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House File 370 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to entities supported in whole or in part by
2public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the
3duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers
4of school boards, school districts, the department of
5education, the department of health and human services,
6accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community
7colleges, institutions under the control of the state board
8of regents, area education agencies, election commissioners
9and children’s residential facilities, and the membership
10and voting units of county and city conference boards.
11BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2BOND SALES
3 Section 1. Section 75.2, Code 2023, is amended to read as
4follows:
575.2 Notice of sale.
6When public bonds are offered for sale, the official in
7charge of the bond issue shall, by advertisement published
8at least once, the last one of which shall be not less than
9four nor more than twenty days before the sale in a newspaper
10located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of
11sale, give notice of the time and place of sale of the bonds,
12the amount to be offered for sale, and any further information
13which the official deems pertinent by publishing the time and
14place of sale of the bonds, the amount to be offered for sale,
15and any additional information the official deems pertinent
16to the bond issue not less than four nor more than twenty
17days before the sale in at least one electronic or written
18publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for
19providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in
20a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the
21place of sale.
22 Sec. 2. Section 75.14, Code 2023, is amended to read as
23follows:
2475.14 Electronic bidding.
25Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this chapter,
26including section 75.3, a public body authorized to issue
27bonds, notes, or other obligations may elect to receive bids to
28purchase such bonds, notes, or other obligations by means of
29electronic, internet, or wireless communication; a proprietary
30bidding procedure or system; or by facsimile transmission
31to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body, in
32each instance as may be approved by the governing body and
33provided for in the notice of sale. An electronic bid shall
34be submitted in substantial conformity with the requirements
35of chapter 554D and any rules adopted pursuant to that chapter
-1-1with respect to the acceptance of electronic records by a
2governmental agency. Additionally, before approving the use
3of an electronic bidding procedure, the public body shall find
4and determine that the specific procedure to be used will
5provide reasonable security and maintain the integrity of
6the competitive bidding process, and facilitate the delivery
7of bids by interested parties under the circumstances of the
8particular sale.
9DIVISION II
10SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS — DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
11 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, subsection 9, Code 2023, is amended
12to read as follows:
139. Beginning July 1, 2006, each A school district shall
14have a qualified teacher librarian who shall be licensed by the
15board of educational examiners under chapter 272. The state
16board shall establish in rule a definition of and standards for
17an articulated sequential kindergarten through grade twelve
18media program. A school district that entered into a contract
19with an individual for employment as a media specialist or
20librarian prior to June 1, 2006, shall be considered to be
21in compliance with this subsection until June 30, 2011, if
22the individual is making annual progress toward meeting the
23requirements for a teacher librarian endorsement issued by the
24board of educational examiners under chapter 272. A school
25district that entered into a contract with an individual for
26employment as a media specialist or librarian who holds at
27least a master’s degree in library and information studies
28shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection
29 until the individual leaves the employ of the school district.
30 Sec. 4. Section 279.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2023,
31is amended to read as follows:
32a. Except as provided in paragraph “b” and subsection
332, vacancies occurring among the officers or members of a
34school board shall be filled by the board by appointment. A
35person so appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office
-2-1shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified
2at the next regular school election, unless there is an
3intervening special election for the school district, in which
4event a successor shall be elected at the intervening special
5election, in accordance with section 69.12. To fill a vacancy
6occurring among the members of a school board, the board shall
7publish notice on the board’s internet site and in the manner
8prescribed by section 279.36, stating that the board intends to
9fill the vacancy by appointment but that the electors of the
10school district have the right to file a petition requiring
11that the vacancy be filled by a special election conducted
12pursuant to section 279.7. The board may publish notice in
13advance if a member of the board submits a resignation to take
14effect at a future date. The board may make an appointment to
15fill the vacancy after the notice is published or after the
16vacancy occurs, whichever is later.
17 Sec. 5. Section 279.8, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
18to read as follows:
191. The board shall make rules for its own government and
20that of the directors, officers, employees, teachers and
21pupils, and for the care of the schoolhouse, grounds, and
22property of the school corporation, and shall aid in the
23enforcement of the rules, and require the performance of duties
24imposed by law and the rules. The board shall include in its
25rules provisions regulating the loading and unloading of pupils
26from a school bus stopped on the highway during a period of
27reduced highway visibility caused by fog, snow or other weather
28conditions. The board shall have the authority to include in
29its rules provisions allowing school corporation employees to
30use school credit cards to pay for the actual and necessary
31expenses incurred in the performance of work-related duties.
32 Sec. 6. Section 279.20, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
33to read as follows:
342. The board of directors of a school district may delegate
35the authority to hire support personnel and sign the support
-3-1personnel employment contracts, if applicable, if the board
2adopts a policy authorizing the superintendent to perform
3such duties and specifying the positions the superintendent
4is authorized to fill. The board of directors of a school
5district and the superintendent, if authorized pursuant to
6this subsection, may use electronic signatures and electronic
7contracts pursuant to chapter 554D and facsimile signatures
8when entering into the contracts described in this subsection.
9 For purposes of this subsection, the term “support personnel”
10includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, custodians,
11educational associates, and clerical and food service
12employees.
13 Sec. 7. Section 279.69, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
14to read as follows:
151. Prior to hiring an applicant for a school employee
16position, a school district shall have access to and shall
17review the information in the Iowa court information system
18available to the general public, the sex offender registry
19information under section 692A.121 available to the general
20public, the central registry for child abuse information
21established under section 235A.14, and the central registry for
22dependent adult abuse information established under section
23235B.5 for information regarding the applicant. A school
24district shall follow the same procedure by June 30, 2014, for
25each school employee employed by the school district as of July
261, 2013. A school district shall implement a consistent policy
27to follow the same procedure for each school employee employed
28by the school district on or after July 1, 2013, at least every
29five years after the school employee’s initial date of hire. A
30school district shall not may charge an employee for the cost
31of the registry checks conducted pursuant to this subsection,
32not to exceed the actual cost of the registry checks. A school
33district shall maintain documentation demonstrating compliance
34with this subsection.
35 Sec. 8. Section 280.5, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
-4-1to read as follows:
22. The board of directors of each Each public school
3district shall administer the pledge of allegiance in grades
4one through twelve each school day. Each classroom in which
5the pledge of allegiance is recited pursuant to this subsection
6shall display the United States flag during the recitation. A
7student shall not be compelled against the student’s objections
8or those of the student’s parent or guardian to recite the
9pledge.
10 Sec. 9. Section 291.1, Code 2023, is amended to read as
11follows:
12291.1 President — duties.
13The president of the board of directors shall preside at
14all of its meetings, sign all contracts made by the board, and
15appear on behalf of the corporation in all actions brought by
16or against it, unless individually a party, in which case this
17duty shall be performed by the secretary. The president or the
18president’s designee shall have the authority to enter into
19original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant to chapter
20554D and sign, using an original, or facsimile, or electronic
21 signature, as defined in section 554D.103, all school district
22payments drawn and authorize electronic funds transfers as
23provided by law. The board of directors, by resolution, may
24designate an individual, who shall not be the secretary, to
25sign payments or authorize electronic funds transfers on behalf
26of the president pursuant to this section.
27 Sec. 10. Section 291.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
28follows:
29291.4 Oath.
30Each shall take the oath required of civil officers, which
31shall be endorsed upon the bond, and shall complete the
32qualification within ten days.
33DIVISION III
34RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH
35 Sec. 11. Section 8A.318, subsections 1 and 3, Code 2023, are
-5-1amended to read as follows:
21. Findings and intent. The general assembly finds that
3human beings are vulnerable to and may be severely affected by
4exposure to chemicals, hazardous waste, and other environmental
5hazards. The federal environmental protection agency estimates
6that human exposure to indoor air pollutants can be two to
7five times, and up to one hundred times, higher than outdoor
8levels. Children, teachers, janitors, and other staff members
9spend a significant amount of time inside school buildings.
10Likewise, state State employees and citizens of this state
11spend a significant amount of time inside state buildings.
12These individuals are continuously exposed to chemicals from
13cleaners, waxes, deodorizers, and other maintenance products.
143. Use of environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance
15products.
16a. All school districts in this state, community colleges,
17institutions under the control of the state board of regents,
18and state agencies utilizing state buildings, are encouraged
19to conform to an environmentally preferable cleaning policy
20designed to facilitate the purchase and use of environmentally
21preferable cleaning and maintenance products for purposes of
22public school, community college, regents institution, and
23 state building cleaning and maintenance.
