HF 2501 (LSB 6238YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2501

BY  THOMSON

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a legislative services agency committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  2.70  Legislative services agency committee established.
   1.  A legislative services agency committee is established which shall meet monthly to review the operations of the legislative services agency.
   2.  a.  The committee shall consist of the following members:
   (1)  Twelve members of the senate, to be appointed by the majority leader of the senate and minority leader of the senate, apportioned according to party balance as determined by the legislative council. 
   (2)  Thirteen members of the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and minority leader of the house of representatives, apportioned according to party balance as determined by the legislative council.
   b.  Members shall be appointed prior to January 31 of the first regular session of each general assembly and shall serve for terms ending upon the convening of the following general assembly or when their successors are appointed, whichever is later. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term of the vacancy.
   c.  The committee shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson.
   3.  The members of the committee shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and shall be paid a per diem as specified in section 2.10 for each day in which they engaged in the performance of their duties. However, per diem compensation and expenses shall not be paid when the general assembly is actually in session at the seat of government. Expenses and per diem shall be paid from moneys appropriated pursuant to section 2.12.
   4.  The committee shall do the following:
   a.  Determine the number of legislative services agency staff necessary to ensure completion of bill and fiscal note requests within forty-eight hours of a request being submitted.
   b.  Recommend proposed salaries for legal staff, taking into account the supply and demand of the legal expertise market, of no less than any of the following:
   (1)  The average annual compensation of a first-year associate at a large law firm in Chicago.
   (2)  The average annual compensation of a mid-level partner at a large law firm in Des Moines.
   (3)  One hundred ten thousand dollars per year, including benefits.
   c.  Annually submit a report with the committee’s findings and recommendations to the general assembly by November 1, 2024.
   5.  Administrative assistance shall be provided by the legislative services agency.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a legislative services agency (LSA) committee consisting of 12 members of the senate and 13 members of the house of representatives, apportioned according to party balance.
   The bill requires the committee to recommend salaries for LSA legal staff and determine the number of LSA staff needed to complete bill and fiscal note requests within 48 hours. The committee must submit an annual report to the general assembly by November 1 that includes the committee’s findings and recommendations.