Senate File 562 - Reprinted



                                    SENATE FILE       
                                    BY  COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

                                    (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1336)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to and making appropriations to the department of
  2    cultural affairs, the department of economic development,
  3    certain board of regents institutions, the department of
  4    workforce development, the Iowa finance authority, and the
  5    public employment relations board, and related matters.
  6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  7 TLSB 1128SV 82
  8 tm/je/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.  There is
  1  2 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
  1  3 department of cultural affairs for the fiscal year beginning
  1  4 July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the following amounts,
  1  5 or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the
  1  6 purposes designated:
  1  7    1.  ADMINISTRATION
  1  8    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  1  9 and for not more than the following full=time equivalent
  1 10 positions:
  1 11 .................................................. $    245,101
  1 12 ............................................... FTEs       2.35
  1 13    The department of cultural affairs shall coordinate
  1 14 activities with the tourism office of the department of
  1 15 economic development to promote attendance at the state
  1 16 historical building and at this state's historic sites.
  1 17    2.  COMMUNITY CULTURAL GRANTS
  1 18    For planning and programming for the community cultural
  1 19 grants program established under section 303.3:
  1 20 .................................................. $    299,240
  1 21    3.  HISTORICAL DIVISION
  1 22    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  1 23 and for not more than the following full=time equivalent
  1 24 positions:
  1 25 .................................................. $  3,542,865
  1 26 ............................................... FTEs      58.08
  1 27    From the moneys appropriated under this subsection, the
  1 28 department shall use $100,000 for purposes of administering
  1 29 chapter 404A.
  1 30    From the moneys appropriated under this subsection, the
  1 31 department shall use $50,000 for purposes of planning
  1 32 commemoration activities for the sesquicentennial anniversary
  1 33 of the civil war and Iowa's participation in the civil war.
  1 34 Such activities may include activities in Iowa, activities
  1 35 through partnerships with other states, and activities on a
  2  1 national level.
  2  2    4.  HISTORIC SITES
  2  3    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  2  4 and for not more than the following full=time equivalent
  2  5 positions:
  2  6 .................................................. $    554,166
  2  7 ............................................... FTEs       8.25
  2  8    5.  ARTS DIVISION
  2  9    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  2 10 including funds to match federal grants and for not more than
  2 11 the following full=time equivalent positions:
  2 12 .................................................. $  1,207,611
  2 13 ............................................... FTEs      11.12
  2 14    6.  GREAT PLACES
  2 15    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  2 16 and for not more than the following full=time equivalent
  2 17 positions:
  2 18 .................................................. $    305,794
  2 19 ............................................... FTEs       3.00
  2 20    7.  ARCHIVE IOWA GOVERNORS' RECORDS
  2 21    For archiving the records of Iowa governors and for not
  2 22 more than the following full=time equivalent position:
  2 23 .................................................. $     77,348
  2 24 ............................................... FTEs       0.97
  2 25    8.  RECORDS CENTER RENT
  2 26    For payment of rent for the state records center:
  2 27 .................................................. $    185,768
  2 28    Sec. 2.  GOALS AND ACCOUNTABILITY == ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  2 29    1.  The goals for the department of economic development
  2 30 shall be to expand and stimulate the state economy, increase
  2 31 the wealth of Iowans, and increase the population of the
  2 32 state.
  2 33    2.  To achieve the goals in subsection 1, the department of
  2 34 economic development shall do all of the following:
  2 35    a.  Concentrate its efforts on programs and activities that
  3  1 result in commercially viable products and services.
  3  2    b.  Adopt practices and services consistent with free
  3  3 market, private sector philosophies.
  3  4    c.  Ensure economic growth and development throughout the
  3  5 state.