24b. Each school district, community college, institution
25under the control of the state board of regents, or state
26agency utilizing public buildings shall conduct an evaluation
27and assessment regarding implementation of an environmentally
28preferable cleaning policy pursuant to this section. On or
29after July 1, 2012, all All state agencies, and all school
30districts, community colleges, and institutions under the
31control of the state board of regents which have not opted
32out of compliance pursuant to paragraph “c”, shall purchase
33only cleaning and maintenance products identified by the
34department or that meet nationally recognized standards.
35School districts, community colleges, institutions under the
-6-1control of the state board of regents, and state State agencies
2procuring supplies for schools and state buildings may deplete
3their existing cleaning and maintenance supply stocks and
4implement the new requirements in the procurement cycle for
5the following year. This section shall not be interpreted
6in a manner that prohibits the use of disinfectants,
7disinfecting cleaners, sanitizers, or any other antimicrobial
8product regulated by the federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
9and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq., when necessary
10to protect public health and provided that the use of these
11products is in accordance with responsible cleaning procedure
12requirements.
13c. A school district, community college, or institution
14under the control of the state board of regents may, based upon
15the evaluation and assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph
16“b”, opt out of compliance with the requirements of this section
17 upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
18board of directors of the school district or a determination by
19the president of the community college or by the president or
20administrative officer of the regents institution. A school
21district, community college, or regents institution opting
22out of compliance pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the
23department of education, the state board of education, or the
24state board of regents, as appropriate, of this decision.
25 Sec. 12. Section 256.11, subsection 9B, Code 2023, is
26amended to read as follows:
279B. Beginning July 1, 2007, each A school district shall
28have a school nurse to provide health services to its students.
29Each school district shall work toward the goal of having one
30school nurse for every seven hundred fifty students enrolled in
31the school district. For purposes of this subsection, “school
32nurse” means a person who holds an endorsement or a statement of
33professional recognition for school nurses issued by the board
34of educational examiners under chapter 272.
35 Sec. 13. Section 280.7A, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
-7-1by striking the subsection.
2 Sec. 14. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — HEALTH CARE-RELATED
3TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL WORK GROUP.
41. The department of education shall convene and provide
5administrative support to a health care-related training
6for school personnel work group. The work group shall
7review and develop a plan to ensure Iowa educators have the
8health care training necessary to perform their duties and
9responsibilities, and shall consider and submit recommendations
10for delivery and implementation of training required under
11state law or rule.
122. The work group shall include all of the following:
13a. (1) Two members who are staff members from the
14department of education, one of whom shall be an administrative
15consultant in the bureau of nutrition and health services.
16A member appointed under this subparagraph shall coordinate
17the work group and act as chairperson for the organizational
18meeting.
19(2) One member who is a staff member from the Iowa
20department of health and human services.
21b. Members who shall represent each of the following:
22(1) One member from a statewide organization representing
23teachers.
24(2) One member from a statewide organization representing
25school board members.
26(3) One member from a statewide organization representing
27school administrators.
28(4) One member from a statewide organization representing
29authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools.
30(5) One member representing the area education agencies.
31(6) One member from a statewide organization representing
32physicians.
33(7) One member from a statewide organization representing
34athletic trainers.
35(8) One member from a statewide organization representing
-8-1emergency management services.
2(9) One member from a statewide organization representing
3health care organizations.
4(10) One member from a statewide organization representing
5school nurses.
63. Any expenses incurred by a member of the work group
7shall be the responsibility of the individual member or the
8respective entity represented by the member.
94. The director of the department of education or the
10director’s designee shall compile and provide to the work group
11a list of, and the purposes for, the health care training
12programs that school personnel are required to complete, as
13well as any requirements school personnel must meet following
14such training, in order be in compliance with state law or
15administrative rule.
165. The work group shall do all of the following:
17a. Identify which trainings can be best provided over the
18internet, and how such training can be rotated on a five-year
19basis for school personnel.
20b. Develop a plan for a regular cycle of health care-related
21training for school personnel review, with the goal of removing
22or modifying training or training programs that are no longer
23relevant, and identifying less costly and more efficient
24options that still provide the appropriate level of training to
25school personnel.
26c. Standardize the process of establishing new training
27requirements in state law or rule to manage stakeholder
28expectations relating to the timeline for establishing the
29requirements.
30d. Create an ongoing review process to find efficiencies,
31identify training options that better utilize time and
32financial resources, and offer a continuous improvement model
33for the system moving forward.
34e. Study and make any recommended changes on rules adopted
35by the state board of education under 281 IAC ch.14, relating
-9-1to individual health plans prepared for students with various
2health conditions.
3f. Ensure a public comment process for patient advocacy
4groups and parents to provide input on the recommendations of
5the work group.
66. If the work group recommends elimination or significant
7modification of certain health care-related training for
8school personnel, the department of education shall identify
9stakeholders who would potentially be affected by such
10change, and shall invite representatives from organizations
11representing such stakeholders to submit comments before or
12at an upcoming work group meeting before the work group makes
13final recommendations.
147. The department of education shall compile the work
15group’s findings and recommendations and shall submit the
16compilation, including any proposal for legislation, in a
17report to the general assembly, the governor, and the state
18board of education by December 1, 2023.
19DIVISION IV
20STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
21 Sec. 15. Section 423F.3, subsections 2 and 4, Code 2023, are
22amended to read as follows:
232. A revenue purpose statement in existence for the
24expenditure of local sales and services tax for school
25infrastructure purposes imposed by a county pursuant to
26section 423E.2, Code Supplement 2007, prior to July 1, 2008,
27shall remain in effect until amended or extended. The board
28of directors of a school district may take action to adopt
29or amend a revenue purpose statement specifying the specific
30purposes for which the revenues received from the secure an
31advanced vision for education fund will be expended. If a
32school district is located in a county which has imposed a
33local sales and services tax for school infrastructure purposes
34prior to July 1, 2008, this action shall be taken before
35expending or anticipating revenues to be received after the
-10-1unextended term of the tax unless the school district elects to
2adopt a revenue purpose statement as provided in subsection 3.
34. The revenues received pursuant to this chapter shall
4be expended for the purposes specified in the revenue purpose
5statement. If a board of directors has not approved a revenue
6purpose statement, the revenues shall be expended in the order
7listed in subsection 1 except that the payment of bonds for
8which the revenues have been pledged shall be paid first.
9Once approved, a revenue purpose statement is effective until
10amended or repealed by the foregoing procedures. A revenue
11purpose statement shall not be amended or repealed to reduce
12the amount of revenue pledged to the payment of principal and
13interest on bonds as long as any bonds authorized by sections
14423E.5 and 423F.4 are outstanding unless funds sufficient
15to pay principal, interest, and premium, if any, on the
16outstanding obligations at or prior to maturity have been
17properly set aside and pledged for that purpose. A school
18district affected by a reorganization under chapter 275 that
19has issued bonds under section 423E.5 or 423F.4 and that has
20not approved a revenue purpose statement shall first use
21revenues to make timely and sufficient payment of principal and
22interest, and premium if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
23 Sec. 16. Section 423F.3, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code
242023, is amended by striking the paragraph.
25 Sec. 17. Section 423F.3, subsection 3, paragraph d, Code
262023, is amended to read as follows:
27d. The board secretary shall notify the county commissioner
28of elections of the intent to take an issue to the voters
29pursuant to paragraph “b” or “c”. The county commissioner of
30elections shall publish the notices required by law for special
31or general elections, and the election shall be held on a date
32specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph “c”. A
33majority of those voting on the question must favor approval
34of the revenue purpose statement. If the proposal is not
35approved, the school district shall not submit the same or new
-11-1revenue purpose statement to the electors for a period of six
2months from the date of the previous election.
3 Sec. 18. Section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph a,
4subparagraph (1), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
5(1) For purposes of this chapter, “school infrastructure”
6means those activities authorized in section 423E.1, subsection
73, Code 2007 for which a school district is authorized to
8contract indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds under
9section 296.1, except those activities related to a teacher’s
10or superintendent’s home or homes.
11 Sec. 19. Section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph a, Code
122023, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:
13 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (5) Additionally, “school infrastructure”
14includes the construction, reconstruction, repair, demolition
15work, purchasing, or remodeling of schoolhouses, stadiums,
16gymnasiums, fieldhouses, and school bus garages, the
17procurement of schoolhouse construction sites, the making of
18site improvements, and those activities for which revenues
19under section 298.3 or chapter 300 may be spent.
