HF 2372 (LSB 6161HV (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 2372

BY  COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 625)

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning county supervisor districting plans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 68B.32A, subsection 16, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   16.  Establish an expedited procedure for reviewing complaints forwarded by the state commissioner of elections to the board for a determination as to whether a supervisor district plan adopted pursuant to section 331.210A that differs from a supervisor district plan prepared by the legislative services agency was drawn for improper political reasons as described in section 42.4, subsection 5. The expedited procedure shall be substantially similar to the process used for other complaints filed with the board except that the provisions of section 68B.32D shall not apply.
    Sec. 2.  Section 331.209, subsection 4, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  Each temporary county redistricting commission shall notify the state commissioner of elections when the boundaries of supervisor districts are changed, shall provide a map delineating the new boundary lines, and shall certify to the state commissioner of elections the populations of the new supervisor districts as determined under the latest federal decennial census. Upon failure of a temporary county redistricting commission to make the required changes by the dates specified by this section and sections 331.203 and 331.204 as determined by the state commissioner of elections, the state commissioner of elections shall make or cause to be made the necessary changes as soon as possible, and shall assess to the county the expenses incurred in so doing. The Except for a representation plan drawn pursuant to section 331.210A, subsection 2, paragraph “f”, the state commissioner of elections may request the services of personnel and materials available to the legislative services agency to assist the state commissioner in making required changes in supervisor district boundaries which become the state commissioner’s responsibility.
    Sec. 3.  Section 331.210A, subsection 2, paragraph f, subparagraph (1), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  (a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, for For purposes of this paragraph “f”, “qualifying county” means a county with a population of one hundred fifty thousand or more based on the most recent federal decennial census that elects supervisors under plan “three” as defined in section 331.206, or a county with a population of one hundred eighty thousand or more that has adopted a charter for a city-county consolidated form of government or a community commonwealth form of government and which charter provides for representation by districts,. 
   (b)  Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, for a qualifying county, the legislative services agency, and not the temporary county redistricting commission, shall draw a representation plan as provided by paragraph “a” pursuant to a contract executed with the county.
   (c)  A county subject to the requirements of this paragraph “f” shall notify the state commissioner of elections that a representation plan to be drawn pursuant to this paragraph “f” is required and shall submit to the state commissioner of elections the precinct plan to be used to draw the representation plan. Upon notification and submission of a precinct plan, the state commissioner of elections shall review and approve the precinct plan to be used. Following approval of the precinct plan to be used, the state commissioner of elections shall notify the legislative council which shall direct the legislative services agency to prepare a representation plan for the county.
   (d)  The plan drawn by the legislative services agency shall be based upon the precinct plan adopted and approved for use by the county and shall be drawn in accordance with section 42.4, to the extent applicable. After the legislative services agency has drawn the plan, the legislative services agency shall at the earliest feasible time make available to the public all of the information required to be made public by paragraph “b”.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill concerns county supervisor districting plans for certain counties.
   Code section 331.210A(2)(f) is amended to provide that the procedure for adopting a representation plan for a county that has a population that exceeds 180,000 or that has adopted a charter for a city-county consolidation form or community commonwealth form that provides for representation by districts shall also apply to a county with a population of 150,000 or more that has adopted a plan “three” form of representation. The procedure provides that the county’s initial plan for districts, and the county’s first plan for districts after each federal decennial census, shall be drawn by the legislative services agency based upon an approved precinct plan for the county and the standards applicable to congressional and legislative redistricting. If the plan drawn by the legislative services agency is rejected by the governing body, the governing body shall direct the legislative services agency to prepare another plan as provided by current law.
   Code section 68B.32A, concerning complaints for improper political reasons relative to an adopted supervisor district plan, is amended to make the complaint process inapplicable to plans prepared by the legislative services agency. In addition, Code section 331.209 is amended to provide that the state commissioner of elections shall not be permitted to request assistance from the legislative services agency relating to a representation plan drawn pursuant to Code section 331.210A(2)(f).