  3  6    Sec. 3.  DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  There is
  3  7 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
  3  8 department of economic development for the fiscal year
  3  9 beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the
  3 10 following amounts, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
  3 11 used for the purposes designated:
  3 12    1.  ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
  3 13    a.  General administration
  3 14    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  3 15 programs, for transfer to the Iowa state commission grant
  3 16 program, and for not more than the following full=time
  3 17 equivalent positions:
  3 18 .................................................. $  2,044,529
  3 19 ............................................... FTEs      27.75
  3 20    b.  The department shall work with businesses and
  3 21 communities to continually improve the economic development
  3 22 climate along with the economic well=being and quality of life
  3 23 for Iowans.  The administration division shall coordinate with
  3 24 other state agencies ensuring that all state departments are
  3 25 attentive to the needs of an entrepreneurial culture.
  3 26    2.  BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
  3 27    a.  Business development operations
  3 28    For business development operations and programs, the film
  3 29 office, international trade, export assistance, workforce
  3 30 recruitment, the partner state program, for transfer to the
  3 31 strategic investment fund, for transfer to the value=added
  3 32 agricultural products and processes financial assistance fund,
  3 33 salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes, and
  3 34 for not more than the following full=time equivalent
  3 35 positions:
  4  1 .................................................. $  6,451,146
  4  2 ............................................... FTEs      61.00
  4  3    b.  The department shall establish a strong and aggressive
  4  4 marketing image to showcase Iowa's workforce, existing
  4  5 industry, and potential.  A priority shall be placed on
  4  6 recruiting new businesses, business expansion, and retaining
  4  7 existing Iowa businesses.  Emphasis shall also be placed on
  4  8 entrepreneurial development through helping to secure capital
  4  9 for entrepreneurs, and developing networks and a business
  4 10 climate conducive to entrepreneurs and small business.
  4 11    c.  A business creating jobs with economic development
  4 12 assistance through moneys appropriated in this subsection
  4 13 shall be subject to contract provisions stating that new and
  4 14 retained jobs shall be filled by individuals who are citizens
  4 15 of the United States who reside within the United States, or
  4 16 any person authorized to work in the United States pursuant to
  4 17 federal law, including legal resident aliens in the United
  4 18 States.  Any vendor who receives such public moneys shall
  4 19 adhere to such contract provisions and provide periodic
  4 20 assurances as the state shall require, that the jobs are
  4 21 filled solely by citizens of the United States who reside
  4 22 within the United States, or any person authorized to work in
  4 23 the United States pursuant to federal law, including legal
  4 24 resident aliens in the United States.
  4 25    d.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, the
  4 26 department may provide financial assistance in the form of a
  4 27 grant to a community economic development entity for
  4 28 conducting a local workforce recruitment effort designed to
  4 29 recruit former citizens of the state and former students at
  4 30 colleges and universities in the state to meet the needs of
  4 31 local employers.
  4 32    e.  From the moneys appropriated under this subsection, the
  4 33 department may provide financial assistance to early=stage
  4 34 industry companies being established by women entrepreneurs.
  4 35    f.  From the moneys appropriated under this subsection, the
  5  1 department may provide financial assistance in the form of
  5  2 grants, loans, or forgivable loans for advanced research and
  5  3 commercialization projects involving value=added agriculture,
  5  4 advanced technology, or biotechnology.
  5  5    g.  The department shall commission a study to analyze the
  5  6 tax structures and economic development incentives and
  5  7 financing on a comparative basis between Iowa and states
  5  8 bordering Iowa.
  5  9    h.  From the moneys appropriated under this subsection, the
  5 10 department shall use not more than $25,000 for purposes of
  5 11 conducting a microenterprise study.  The study shall include
  5 12 identification of current programs designed to assist
  5 13 microenterprises and of any gaps in providing assistance to
  5 14 microenterprises.  The study shall examine the experiences and
  5 15 best practices of microenterprise assistance in other states.
  5 16 By January 1, 2008, the department shall submit a report to
  5 17 the general assembly and the governor regarding the findings
  5 18 of the study and any recommendations which result from the
  5 19 study.