20 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (6) Additionally, “school infrastructure”
21includes a joint infrastructure project with one or more school
22districts or one or more school districts and a community
23college established under chapter 260C, for which buildings
24or facilities are constructed or leased for the purpose of
25offering classes under a district-to-community college sharing
26agreement or concurrent enrollment program that meets the
27requirements for funding under section 257.11, subsection 3.
28 Sec. 20. Section 423F.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
29follows:
30423F.4 Borrowing authority for school districts.
311. Subject to the conditions established under subsection
322, a school district may anticipate its share of the revenues
33under section 423F.2 by issuing bonds in the manner provided
34in section 423E.5, Code 2019 this section. However, to the
35extent any school district has issued bonds anticipating the
-12-1proceeds of an extended local sales and services tax for school
2infrastructure purposes imposed by a county pursuant to former
3chapter 423E, Code and Code Supplement 2007, prior to July 1,
42008, the pledge of such revenues for the payment of principal
5and interest on such bonds shall be replaced by a pledge of its
6share of the revenues under section 423F.2.
72. a. Bonds issued on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be
8sold at public sale as provided in chapter 75, or at a private
9sale, without notice and hearing. Notice of the time and place
10of the public hearing shall be published not less than ten nor
11more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper
12which is a newspaper of general circulation in the school
13district. This paragraph does not apply to the refinancing of
14bonds.
15b. For bonds subject to the requirements of paragraph
16“a”, if at any time prior to the fifteenth day following the
17hearing, the secretary of the board of directors receives a
18petition containing the required number of signatures and
19asking that the question of the issuance of such bonds be
20submitted to the voters of the school district, the board shall
21either rescind its adoption of the resolution or direct the
22county commissioner of elections to submit the question to the
23registered voters of the school district at an election held
24on a date specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph
25“c”. The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal
26in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of
27the number of voters at the last preceding election of school
28officials under section 277.1, whichever is greater. If the
29board submits the question at an election and a majority of
30those voting on the question favors issuance of the bonds, the
31board shall be authorized to issue the bonds.
32c. After fourteen days from the date of the hearing under
33paragraph “a” or fourteen days after the date of the election
34held under paragraph “b”, if applicable, whichever is later,
35an action shall not be brought questioning the legality of
-13-1any bonds or the power of the authority to issue any bonds
2or to the legality of any proceedings in connection with the
3authorization or issuance of the bonds.
43. The repeal of section 423E.5 shall not affect the
5validity of any previously issued bonds or other evidences of
6indebtedness.
74. The board of directors of a school district may issue
8negotiable, interest-bearing school bonds, without election,
9and utilize tax receipts derived from the secure an advanced
10vision for education fund for principal and interest repayment.
11Proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall
12be utilized solely for school infrastructure as defined in
13section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph “a”. Bonds issued
14under this subsection may be sold at public sale as provided
15in chapter 75, or at private sale, without notice and hearing.
16Bonds may bear dates, bear interest at rates not exceeding that
17permitted by chapter 74A, mature in one or more installments,
18be in registered form, carry registration and conversion
19privileges, be payable as to principal and interest at times
20and places, be subject to terms of redemption prior to maturity
21with or without premium, and be in one or more denominations,
22all as provided by the resolution of the board of directors
23authorizing the issuance. The resolution may also prescribe
24additional provisions, terms, conditions, and covenants which
25the board of directors deems advisable, including provisions
26for creating and maintaining reserve funds, the issuance of
27additional bonds ranking on a parity with such bonds and
28additional bonds junior and subordinate to such bonds, and
29that such bonds shall rank on a parity with or be junior and
30subordinate to any bonds which may be then outstanding. Bonds
31may be issued to refund outstanding and previously issued
32bonds under this subsection. The bonds are a contractual
33obligation of the school district, and the resolution issuing
34the bonds and its share of the revenues distributed pursuant
35to section 423F.2 to the payment of principal and interest on
-14-1the bonds is a part of the contract. Bonds issued pursuant to
2this subsection shall not constitute indebtedness within the
3meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or
4restriction, and shall not be subject to any other law relating
5to the authorization, issuance, or sale of bonds.
65. a. A school district may enter into an agreement
7pursuant to chapter 28E with one or more cities or a county
8whose boundaries encompass all or a part of the area of the
9school district. A city entering into an agreement with a
10school district pursuant to chapter 28E may expend the city’s
11designated portion of the revenues for any valid purpose
12permitted in this chapter or authorized by the governing body
13of the city. A county entering into an agreement with a school
14district pursuant to chapter 28E may expend its designated
15portion of the revenues to provide property tax relief within
16the boundaries of the school district located in the county.
17b. A school district may enter into an agreement pursuant to
18chapter 28E with another school district, a community college,
19or an area education agency which is located partially or
20entirely in or is contiguous to the county where the school
21district is located. The school district or community college
22shall only expend its designated portion of the revenues
23for infrastructure purposes. The area education agency
24shall only expend its designated portion of the revenues for
25infrastructure and maintenance purposes.
26DIVISION V
27COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD
28 Sec. 21. Section 441.2, Code 2023, is amended to read as
29follows:
30441.2 Conference board.
31In each county and each city having an assessor there
32shall be established a conference board. In counties the
33conference board shall consist of the mayors or a designated
34member of a city council of all incorporated cities in the
35county whose property is assessed by the county assessor; one
-15-1representative from the board of directors of each high school
2district of containing a high school in the county, who is a
3resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said
4representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of
5the conference board as to their representative; and members
6of the board of supervisors. In cities having an assessor
7the conference board shall consist of the members of the city
8council, school board the board of directors of each school
9district containing a high school in the city, and county board
10of supervisors. In the counties the chairperson of the board
11of supervisors shall act as chairperson of the conference
12board, in cities having an assessor the mayor of the city
13council shall act as chairperson of the conference board. In
14any action taken by the conference board, the mayors of all
15incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed
16by the county assessor shall constitute one voting unit, the
17members of the city board of education board of directors of
18each school district containing a high school in the city or
19one representative from the board of directors of each high
20 school district of containing a high school in the county shall
21constitute one voting unit, the members of the city council
22shall constitute one voting unit, and the county board of
23supervisors shall constitute one voting unit, each unit having
24a single vote and no action shall be valid except by the vote of
25not less than two out of the three units. In any action taken
26by the conference board, if a city or a county contains only
27one school district containing a high school, the members of
28or the representative of the board of directors of the school
29district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit.
30 The majority vote of the members present of each unit shall
31determine the vote of the unit. The assessor shall be clerk of
32the conference board.
33DIVISION VI
34CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
35 Sec. 22. Section 282.34, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
-16-1following new subsection:
2 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. For children requiring admission to
3a residential treatment facility, the residential treatment
4facility shall complete and provide to the district of
5residence the documentation necessary to seek Medicaid
6reimbursement for eligible services.
7DIVISION VII
8AREA EDUCATION AGENCY BOARDS — POSTING OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED
9BUDGET
10 Sec. 23. Section 273.3, subsection 12, Code 2023, is amended
11to read as follows:
1212. Prepare an annual budget estimating income and
13expenditures for programs and services as provided in sections
14273.1, 273.2, this section, sections 273.4 through 273.8, and
15chapter 256B within the limits of funds provided under section
16256B.9 and chapter 257. The board shall post notice of a
17public hearing on the proposed budget on the area education
18agency’s internet site and by publication in the newspaper of
19general circulation in the territory of the area education
20agency in which the principal place of business of a school
21district that is a part of the area education agency is located
22or in the manner prescribed in section 279.36. The notice
23shall specify the date, which shall be not later than March
241 of each year, the time, and the location of the public
25hearing. The proposed budget as approved by the board shall
26then be submitted to the state board of education, on forms
27provided by the department, no later than March 15 preceding
28the next fiscal year for approval. The state board shall
29review the proposed budget of each area education agency and
30shall before May 1, either grant approval or return the budget
31without approval with comments of the state board included. An
32unapproved budget shall be resubmitted to the state board for
33final approval not later than May 15. The state board shall
34give final approval only to budgets submitted by area education
35agencies accredited by the state board or that have been given
-17-1conditional accreditation by the state board.
