House File 2402 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2402 BY THORUP A BILL FOR An Act relating to funding for full-time park employee 1 residences at state parks and other facilities operated by 2 the department of natural resources. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5441YH (6) 89 js/rn
H.F. 2402 Section 1. Section 422.7, Code 2022, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 63. Subtract, to the extent included, 3 income received by a full-time park employee for park 4 residences provided pursuant to section 456A.13B. 5 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 456A.13B State park residency program 6 —— fund. 7 1. The department shall establish and administer a state 8 park residency program. The purpose of the program is to 9 provide quality on-site housing for full-time park employees 10 assigned to state parks or other facilities operated by the 11 department. 12 2. A state park residency fund is established in the state 13 treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall 14 consist of moneys appropriated to or deposited in the fund. 15 Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the 16 purpose of maintaining state park residences in clean, livable 17 conditions for full-time park employees. Maintenance shall 18 include ensuring that all residences comply with applicable 19 building codes. 20 3. If a park residence exists at a state park or other 21 facility and is not otherwise occupied, a newly hired full-time 22 park employee shall have the option to occupy the park 23 residence. A full-time park employee residing at a state park 24 residence or other facility on or after the effective date 25 of this Act shall continue to reside at the park residence 26 or other facility until the full-time park employee decides 27 to vacate the premises or upon retirement, termination, or 28 reassignment. During the time the full-time park employee 29 resides at the state park residence or other facility, the 30 residency shall be considered a mandatory condition of 31 employment and the department shall not collect rent from the 32 full-time park employee. The department shall not charge rent 33 to a full-time park employee residing at a state park or other 34 facility. 35 -1- LSB 5441YH (6) 89 js/rn 1/ 2
H.F. 2402 EXPLANATION 1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 This bill relates to funding for full-time park employee 4 residences at state parks and other facilities operated by the 5 department of natural resources (DNR). 6 The bill requires DNR to establish and administer a state 7 park residency program to provide quality on-site housing for 8 full-time park employees assigned to state parks or other 9 facilities operated by DNR. The bill establishes a state park 10 residency fund in the state treasury under the control of DNR 11 with funds appropriated to DNR for the purpose of maintaining 12 state park residences in clean, livable conditions for 13 full-time park employees. Maintenance shall include ensuring 14 that all residences comply with applicable building codes. 15 The bill provides a newly hired full-time park employee the 16 opportunity to occupy a park residence that is not otherwise 17 occupied. The bill provides that a full-time park employee 18 who resides at a state park residence or other facility on or 19 after the effective date of the bill shall continue to reside 20 at the state park residence or other facility until the person 21 decides to vacate the premises or upon retirement, termination, 22 or reassignment. When a full-time park employee resides at a 23 state park residence or other facility, such residency shall be 24 considered a mandatory condition of employment and DNR shall 25 not charge rent to the full-time park employee. The bill 26 excludes income received by a full-time park employee for a 27 park residency from the individual income tax. 28 -2- LSB 5441YH (6) 89 js/rn 2/ 2