  5 20    i.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
  5 21 this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the
  5 22 close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain
  5 23 available for expenditure for the purposes designated until
  5 24 the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
  5 25    3.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
  5 26    a.  Community development programs
  5 27    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
  5 28 community economic development programs, tourism operations,
  5 29 community assistance, the mainstreet and rural mainstreet
  5 30 programs, the school=to=career program, the community
  5 31 development block grant, and housing and shelter=related
  5 32 programs and for not more than the following full=time
  5 33 equivalent positions:
  5 34 .................................................. $  6,422,654
  5 35 ............................................... FTEs      58.26
  6  1    b.  The department shall encourage development of
  6  2 communities and quality of life to foster economic growth.
  6  3 The department shall prepare communities for future growth and
  6  4 development through development, expansion, and modernization
  6  5 of infrastructure.
  6  6    c.  The department shall develop public=private
  6  7 partnerships with Iowa businesses in the tourism industry,
  6  8 Iowa tour groups, Iowa tourism organizations, and political
  6  9 subdivisions in this state to assist in the development of
  6 10 advertising efforts.  The department shall, to the fullest
  6 11 extent possible, develop cooperative efforts for advertising
  6 12 with contributions from other sources.
  6 13    d.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, the
  6 14 department shall use at least $1,046,000 for purposes of the
  6 15 main street and rural main street programs.
  6 16    e.  From the moneys appropriated in this subsection, the
  6 17 department shall use at least $3,794,443 for purposes of
  6 18 tourism operations.
  6 19    f.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
  6 20 this subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the
  6 21 close of the fiscal year shall not revert to any fund but
  6 22 shall remain available for expenditure for the designated
  6 23 purposes during the succeeding fiscal year.
  6 24    4.  For allocating moneys for the world food prize:
  6 25 .................................................. $    650,000
  6 26    By January 1, 2008, the entity receiving moneys allocated
  6 27 for the world food prize under this subsection shall submit a
  6 28 written report to the chairpersons and ranking members of the
  6 29 joint appropriations subcommittee on economic development
  6 30 regarding the expenditure of moneys received from the state.
  6 31 The report shall include an itemization of expenditures of
  6 32 moneys received from the state during the fiscal year
  6 33 beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, and an
  6 34 itemization of expenditures of moneys received from the state
  6 35 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and ending June
  7  1 30, 2009, as well as all projected expenditures of such moneys
  7  2 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008, and ending June
  7  3 30, 2009.
  7  4    Sec. 4.  VISION IOWA PROGRAM == FTE AUTHORIZATION.  For
  7  5 purposes of administrative duties associated with the vision
  7  6 Iowa program, the department of economic development is
  7  7 authorized an additional 2.25 full=time equivalent positions
  7  8 above those otherwise authorized in this Act.
  7  9    Sec. 5.  RURAL COMMUNITY 2000 PROGRAM.  There is
  7 10 appropriated from loan repayments on loans made under the
  7 11 former rural community 2000 program, sections 15.281 through
  7 12 15.288, Code 2001, to the department of economic development
  7 13 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June
  7 14 30, 2008, any funds available in the rural community 2000
  7 15 fund.  Moneys appropriated under this section shall be used
  7 16 for providing financial assistance to Iowa's councils of
  7 17 governments that provide technical and planning assistance to
  7 18 local governments.
  7 19    Sec. 6.  INSURANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  From the moneys
  7 20 collected by the division of insurance in excess of the
  7 21 anticipated gross revenues under section 505.7, subsection 3,
  7 22 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, $100,000 shall
  7 23 be transferred to the department of economic development for
  7 24 insurance economic development and international insurance
  7 25 economic development.
  7 26    Sec. 7.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND.  Notwithstanding
  7 27 section 15E.120, subsection 5, there is appropriated from the
  7 28 Iowa community development loan fund all the moneys available
  7 29 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June
  7 30 30, 2008, to the department of economic development for the
  7 31 community development program to be used by the department for
  7 32 the purposes of the program.