2DIVISION VIII
3ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
4 Sec. 24. Section 47.6, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
5to read as follows:
62. For the purpose of this section, a conflict between two
7elections exists only when some but not all of the registered
8voters of any precinct would be entitled to vote in one of
9the elections and all of the registered voters of the same
10precinct would be entitled to vote in the other election.
11Nothing in this subsection shall deny a commissioner who is
12responsible for conducting the election discretionary authority
13to approve holding a special election on the same date as
14another election, even though the two elections may be defined
15as being in conflict, if the commissioner concludes that to do
16so will cause no undue difficulties.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to entities supported in whole or in part
21by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the
22duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of
23school boards, school districts, the department of education,
24the department of health and human services, accredited
25nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges,
26institutions under the control of the state board of regents,
27area education agencies, election commissioners, and children’s
28residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of
29county and city conference boards.
30DIVISION I — BOND SALES. Current law provides that when
31public bonds are offered for sale, the official in charge
32of the bond issue shall give notice of the time and place
33of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any further
34information which the official deems pertinent by publishing
35an advertisement in a newspaper. The division modifies this
-18-1provision to require the official in charge of the bond issue
2to give notice of the sale by publishing the time and place of
3sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any additional
4information the official deems pertinent to the bond issue in
5at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide
6circulation that is recognized for providing information
7regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in
8the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale.
9Code section 75.14 provides that, notwithstanding contrary
10provisions of Code chapter 75 (authorization and sale of public
11bonds), a public body authorized to issue bonds or other
12obligations may elect to receive bids to purchase such bonds
13or other obligations by means of electronic communication, a
14proprietary bidding procedure, or by facsimile transmission
15to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body. The
16division adds a reference to Code section 75.3 (sealed and open
17bids) to the notwithstanding provision.
18DIVISION II — SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS — DUTIES AND
19RESPONSIBILITIES. Current law provides that individuals who
20either have a master’s degree or are making annual progress
21toward meeting the requirements for a teacher librarian
22endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners are
23considered to be in compliance with rules associated with
24media specialists or librarians. The division strikes these
25provisions.
26Code section 279.6 provides a process to fill vacancies
27occurring among the members of a school board. This process
28requires, among other things, the publication in a newspaper of
29notice stating that the board intends to fill the vacancy by
30appointment. The division requires notice to be provided by
31publication on the board’s internet site as well.
32The division strikes a provision requiring school boards to
33have rules regulating the loading and unloading of pupils from
34a school bus stopped on the highway during inclement weather.
35The division authorizes the board of directors of a
-19-1school district and the superintendent, in certain specified
2circumstances, to use electronic signatures and electronic
3contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D (electronic
4transactions) and facsimile signatures when entering into
5contracts to hire support personnel.
6Currently, school districts are prohibited from charging
7employees for the cost of registry checks. The bill provides
8that a school district may charge an employee for the cost
9of the registry checks, not to exceed the actual cost. The
10division strikes obsolete language relating to school employee
11registry checks.
12Current law requires the board of directors of each public
13school district to administer the pledge of allegiance in
14grades 1 through 12 each school day. The division modifies
15this provision to require each public school district to
16administer the pledge of allegiance in grades 1 through 12 each
17school day.
18The division authorizes the president of the board of
19directors of a school district, or the president’s designee, to
20enter into original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant
21to chapter 554D and sign, using an original, facsimile, or
22electronic signature, all school district payments drawn and
23authorize electronic funds transfers as provided by law.
24Current law requires the secretary and treasurer of a
25school district to execute to the school corporation a surety
26bond in an amount sufficient to cover current operations as
27determined by the board. Current law also requires the oath
28required of civil officers to be endorsed upon the bond. The
29division strikes the requirement that the oath required of
30civil officers be endorsed upon the bond.
31DIVISION III — RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING
32TO HEALTH. The division strikes requirements that school
33districts, community colleges, and institutions under the
34control of the state board of regents conduct an evaluation
35and assessment regarding implementation of an environmentally
-20-1preferable cleaning policy and, unless the school districts,
2community colleges, or institutions under the control of the
3state board of regents opt out of compliance, to purchase only
4cleaning and maintenance products identified by the department
5of administrative services as being environmentally preferable
6or that meet nationally recognized standards.
7The division strikes the requirement that each school
8work toward a goal of having one school nurse for every 750
9students, and instead authorizes a school district to have a
10school nurse to provide health care to students.
11The division strikes a provision requiring that every
12parent or guardian of a child registered for kindergarten or
13preschool be provided with a student vision card provided by
14the Iowa optometric association and approved by the department
15of education with a goal of every child receiving an eye
16examination by age seven.
17The division requires the department of education to
18convene and provide administrative support to a health
19care-related training for school personnel group. The bill
20requires the group to review and develop a plan to ensure
21that Iowa educators have the health care training necessary
22to perform their duties and to submit recommendations for
23delivery and implementation of training required under state
24law or rule. The bill specifies the members the group shall
25include. The bill requires the group to submit its findings
26and recommendations in a report to the general assembly, the
27governor, and the state board of education by December 1, 2023.
28DIVISION IV — STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.
29 Current law provides that if a school district is located in
30a county which has imposed a local sales and services tax for
31school infrastructure purposes prior to July 1, 2008, the board
32of directors of a school district is required to take action
33to adopt or amend a revenue purpose statement specifying the
34specific purposes for which the revenues received from the
35secure an advanced vision for education fund will be expended
-21-1before expending or anticipating revenues to be received after
2the unextended term of the tax unless the school district
3elects to adopt a revenue purpose statement. The division
4strikes this provision.
5The division requires a school district affected by a
6reorganization that has issued bonds under Code section 423E.5
7(school infrastructure funding formula — bonding) or 423F.4
8(borrowing authority for school districts) and that has not
9approved a revenue purpose statement to first use revenues to
10make timely and sufficient payment of principal and interest
11and premium, if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
12The division modifies the definition of “school
13infrastructure” for purposes of Code chapter 423F (statewide
14school infrastructure funding) to mean those activities
15for which a school district is authorized to contract
16indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds under Code
17section 296.1 (indebtedness of school corporations), except
18those activities related to a teacher’s or superintendent’s
19home or homes. The division also modifies the definition
20of “school infrastructure” for purposes of Code chapter
21423F to include the construction, reconstruction, repair,
22demolition work, purchasing, or remodeling of schoolhouses,
23stadiums, gymnasiums, fieldhouses, and school bus garages, the
24procurement of schoolhouse construction sites, the making of
25site improvements, those activities for which other specified
26revenues may be spent, joint infrastructure projects with one
27or more school districts or one or more school districts and
28a community college, for which buildings or facilities are
29constructed or leased for the purpose of offering classes under
30a district-to-community college sharing agreement or concurrent
31enrollment program. Additionally, the division modifies the
32definition of “school infrastructure” for purposes of Code
33chapter 423F to remove requirements related to the adoption of
34a revenue purpose statement that is subject to the approval of
35the electors.
-22- 1Current law provides that bonds issued under Code chapter
2423F on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be sold at a public
3or private sale without notice and hearing. Current law
4also provides that notice of the sale shall be published in
5a newspaper. The bill provides that this provision does not
6apply to the refinancing of bonds.
7The division provides that the repeal of Code section 423E.5
8(bonding) shall not affect the validity of any previously
9issued bonds or other evidences of indebtedness. Code chapter
10423E sunsets on June 30, 2023.
11The division authorizes the board of directors of a school
12district to issue negotiable, interest-bearing school bonds,
13without election, and utilize tax receipts derived from the
14secure an advanced vision for education fund for principal and
15interest repayment pursuant to standards established in the
16division.
17The division authorizes school districts to enter into an
18agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with one or more cities,
19school districts, community colleges, and certain specified
20counties and area education agencies. The division also
21establishes how revenues from such agreements may be expended.
22DIVISION V — COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD. Current law provides
23that each county and each city having an assessor shall have a
24conference board. Current law also provides that in counties,
25the conference board shall consist of the mayors of all
26incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed
27by the county assessor, one representative from the board of
28directors of each high school district of the county, who is a
29resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said
30representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of
31the conference board as to their representative, and members of
32the board of supervisors. The division modifies this provision
33to require that the conference board consist of the mayors
34or a designated member of a city council. The division also
35modifies this provision by replacing references to high school
-23-1districts with references to school districts containing a high
2school.
3The division strikes the requirement that the board of
4directors of a high school district appoint a representative
5for a one-year term and notify the clerk of the conference
6board as to the identity of the representative.
