the senate committee on 13 government oversight by majority vote of the members 14 of the committee. 15 -3- LSB 2541XS (5) 85 rn/rj 3/ 3