  7 33    Sec. 8.  WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND.  There is appropriated
  7 34 from the workforce development fund account created in section
  7 35 15.342A, to the workforce development fund created in section
  8  1 15.343, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending
  8  2 June 30, 2008, the following amount, for the purposes of the
  8  3 workforce development fund, and for not more than the
  8  4 following full=time equivalent positions:
  8  5 .................................................. $  4,000,000
  8  6 ............................................... FTEs       4.00
  8  7    Sec. 9.  WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.  From funds
  8  8 appropriated or transferred to or receipts credited to the
  8  9 workforce development fund created in section 15.343, up to
  8 10 $400,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and
  8 11 ending June 30, 2008, may be used for the administration of
  8 12 workforce development activities including salaries, support,
  8 13 maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes and for not more than
  8 14 4.00 full=time equivalent positions.
  8 15    Sec. 10.  JOB TRAINING FUND.  Notwithstanding section
  8 16 15.251, all remaining moneys in the job training fund on July
  8 17 1, 2007, and any moneys appropriated or credited to the fund
  8 18 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, shall be
  8 19 transferred to the workforce development fund established
  8 20 pursuant to section 15.343.
  8 21    Sec. 11.  IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY.  There is appropriated
  8 22 from the general fund of the state to the Iowa finance
  8 23 authority for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and
  8 24 ending June 30, 2008, the following amount, or so much thereof
  8 25 as is necessary, to be used for the purpose designated:
  8 26    For the entrepreneurs with disabilities program:
  8 27 .................................................. $    200,000
  8 28    Sec. 12.  IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY.
  8 29    1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the
  8 30 state to the Iowa state university of science and technology
  8 31 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June
  8 32 30, 2008, the following amount, or so much thereof as is
  8 33 necessary, to be used for small business development centers,
  8 34 the science and technology research park, the institute for
  8 35 physical research and technology, and for not more than the
  9  1 following full=time equivalent positions:
  9  2 .................................................. $  2,713,557
  9  3 ............................................... FTEs      56.63
  9  4    2.  Of the moneys appropriated in subsection 1, Iowa state
  9  5 university shall allocate at least $900,000 for purposes of
  9  6 funding small business development centers.  Iowa state
  9  7 university may allocate moneys appropriated in subsection 1 to
  9  8 the various small business development centers in any manner
  9  9 necessary to achieve the purposes of this subsection.
  9 10    3.  Iowa state university of science and technology shall
  9 11 do all of the following:
  9 12    a.  Direct expenditures for research toward projects that
  9 13 will provide economic stimulus for Iowa.
  9 14    b.  Provide emphasis to providing services to Iowa=based
  9 15 companies.
  9 16    4.  It is the intent of the general assembly that the
  9 17 industrial incentive program focus on Iowa industrial sectors
  9 18 and seek contributions and in=kind donations from businesses,
  9 19 industrial foundations, and trade associations and that moneys
  9 20 for the institute for physical research and technology
  9 21 industrial incentive program shall only be allocated for
  9 22 projects which are matched by private sector moneys for
  9 23 directed contract research or for nondirected research.  The
  9 24 match required of small businesses as defined in section
  9 25 15.102, subsection 4, for directed contract research or for
  9 26 nondirected research shall be $1 for each $3 of state funds.
  9 27 The match required for other businesses for directed contract
  9 28 research or for nondirected research shall be $1 for each $1
  9 29 of state funds.  The match required of industrial foundations
  9 30 or trade associations shall be $1 for each $1 of state funds.
  9 31    Iowa state university of science and technology shall
  9 32 report annually to the joint appropriations subcommittee on
  9 33 economic development and the legislative services agency the
  9 34 total amount of private contributions, the proportion of
  9 35 contributions from small businesses and other businesses, and
 10  1 the proportion for directed contract research and nondirected
 10  2 research of benefit to Iowa businesses and industrial sectors.
 10  3    Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
 10  4 section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close
 10  5 of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available
 10  6 for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of
 10  7 the succeeding fiscal year.