7The division provides that, in any action taken by the
8conference board, if a city or a county contains only one
9school district containing a high school, the members of or
10the representative of the board of directors of the school
11district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit.
12DIVISION VI — CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES. The
13division provides that, for children requiring admission to
14a residential treatment facility, the residential treatment
15facility shall complete and provide to the child’s school
16district of residence the documentation necessary to seek
17Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.
18DIVISION VII — AREA EDUCATION AGENCY BOARDS — POSTING OF
19NOTICE ON PROPOSED BUDGET. Current law requires area education
20agency (AEA) boards to give notice of a public hearing on the
21AEA’s proposed budget by publication on the AEA’s internet
22site and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation
23in the territory of the AEA. The division authorizes AEA
24boards, in lieu of providing notice of a public hearing on the
25AEA’s proposed budget by publication in a newspaper of general
26circulation in the territory of the AEA, to provide notice by
27publication in accordance with Code section 279.36 (authorizing
28notice by publication in at least one newspaper published in
29the district).
30DIVISION VIII — ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. The division
31provides that, for purposes of special elections, nothing
32shall deny a commissioner who is responsible for conducting
33the election the discretionary authority to approve holding a
34special election on the same date as another election, even
35though the two elections may be defined as being in conflict,
-24-1if the commissioner concludes that to do so will cause no undue
2difficulties.
-25-jda/jh
2public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the
3duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers
4of school boards, school districts, the department of
5education, the department of health and human services,
6accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community
7colleges, institutions under the control of the state board
8of regents, area education agencies, election commissioners
9and children’s residential facilities, and the membership
10and voting units of county and city conference boards.
11BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2BOND SALES
3 Section 1. Section 75.2, Code 2023, is amended to read as
4follows:
575.2 Notice of sale.
6When public bonds are offered for sale, the official in
7charge of the bond issue shall, by advertisement published
8at least once, the last one of which shall be not less than
9four nor more than twenty days before the sale in a newspaper
10located in the county or a county contiguous to the place of
11sale, give notice of the time and place of sale of the bonds,
12the amount to be offered for sale, and any further information
13which the official deems pertinent by publishing the time and
14place of sale of the bonds, the amount to be offered for sale,
15and any additional information the official deems pertinent
16to the bond issue not less than four nor more than twenty
17days before the sale in at least one electronic or written
18publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for
19providing information regarding the sale of public bonds or in
20a newspaper located in the county or a county contiguous to the
21place of sale.
22 Sec. 2. Section 75.14, Code 2023, is amended to read as
23follows:
2475.14 Electronic bidding.
25Notwithstanding contrary provisions of this chapter,
26including section 75.3, a public body authorized to issue
27bonds, notes, or other obligations may elect to receive bids to
28purchase such bonds, notes, or other obligations by means of
29electronic, internet, or wireless communication; a proprietary
30bidding procedure or system; or by facsimile transmission
31to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body, in
32each instance as may be approved by the governing body and
33provided for in the notice of sale. An electronic bid shall
34be submitted in substantial conformity with the requirements
35of chapter 554D and any rules adopted pursuant to that chapter
-1-1with respect to the acceptance of electronic records by a
2governmental agency. Additionally, before approving the use
3of an electronic bidding procedure, the public body shall find
4and determine that the specific procedure to be used will
5provide reasonable security and maintain the integrity of
6the competitive bidding process, and facilitate the delivery
7of bids by interested parties under the circumstances of the
8particular sale.
9DIVISION II
10SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS — DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
11 Sec. 3. Section 256.11, subsection 9, Code 2023, is amended
12to read as follows:
139. Beginning July 1, 2006, each A school district shall
14have a qualified teacher librarian who shall be licensed by the
15board of educational examiners under chapter 272. The state
16board shall establish in rule a definition of and standards for
17an articulated sequential kindergarten through grade twelve
18media program. A school district that entered into a contract
19with an individual for employment as a media specialist or
20librarian prior to June 1, 2006, shall be considered to be
21in compliance with this subsection until June 30, 2011, if
22the individual is making annual progress toward meeting the
23requirements for a teacher librarian endorsement issued by the
24board of educational examiners under chapter 272. A school
25district that entered into a contract with an individual for
26employment as a media specialist or librarian who holds at
27least a master’s degree in library and information studies
28shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection
29 until the individual leaves the employ of the school district.
30 Sec. 4. Section 279.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2023,
31is amended to read as follows:
32a. Except as provided in paragraph “b” and subsection
332, vacancies occurring among the officers or members of a
34school board shall be filled by the board by appointment. A
35person so appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective office
-2-1shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified
2at the next regular school election, unless there is an
3intervening special election for the school district, in which
4event a successor shall be elected at the intervening special
5election, in accordance with section 69.12. To fill a vacancy
6occurring among the members of a school board, the board shall
7publish notice on the board’s internet site and in the manner
8prescribed by section 279.36, stating that the board intends to
9fill the vacancy by appointment but that the electors of the
10school district have the right to file a petition requiring
11that the vacancy be filled by a special election conducted
12pursuant to section 279.7. The board may publish notice in
13advance if a member of the board submits a resignation to take
14effect at a future date. The board may make an appointment to
15fill the vacancy after the notice is published or after the
16vacancy occurs, whichever is later.
17 Sec. 5. Section 279.8, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
18to read as follows:
191. The board shall make rules for its own government and
20that of the directors, officers, employees, teachers and
21pupils, and for the care of the schoolhouse, grounds, and
22property of the school corporation, and shall aid in the
23enforcement of the rules, and require the performance of duties
24imposed by law and the rules. The board shall include in its
25rules provisions regulating the loading and unloading of pupils
26from a school bus stopped on the highway during a period of
27reduced highway visibility caused by fog, snow or other weather
28conditions. The board shall have the authority to include in
29its rules provisions allowing school corporation employees to
30use school credit cards to pay for the actual and necessary
31expenses incurred in the performance of work-related duties.
32 Sec. 6. Section 279.20, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
33to read as follows:
342. The board of directors of a school district may delegate
35the authority to hire support personnel and sign the support
-3-1personnel employment contracts, if applicable, if the board
2adopts a policy authorizing the superintendent to perform
3such duties and specifying the positions the superintendent
4is authorized to fill. The board of directors of a school
5district and the superintendent, if authorized pursuant to
6this subsection, may use electronic signatures and electronic
7contracts pursuant to chapter 554D and facsimile signatures
8when entering into the contracts described in this subsection.
9 For purposes of this subsection, the term “support personnel”
10includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, custodians,
11educational associates, and clerical and food service
12employees.
13 Sec. 7. Section 279.69, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
14to read as follows:
151. Prior to hiring an applicant for a school employee
16position, a school district shall have access to and shall
17review the information in the Iowa court information system
18available to the general public, the sex offender registry
19information under section 692A.121 available to the general
20public, the central registry for child abuse information
21established under section 235A.14, and the central registry for
22dependent adult abuse information established under section
23235B.5 for information regarding the applicant. A school
24district shall follow the same procedure by June 30, 2014, for
25each school employee employed by the school district as of July
261, 2013. A school district shall implement a consistent policy
27to follow the same procedure for each school employee employed
28by the school district on or after July 1, 2013, at least every
29five years after the school employee’s initial date of hire. A
30school district shall not may charge an employee for the cost
31of the registry checks conducted pursuant to this subsection,
32not to exceed the actual cost of the registry checks. A school
33district shall maintain documentation demonstrating compliance
34with this subsection.
35 Sec. 8. Section 280.5, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
-4-1to read as follows:
22. The board of directors of each Each public school
3district shall administer the pledge of allegiance in grades
4one through twelve each school day. Each classroom in which
5the pledge of allegiance is recited pursuant to this subsection
6shall display the United States flag during the recitation. A
7student shall not be compelled against the student’s objections
8or those of the student’s parent or guardian to recite the
9pledge.
10 Sec. 9. Section 291.1, Code 2023, is amended to read as
11follows:
12291.1 President — duties.
13The president of the board of directors shall preside at
14all of its meetings, sign all contracts made by the board, and
15appear on behalf of the corporation in all actions brought by
16or against it, unless individually a party, in which case this
17duty shall be performed by the secretary. The president or the
18president’s designee shall have the authority to enter into
19original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant to chapter
20554D and sign, using an original, or facsimile, or electronic
21 signature, as defined in section 554D.103, all school district
22payments drawn and authorize electronic funds transfers as
23provided by law. The board of directors, by resolution, may
24designate an individual, who shall not be the secretary, to
25sign payments or authorize electronic funds transfers on behalf
26of the president pursuant to this section.
