SF 2080 (LSB 5050XS (4) 86)

SENATE FILE 2080

BY  CHELGREN, BEHN, and ZAUN

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for an ongoing review of the Iowa Code by standing committees of the general assembly.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 2.15, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  (1)  Undertaking in-depth studies of governmental matters within their assigned jurisdiction, not only for the purpose of evaluating proposed legislation, but also for studying existing laws and governmental operations and functions to determine their usefulness and effectiveness, as provided in section 2.14.
   (2)  (a)  As part of the duties identified in paragraph “a”, standing committees shall conduct a periodic review of chapters of the Code corresponding to their assigned jurisdiction, and make recommendations for additions to, deletions from, or modifications of those provisions. The objective of the review shall be to recommend to the general assembly the amendment and reenactment of provisions of the Code in order to affirm and revise current law by reflecting current practices, inserting earlier omissions, deleting redundancies and inaccuracies, deleting temporary language, resolving inconsistencies and conflicts, updating ongoing provisions, and removing ambiguities.
   (b)  The reviews shall be conducted pursuant to a schedule determined by the legislative council, with the assistance of the Code editor, such that approximately one-twelfth of the Code shall undergo a review in any one year, and the entire Code shall have undergone a review at the conclusion of a twelve-year period. The reviews shall be conducted on an ongoing and rotating basis. The chairperson of each standing committee shall submit recommendations at the conclusion of that committee’s review to the legislative services agency for the drafting of proposed legislation to amend and reenact portions of the Code.
   (c)  Standing committees may meet for purposes of the review throughout the legislative session and during the legislative interim if authorized by the legislative council. Standing committees of the two houses with similar jurisdictions may conduct joint committee meetings. The legislative services agency shall provide staff assistance as authorized by the legislative council.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the standing committees of the Iowa general assembly to conduct a periodic review of Iowa Code chapters corresponding to their assigned jurisdiction, and make recommendations for additions, deletions, or modifications. The bill provides that the objective of the review shall be to recommend to the general assembly the amendment and reenactment of provisions of the Code in order to affirm and revise current law by reflecting current practices, inserting earlier omissions, deleting redundancies and inaccuracies, deleting temporary language, resolving inconsistencies and conflicts, updating ongoing provisions, and removing ambiguities.
   The bill provides that the legislative council shall determine an ongoing review schedule, with the assistance of the Iowa Code editor, such that approximately one-twelfth of the Code shall undergo a review in any one year, and the entire Code shall have undergone a review at the conclusion of a 12-year period. The chairperson of each standing committee is directed to submit recommendations at the conclusion of that committee’s review to the legislative services agency for drafting of proposed legislation.
   Procedurally, the bill provides that standing committees may meet for purposes of the review throughout the legislative session and during the legislative interim if authorized by the legislative council, may conduct joint standing committee meetings, and may be provided staffing assistance by the legislative services agency as authorized by the legislative council.