 10  8    Sec. 13.  UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
 10  9    1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the
 10 10 state to the state university of Iowa for the fiscal year
 10 11 beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the
 10 12 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
 10 13 used for the state university of Iowa research park and for
 10 14 the advanced drug development program at the Oakdale research
 10 15 park, including salaries, support, maintenance, equipment,
 10 16 miscellaneous purposes, and for not more than the following
 10 17 full=time equivalent positions:
 10 18 .................................................. $    247,005
 10 19 ............................................... FTEs       6.00
 10 20    2.  The state university of Iowa shall do all of the
 10 21 following:
 10 22    a.  Direct expenditures for research toward projects that
 10 23 will provide economic stimulus for Iowa.
 10 24    b.  Provide emphasis to providing services to Iowa=based
 10 25 companies.
 10 26    3.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
 10 27 this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the
 10 28 close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain
 10 29 available for expenditure for the purposes designated until
 10 30 the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
 10 31    Sec. 14.  UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA.
 10 32    1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the
 10 33 state to the university of northern Iowa for the fiscal year
 10 34 beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the
 10 35 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
 11  1 used for the metal casting institute, for the myentrenet
 11  2 internet application, and for the institute of decision
 11  3 making, including salaries, support, maintenance,
 11  4 miscellaneous purposes, and for not more than the following
 11  5 full=time equivalent positions:
 11  6 .................................................. $    661,291
 11  7 ............................................... FTEs       6.75
 11  8    2.  The university of northern Iowa shall do all of the
 11  9 following:
 11 10    a.  Direct expenditures for research toward projects that
 11 11 will provide economic stimulus for Iowa.
 11 12    b.  Provide emphasis to providing services to Iowa=based
 11 13 companies.
 11 14    3.  From the moneys appropriated in this section, the
 11 15 university of northern Iowa shall use at least $300,000 for
 11 16 purposes of expanding the service area of the myentrenet
 11 17 internet application.
 11 18    4.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
 11 19 this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the
 11 20 close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain
 11 21 available for expenditure for the purposes designated until
 11 22 the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
 11 23    Sec. 15.  BOARD OF REGENTS REPORT.  The state board of
 11 24 regents shall submit a report on the progress of regents
 11 25 institutions in meeting the strategic plan for technology
 11 26 transfer and economic development to the secretary of the
 11 27 senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and
 11 28 the legislative services agency by January 15, 2008.
 11 29    Sec. 16.  DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
 11 30    1.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the
 11 31 state to the department of workforce development for the
 11 32 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008,
 11 33 the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, for
 11 34 the division of labor services, the division of workers'
 11 35 compensation, the workforce development state and regional
 12  1 boards, new Iowans centers, salaries, support, maintenance,
 12  2 and miscellaneous purposes and for not more than the following
 12  3 full=time equivalent positions:
 12  4 .................................................. $  6,096,762
 12  5 ............................................... FTEs      96.45
 12  6    Of the moneys appropriated in this subsection, the
 12  7 department shall allocate $225,000 for purposes of reducing
 12  8 the backlog of cases before the commissioner of workers'
 12  9 compensation and for increasing support for the voluntary
 12 10 compliance program.
 12 11    Of the moneys appropriated in this subsection, the
 12 12 department shall allocate at least $528,000 for purposes of
 12 13 increasing the number of occupational safety and health
 12 14 inspectors.
 12 15    2.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the
 12 16 state to the department of workforce development for the
 12 17 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008,
 12 18 the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to
 12 19 be used for the purpose designated:
 12 20    For the operation of field offices and for not more than
 12 21 the following full=time equivalent positions:
 12 22 .................................................. $  6,926,014
 12 23 ............................................... FTEs      86.04
 12 24    3.  From the contractor registration fees, the division of
 12 25 labor services shall reimburse the department of inspections
 12 26 and appeals for all costs associated with hearings under
 12 27 chapter 91C, relating to contractor registration.
 12 28    4.  The division of workers' compensation shall continue
 12 29 charging a $65 filing fee for workers' compensation cases.
 12 30 The filing fee shall be paid by the petitioner of a claim.