27 Sec. 10. Section 291.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
28follows:
29291.4 Oath.
30Each shall take the oath required of civil officers, which
31shall be endorsed upon the bond, and shall complete the
32qualification within ten days.
33DIVISION III
34RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH
35 Sec. 11. Section 8A.318, subsections 1 and 3, Code 2023, are
-5-1amended to read as follows:
21. Findings and intent. The general assembly finds that
3human beings are vulnerable to and may be severely affected by
4exposure to chemicals, hazardous waste, and other environmental
5hazards. The federal environmental protection agency estimates
6that human exposure to indoor air pollutants can be two to
7five times, and up to one hundred times, higher than outdoor
8levels. Children, teachers, janitors, and other staff members
9spend a significant amount of time inside school buildings.
10Likewise, state State employees and citizens of this state
11spend a significant amount of time inside state buildings.
12These individuals are continuously exposed to chemicals from
13cleaners, waxes, deodorizers, and other maintenance products.
143. Use of environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance
15products.
16a. All school districts in this state, community colleges,
17institutions under the control of the state board of regents,
18and state agencies utilizing state buildings, are encouraged
19to conform to an environmentally preferable cleaning policy
20designed to facilitate the purchase and use of environmentally
21preferable cleaning and maintenance products for purposes of
22public school, community college, regents institution, and
23 state building cleaning and maintenance.
24b. Each school district, community college, institution
25under the control of the state board of regents, or state
26agency utilizing public buildings shall conduct an evaluation
27and assessment regarding implementation of an environmentally
28preferable cleaning policy pursuant to this section. On or
29after July 1, 2012, all All state agencies, and all school
30districts, community colleges, and institutions under the
31control of the state board of regents which have not opted
32out of compliance pursuant to paragraph “c”, shall purchase
33only cleaning and maintenance products identified by the
34department or that meet nationally recognized standards.
35School districts, community colleges, institutions under the
-6-1control of the state board of regents, and state State agencies
2procuring supplies for schools and state buildings may deplete
3their existing cleaning and maintenance supply stocks and
4implement the new requirements in the procurement cycle for
5the following year. This section shall not be interpreted
6in a manner that prohibits the use of disinfectants,
7disinfecting cleaners, sanitizers, or any other antimicrobial
8product regulated by the federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
9and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq., when necessary
10to protect public health and provided that the use of these
11products is in accordance with responsible cleaning procedure
12requirements.
13c. A school district, community college, or institution
14under the control of the state board of regents may, based upon
15the evaluation and assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph
16“b”, opt out of compliance with the requirements of this section
17 upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
18board of directors of the school district or a determination by
19the president of the community college or by the president or
20administrative officer of the regents institution. A school
21district, community college, or regents institution opting
22out of compliance pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the
23department of education, the state board of education, or the
24state board of regents, as appropriate, of this decision.
25 Sec. 12. Section 256.11, subsection 9B, Code 2023, is
26amended to read as follows:
279B. Beginning July 1, 2007, each A school district shall
28have a school nurse to provide health services to its students.
29Each school district shall work toward the goal of having one
30school nurse for every seven hundred fifty students enrolled in
31the school district. For purposes of this subsection, “school
32nurse” means a person who holds an endorsement or a statement of
33professional recognition for school nurses issued by the board
34of educational examiners under chapter 272.
35 Sec. 13. Section 280.7A, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended
-7-1by striking the subsection.
2 Sec. 14. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — HEALTH CARE-RELATED
3TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL WORK GROUP.
41. The department of education shall convene and provide
5administrative support to a health care-related training
6for school personnel work group. The work group shall
7review and develop a plan to ensure Iowa educators have the
8health care training necessary to perform their duties and
9responsibilities, and shall consider and submit recommendations
10for delivery and implementation of training required under
11state law or rule.
122. The work group shall include all of the following:
13a. (1) Two members who are staff members from the
14department of education, one of whom shall be an administrative
15consultant in the bureau of nutrition and health services.
16A member appointed under this subparagraph shall coordinate
17the work group and act as chairperson for the organizational
18meeting.
19(2) One member who is a staff member from the Iowa
20department of health and human services.
21b. Members who shall represent each of the following:
22(1) One member from a statewide organization representing
23teachers.
24(2) One member from a statewide organization representing
25school board members.
26(3) One member from a statewide organization representing
27school administrators.
28(4) One member from a statewide organization representing
29authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools.
30(5) One member representing the area education agencies.
31(6) One member from a statewide organization representing
32physicians.
33(7) One member from a statewide organization representing
34athletic trainers.
35(8) One member from a statewide organization representing
-8-1emergency management services.
2(9) One member from a statewide organization representing
3health care organizations.
4(10) One member from a statewide organization representing
5school nurses.
63. Any expenses incurred by a member of the work group
7shall be the responsibility of the individual member or the
8respective entity represented by the member.
94. The director of the department of education or the
10director’s designee shall compile and provide to the work group
11a list of, and the purposes for, the health care training
12programs that school personnel are required to complete, as
13well as any requirements school personnel must meet following
14such training, in order be in compliance with state law or
15administrative rule.
165. The work group shall do all of the following:
17a. Identify which trainings can be best provided over the
18internet, and how such training can be rotated on a five-year
19basis for school personnel.
20b. Develop a plan for a regular cycle of health care-related
21training for school personnel review, with the goal of removing
22or modifying training or training programs that are no longer
23relevant, and identifying less costly and more efficient
24options that still provide the appropriate level of training to
25school personnel.
26c. Standardize the process of establishing new training
27requirements in state law or rule to manage stakeholder
28expectations relating to the timeline for establishing the
29requirements.
30d. Create an ongoing review process to find efficiencies,
31identify training options that better utilize time and
32financial resources, and offer a continuous improvement model
33for the system moving forward.
34e. Study and make any recommended changes on rules adopted
35by the state board of education under 281 IAC ch.14, relating
-9-1to individual health plans prepared for students with various
2health conditions.
3f. Ensure a public comment process for patient advocacy
4groups and parents to provide input on the recommendations of
5the work group.
66. If the work group recommends elimination or significant
7modification of certain health care-related training for
8school personnel, the department of education shall identify
9stakeholders who would potentially be affected by such
10change, and shall invite representatives from organizations
11representing such stakeholders to submit comments before or
12at an upcoming work group meeting before the work group makes
13final recommendations.
147. The department of education shall compile the work
15group’s findings and recommendations and shall submit the
16compilation, including any proposal for legislation, in a
17report to the general assembly, the governor, and the state
18board of education by December 1, 2023.
19DIVISION IV
20STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING
21 Sec. 15. Section 423F.3, subsections 2 and 4, Code 2023, are
22amended to read as follows:
232. A revenue purpose statement in existence for the
24expenditure of local sales and services tax for school
25infrastructure purposes imposed by a county pursuant to
26section 423E.2, Code Supplement 2007, prior to July 1, 2008,
27shall remain in effect until amended or extended. The board
28of directors of a school district may take action to adopt
29or amend a revenue purpose statement specifying the specific
30purposes for which the revenues received from the secure an
31advanced vision for education fund will be expended. If a
32school district is located in a county which has imposed a
33local sales and services tax for school infrastructure purposes
34prior to July 1, 2008, this action shall be taken before
35expending or anticipating revenues to be received after the
-10-1unextended term of the tax unless the school district elects to
2adopt a revenue purpose statement as provided in subsection 3.
34. The revenues received pursuant to this chapter shall
4be expended for the purposes specified in the revenue purpose
5statement. If a board of directors has not approved a revenue
6purpose statement, the revenues shall be expended in the order
7listed in subsection 1 except that the payment of bonds for
8which the revenues have been pledged shall be paid first.
9Once approved, a revenue purpose statement is effective until
10amended or repealed by the foregoing procedures. A revenue
11purpose statement shall not be amended or repealed to reduce
12the amount of revenue pledged to the payment of principal and
13interest on bonds as long as any bonds authorized by sections
14423E.5 and 423F.4 are outstanding unless funds sufficient
15to pay principal, interest, and premium, if any, on the
16outstanding obligations at or prior to maturity have been
17properly set aside and pledged for that purpose. A school
18district affected by a reorganization under chapter 275 that
19has issued bonds under section 423E.5 or 423F.4 and that has
20not approved a revenue purpose statement shall first use
21revenues to make timely and sufficient payment of principal and
22interest, and premium if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
23 Sec. 16. Section 423F.3, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code
242023, is amended by striking the paragraph.
25 Sec. 17. Section 423F.3, subsection 3, paragraph d, Code
262023, is amended to read as follows:
27d. The board secretary shall notify the county commissioner
28of elections of the intent to take an issue to the voters
29pursuant to paragraph “b” or “c”. The county commissioner of
30elections shall publish the notices required by law for special
31or general elections, and the election shall be held on a date
32specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph “c”. A
33majority of those voting on the question must favor approval
34of the revenue purpose statement. If the proposal is not
35approved, the school district shall not submit the same or new
-11-1revenue purpose statement to the electors for a period of six
2months from the date of the previous election.
3 Sec. 18. Section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph a,
4subparagraph (1), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
5(1) For purposes of this chapter, “school infrastructure”
6means those activities authorized in section 423E.1, subsection
73, Code 2007 for which a school district is authorized to
8contract indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds under
9section 296.1, except those activities related to a teacher’s
10or superintendent’s home or homes.
11 Sec. 19. Section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph a, Code
122023, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:
13 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (5) Additionally, “school infrastructure”
14includes the construction, reconstruction, repair, demolition
15work, purchasing, or remodeling of schoolhouses, stadiums,
16gymnasiums, fieldhouses, and school bus garages, the
17procurement of schoolhouse construction sites, the making of
18site improvements, and those activities for which revenues
19under section 298.3 or chapter 300 may be spent.
20 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (6) Additionally, “school infrastructure”
21includes a joint infrastructure project with one or more school
22districts or one or more school districts and a community
23college established under chapter 260C, for which buildings
24or facilities are constructed or leased for the purpose of
25offering classes under a district-to-community college sharing
26agreement or concurrent enrollment program that meets the
27requirements for funding under section 257.11, subsection 3.
28 Sec. 20. Section 423F.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as
29follows:
30423F.4 Borrowing authority for school districts.
311. Subject to the conditions established under subsection
322, a school district may anticipate its share of the revenues
33under section 423F.2 by issuing bonds in the manner provided
34in section 423E.5, Code 2019 this section. However, to the
35extent any school district has issued bonds anticipating the
-12-1proceeds of an extended local sales and services tax for school
2infrastructure purposes imposed by a county pursuant to former
3chapter 423E, Code and Code Supplement 2007, prior to July 1,
42008, the pledge of such revenues for the payment of principal
5and interest on such bonds shall be replaced by a pledge of its
6share of the revenues under section 423F.2.
72. a. Bonds issued on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be
8sold at public sale as provided in chapter 75, or at a private
9sale, without notice and hearing. Notice of the time and place
10of the public hearing shall be published not less than ten nor
11more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper
12which is a newspaper of general circulation in the school
13district. This paragraph does not apply to the refinancing of
14bonds.
15b. For bonds subject to the requirements of paragraph
16“a”, if at any time prior to the fifteenth day following the
17hearing, the secretary of the board of directors receives a
18petition containing the required number of signatures and
19asking that the question of the issuance of such bonds be
20submitted to the voters of the school district, the board shall
21either rescind its adoption of the resolution or direct the
22county commissioner of elections to submit the question to the
23registered voters of the school district at an election held
24on a date specified in section 39.2, subsection 4, paragraph
25“c”. The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal
26in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of
27the number of voters at the last preceding election of school
28officials under section 277.1, whichever is greater. If the
29board submits the question at an election and a majority of
30those voting on the question favors issuance of the bonds, the
31board shall be authorized to issue the bonds.
32c. After fourteen days from the date of the hearing under
33paragraph “a” or fourteen days after the date of the election
34held under paragraph “b”, if applicable, whichever is later,
35an action shall not be brought questioning the legality of
-13-1any bonds or the power of the authority to issue any bonds
2or to the legality of any proceedings in connection with the
3authorization or issuance of the bonds.
43. The repeal of section 423E.5 shall not affect the
5validity of any previously issued bonds or other evidences of
6indebtedness.
74. The board of directors of a school district may issue
8negotiable, interest-bearing school bonds, without election,
9and utilize tax receipts derived from the secure an advanced
10vision for education fund for principal and interest repayment.
11Proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall
12be utilized solely for school infrastructure as defined in
13section 423F.3, subsection 6, paragraph “a”. Bonds issued
14under this subsection may be sold at public sale as provided
15in chapter 75, or at private sale, without notice and hearing.
16Bonds may bear dates, bear interest at rates not exceeding that
17permitted by chapter 74A, mature in one or more installments,
18be in registered form, carry registration and conversion
19privileges, be payable as to principal and interest at times
20and places, be subject to terms of redemption prior to maturity
21with or without premium, and be in one or more denominations,
22all as provided by the resolution of the board of directors
23authorizing the issuance. The resolution may also prescribe
24additional provisions, terms, conditions, and covenants which
25the board of directors deems advisable, including provisions
26for creating and maintaining reserve funds, the issuance of
27additional bonds ranking on a parity with such bonds and
28additional bonds junior and subordinate to such bonds, and
29that such bonds shall rank on a parity with or be junior and
30subordinate to any bonds which may be then outstanding. Bonds
31may be issued to refund outstanding and previously issued
32bonds under this subsection. The bonds are a contractual
33obligation of the school district, and the resolution issuing
34the bonds and its share of the revenues distributed pursuant
35to section 423F.2 to the payment of principal and interest on
-14-1the bonds is a part of the contract. Bonds issued pursuant to
2this subsection shall not constitute indebtedness within the
3meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or
4restriction, and shall not be subject to any other law relating
5to the authorization, issuance, or sale of bonds.
65. a. A school district may enter into an agreement
7pursuant to chapter 28E with one or more cities or a county
8whose boundaries encompass all or a part of the area of the
9school district. A city entering into an agreement with a
10school district pursuant to chapter 28E may expend the city’s
11designated portion of the revenues for any valid purpose
12permitted in this chapter or authorized by the governing body
13of the city. A county entering into an agreement with a school
14district pursuant to chapter 28E may expend its designated
15portion of the revenues to provide property tax relief within
16the boundaries of the school district located in the county.
17b. A school district may enter into an agreement pursuant to
18chapter 28E with another school district, a community college,
19or an area education agency which is located partially or
20entirely in or is contiguous to the county where the school
21district is located. The school district or community college
22shall only expend its designated portion of the revenues
23for infrastructure purposes. The area education agency
24shall only expend its designated portion of the revenues for
25infrastructure and maintenance purposes.
26DIVISION V
27COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD
28 Sec. 21. Section 441.2, Code 2023, is amended to read as
29follows:
30441.2 Conference board.
31In each county and each city having an assessor there
32shall be established a conference board. In counties the
33conference board shall consist of the mayors or a designated
34member of a city council of all incorporated cities in the
35county whose property is assessed by the county assessor; one
-15-1representative from the board of directors of each high school
2district of containing a high school in the county, who is a
3resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said
4representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of
5the conference board as to their representative; and members
6of the board of supervisors. In cities having an assessor
7the conference board shall consist of the members of the city
8council, school board the board of directors of each school
9district containing a high school in the city, and county board
10of supervisors. In the counties the chairperson of the board
11of supervisors shall act as chairperson of the conference
12board, in cities having an assessor the mayor of the city
13council shall act as chairperson of the conference board. In
14any action taken by the conference board, the mayors of all
15incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed
16by the county assessor shall constitute one voting unit, the
17members of the city board of education board of directors of
18each school district containing a high school in the city or
19one representative from the board of directors of each high
20 school district of containing a high school in the county shall
21constitute one voting unit, the members of the city council
22shall constitute one voting unit, and the county board of
23supervisors shall constitute one voting unit, each unit having
24a single vote and no action shall be valid except by the vote of
25not less than two out of the three units. In any action taken
26by the conference board, if a city or a county contains only
27one school district containing a high school, the members of
28or the representative of the board of directors of the school
29district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit.
30 The majority vote of the members present of each unit shall
31determine the vote of the unit. The assessor shall be clerk of
32the conference board.