 12 31 However, the fee can be taxed as a cost and paid by the losing
 12 32 party, except in cases where it would impose an undue hardship
 12 33 or be unjust under the circumstances.  The moneys generated by
 12 34 the filing fee allowed under this subsection are appropriated
 12 35 to the department of workforce development to be used for
 13  1 purposes of administering the division of workers'
 13  2 compensation.
 13  3    5.  The department of workforce development shall maintain
 13  4 new Iowans centers that offer one=stop services to deal with
 13  5 the multiple issues related to immigration and employment.
 13  6 The centers shall be designed to support workers, businesses,
 13  7 and communities with information, referrals, job placement
 13  8 assistance, translation, language training, resettlement, as
 13  9 well as technical and legal assistance on such issues as forms
 13 10 and documentation.  Through the coordination of local, state,
 13 11 and federal service providers, and through the development of
 13 12 partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit entities with
 13 13 established records of international service, these centers
 13 14 shall seek to provide a seamless service delivery system for
 13 15 new Iowans.  From the moneys appropriated under this section,
 13 16 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, for purposes of
 13 17 maintaining the new Iowans centers, the department shall use
 13 18 at least $75,000 more for the new Iowans centers than was used
 13 19 during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006.
 13 20    6.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in
 13 21 this section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the
 13 22 close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain
 13 23 available for expenditure for the purposes designated until
 13 24 the close of the succeeding fiscal year.
 13 25    Sec. 17.  ACCOUNTABILITY == AUDIT.
 13 26    1.  The department of workforce development shall establish
 13 27 accountability measures for all subcontractors.  By January
 13 28 15, 2008, the department shall submit a written report to the
 13 29 chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations
 13 30 subcommittee on economic development which shall include a
 13 31 list of contracts held by the department and accountability
 13 32 measures in effect for each contract.
 13 33    2.  The auditor of state shall annually conduct an audit of
 13 34 the department of workforce development and shall report the
 13 35 findings of such annual audit, including the accountability of
 14  1 programs of the department, to the chairpersons and ranking
 14  2 members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on economic
 14  3 development.  The department shall pay for the costs
 14  4 associated with the audit.
 14  5    3.  The legislative services agency shall conduct an annual
 14  6 review of salaries paid to employees of entities organized
 14  7 under chapter 28E and salaries paid under a contract with the
 14  8 department of workforce development.  The legislative services
 14  9 agency shall report its findings to the chairpersons and
 14 10 ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on
 14 11 economic development.
 14 12    Sec. 18.  EMPLOYMENT SECURITY CONTINGENCY FUND.  There is
 14 13 appropriated from the special employment security contingency
 14 14 fund to the department of workforce development for the fiscal
 14 15 year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the
 14 16 following amounts, or so much thereof as is necessary, for the
 14 17 purposes designated:
 14 18    For the division of workers' compensation, salaries,
 14 19 support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes:
 14 20 .................................................. $    471,000
 14 21    Any remaining additional penalty and interest revenue may
 14 22 be allocated and used to accomplish the mission of the
 14 23 department.
 14 24    Sec. 19.  UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION RESERVE FUND.
 14 25 Notwithstanding section 96.9, subsection 8, paragraph "e",
 14 26 there is appropriated from interest earned on the unemployment
 14 27 compensation reserve fund to the department of workforce
 14 28 development for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and
 14 29 ending June 30, 2008, the following amount for the operation
 14 30 of field offices:
 14 31 .................................................. $  5,800,000
 14 32    Sec. 20.  PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BOARD.  There is
 14 33 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the public
 14 34 employment relations board for the fiscal year beginning July
 14 35 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the following amount, or so
 15  1 much thereof as is necessary, for the purposes designated:
 15  2    For salaries, support, maintenance, miscellaneous purposes,
 15  3 and for not more than the following full=time equivalent
 15  4 positions:
 15  5 .................................................. $  1,170,486
 15  6 ............................................... FTEs      11.00
 15  7    Sec. 21.  VALUE=ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
 15  8 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND MONEYS.  The office of renewable
 15  9 fuels and coproducts may apply to the department of economic
 15 10 development for moneys in the value=added agricultural
 15 11 products and processes financial assistance fund for deposit
 15 12 in the renewable fuels and coproducts fund created in section
 15 13 159A.7.
 15 14    Sec. 22.  IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY AUDIT.  The auditor of
 15 15 state is requested to review the audit of the Iowa finance
 15 16 authority performed by the auditor hired by the authority.
 15 17    Sec. 23.  APPLICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
 15 18 DEVELOPMENT MONEYS.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1,
 15 19 2007, any entity that was specifically identified in 2001 Iowa
 15 20 Acts, chapter 188, to receive funding from the department of
 15 21 economic development, excluding any entity identified to
 15 22 receive a direct appropriation beginning July 1, 2007, may
 15 23 apply to the department for assistance through the appropriate
 15 24 program.  The department shall provide application criteria
 15 25 necessary to implement this section.
 15 26    Sec. 24.  SHELTER ASSISTANCE FUND.  In providing moneys
 15 27 from the shelter assistance fund to homeless shelter programs
 15 28 in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30,
 15 29 2008, the department of economic development shall explore the
 15 30 potential of allocating moneys to homeless shelter programs
 15 31 based in part on their ability to move their clients toward
 15 32 self=sufficiency.
 15 33    Sec. 25.  UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM.
 15 34 Notwithstanding section 96.9, subsection 4, paragraph "a",
 15 35 moneys credited to the state by the secretary of the treasury
 16  1 of the United States pursuant to section 903 of the Social
 16  2 Security Act shall be appropriated to the department of
 16  3 workforce development and shall be used by the department for
 16  4 the administration of the unemployment compensation program
 16  5 only.  This appropriation shall not apply to any fiscal year
 16  6 beginning after December 31, 2007.
 16  7    Sec. 26.  STATE EMPLOYEE TELECOMMUTING == POLICY
 16  8 DEVELOPMENT == IMPLEMENTATION.
 16  9    1.  The director of a department or state agency to which
 16 10 appropriations are made pursuant to the provisions of this Act
 16 11 shall assess the extent to which job classifications or
 16 12 individual employment positions with the department or agency
 16 13 might be effectively performed from an employee's residence or
 16 14 other remote location through telecommuting, thereby
 16 15 increasing office space within the department or agency and
 16 16 reducing administrative costs.  The assessment shall include
 16 17 an estimate of the number of department or agency employees
 16 18 whose job responsibilities could be effectively performed on a
 16 19 telecommuting basis, projected costs of establishing and
 16 20 maintaining work stations at an employee's residence or other
 16 21 remote location and providing telecommuter support,
 16 22 anticipated savings to the department or agency through a
 16 23 reduction in the office=based workforce, and anticipated time
 16 24 and cost savings to telecommuting employees.  A report
 16 25 summarizing the assessment shall be submitted to the director
 16 26 of the department of administrative services, and the members
 16 27 of the general assembly, by November 1, 2007.
 16 28    2.  Based on the assessment conducted pursuant to
 16 29 subsection 1, the director shall develop a telecommuter
 16 30 employment policy for the department or agency and a timeline
 16 31 for initial policy implementation and plans for expanding the
 16 32 number of telecommuting employees.  Specific office=based
 16 33 workforce reduction percentages shall be left to the
 16 34 discretion of the director, but the director shall implement a
 16 35 policy transferring some number of office=based employees to
 17  1 telecommuter status by January 1, 2008.  The director shall
 17  2 report to the director of the department of administrative
 17  3 services and the members of the general assembly on an annual
 17  4 basis beginning January 1, 2009, the number of telecommuting
 17  5 employees, cost savings achieved by the department or agency,
 17  6 and plans for continued transfer of office=based employees to
 17  7 telecommuter status.
 17  8 SF 562
 17  9 tm:mg/cc/26