33DIVISION VI
34CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES
35 Sec. 22. Section 282.34, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
-16-1following new subsection:
2 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. For children requiring admission to
3a residential treatment facility, the residential treatment
4facility shall complete and provide to the district of
5residence the documentation necessary to seek Medicaid
6reimbursement for eligible services.
7DIVISION VII
8AREA EDUCATION AGENCY BOARDS — POSTING OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED
9BUDGET
10 Sec. 23. Section 273.3, subsection 12, Code 2023, is amended
11to read as follows:
1212. Prepare an annual budget estimating income and
13expenditures for programs and services as provided in sections
14273.1, 273.2, this section, sections 273.4 through 273.8, and
15chapter 256B within the limits of funds provided under section
16256B.9 and chapter 257. The board shall post notice of a
17public hearing on the proposed budget on the area education
18agency’s internet site and by publication in the newspaper of
19general circulation in the territory of the area education
20agency in which the principal place of business of a school
21district that is a part of the area education agency is located
22or in the manner prescribed in section 279.36. The notice
23shall specify the date, which shall be not later than March
241 of each year, the time, and the location of the public
25hearing. The proposed budget as approved by the board shall
26then be submitted to the state board of education, on forms
27provided by the department, no later than March 15 preceding
28the next fiscal year for approval. The state board shall
29review the proposed budget of each area education agency and
30shall before May 1, either grant approval or return the budget
31without approval with comments of the state board included. An
32unapproved budget shall be resubmitted to the state board for
33final approval not later than May 15. The state board shall
34give final approval only to budgets submitted by area education
35agencies accredited by the state board or that have been given
-17-1conditional accreditation by the state board.
2DIVISION VIII
3ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
4 Sec. 24. Section 47.6, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended
5to read as follows:
62. For the purpose of this section, a conflict between two
7elections exists only when some but not all of the registered
8voters of any precinct would be entitled to vote in one of
9the elections and all of the registered voters of the same
10precinct would be entitled to vote in the other election.
11Nothing in this subsection shall deny a commissioner who is
12responsible for conducting the election discretionary authority
13to approve holding a special election on the same date as
14another election, even though the two elections may be defined
15as being in conflict, if the commissioner concludes that to do
16so will cause no undue difficulties.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to entities supported in whole or in part
21by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the
22duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of
23school boards, school districts, the department of education,
24the department of health and human services, accredited
25nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges,
26institutions under the control of the state board of regents,
27area education agencies, election commissioners, and children’s
28residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of
29county and city conference boards.
30DIVISION I — BOND SALES. Current law provides that when
31public bonds are offered for sale, the official in charge
32of the bond issue shall give notice of the time and place
33of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any further
34information which the official deems pertinent by publishing
35an advertisement in a newspaper. The division modifies this
-18-1provision to require the official in charge of the bond issue
2to give notice of the sale by publishing the time and place of
3sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any additional
4information the official deems pertinent to the bond issue in
5at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide
6circulation that is recognized for providing information
7regarding the sale of public bonds or in a newspaper located in
8the county or a county contiguous to the place of sale.
9Code section 75.14 provides that, notwithstanding contrary
10provisions of Code chapter 75 (authorization and sale of public
11bonds), a public body authorized to issue bonds or other
12obligations may elect to receive bids to purchase such bonds
13or other obligations by means of electronic communication, a
14proprietary bidding procedure, or by facsimile transmission
15to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body. The
16division adds a reference to Code section 75.3 (sealed and open
17bids) to the notwithstanding provision.
18DIVISION II — SCHOOL BOARD AND OFFICERS — DUTIES AND
19RESPONSIBILITIES. Current law provides that individuals who
20either have a master’s degree or are making annual progress
21toward meeting the requirements for a teacher librarian
22endorsement issued by the board of educational examiners are
23considered to be in compliance with rules associated with
24media specialists or librarians. The division strikes these
25provisions.
26Code section 279.6 provides a process to fill vacancies
27occurring among the members of a school board. This process
28requires, among other things, the publication in a newspaper of
29notice stating that the board intends to fill the vacancy by
30appointment. The division requires notice to be provided by
31publication on the board’s internet site as well.
32The division strikes a provision requiring school boards to
33have rules regulating the loading and unloading of pupils from
34a school bus stopped on the highway during inclement weather.
35The division authorizes the board of directors of a
-19-1school district and the superintendent, in certain specified
2circumstances, to use electronic signatures and electronic
3contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D (electronic
4transactions) and facsimile signatures when entering into
5contracts to hire support personnel.
6Currently, school districts are prohibited from charging
7employees for the cost of registry checks. The bill provides
8that a school district may charge an employee for the cost
9of the registry checks, not to exceed the actual cost. The
10division strikes obsolete language relating to school employee
11registry checks.
12Current law requires the board of directors of each public
13school district to administer the pledge of allegiance in
14grades 1 through 12 each school day. The division modifies
15this provision to require each public school district to
16administer the pledge of allegiance in grades 1 through 12 each
17school day.
18The division authorizes the president of the board of
19directors of a school district, or the president’s designee, to
20enter into original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant
21to chapter 554D and sign, using an original, facsimile, or
22electronic signature, all school district payments drawn and
23authorize electronic funds transfers as provided by law.
24Current law requires the secretary and treasurer of a
25school district to execute to the school corporation a surety
26bond in an amount sufficient to cover current operations as
27determined by the board. Current law also requires the oath
28required of civil officers to be endorsed upon the bond. The
29division strikes the requirement that the oath required of
30civil officers be endorsed upon the bond.
31DIVISION III — RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING
32TO HEALTH. The division strikes requirements that school
33districts, community colleges, and institutions under the
34control of the state board of regents conduct an evaluation
35and assessment regarding implementation of an environmentally
-20-1preferable cleaning policy and, unless the school districts,
2community colleges, or institutions under the control of the
3state board of regents opt out of compliance, to purchase only
4cleaning and maintenance products identified by the department
5of administrative services as being environmentally preferable
6or that meet nationally recognized standards.
7The division strikes the requirement that each school
8work toward a goal of having one school nurse for every 750
9students, and instead authorizes a school district to have a
10school nurse to provide health care to students.
11The division strikes a provision requiring that every
12parent or guardian of a child registered for kindergarten or
13preschool be provided with a student vision card provided by
14the Iowa optometric association and approved by the department
15of education with a goal of every child receiving an eye
16examination by age seven.
17The division requires the department of education to
18convene and provide administrative support to a health
19care-related training for school personnel group. The bill
20requires the group to review and develop a plan to ensure
21that Iowa educators have the health care training necessary
22to perform their duties and to submit recommendations for
23delivery and implementation of training required under state
24law or rule. The bill specifies the members the group shall
25include. The bill requires the group to submit its findings
26and recommendations in a report to the general assembly, the
27governor, and the state board of education by December 1, 2023.
28DIVISION IV — STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.
29 Current law provides that if a school district is located in
30a county which has imposed a local sales and services tax for
31school infrastructure purposes prior to July 1, 2008, the board
32of directors of a school district is required to take action
33to adopt or amend a revenue purpose statement specifying the
34specific purposes for which the revenues received from the
35secure an advanced vision for education fund will be expended
-21-1before expending or anticipating revenues to be received after
2the unextended term of the tax unless the school district
3elects to adopt a revenue purpose statement. The division
4strikes this provision.
5The division requires a school district affected by a
6reorganization that has issued bonds under Code section 423E.5
7(school infrastructure funding formula — bonding) or 423F.4
8(borrowing authority for school districts) and that has not
9approved a revenue purpose statement to first use revenues to
10make timely and sufficient payment of principal and interest
11and premium, if applicable, on the outstanding bonds.
12The division modifies the definition of “school
13infrastructure” for purposes of Code chapter 423F (statewide
14school infrastructure funding) to mean those activities
15for which a school district is authorized to contract
16indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds under Code
17section 296.1 (indebtedness of school corporations), except
18those activities related to a teacher’s or superintendent’s
19home or homes. The division also modifies the definition
20of “school infrastructure” for purposes of Code chapter
21423F to include the construction, reconstruction, repair,
22demolition work, purchasing, or remodeling of schoolhouses,
23stadiums, gymnasiums, fieldhouses, and school bus garages, the
24procurement of schoolhouse construction sites, the making of
25site improvements, those activities for which other specified
26revenues may be spent, joint infrastructure projects with one
27or more school districts or one or more school districts and
28a community college, for which buildings or facilities are
29constructed or leased for the purpose of offering classes under
30a district-to-community college sharing agreement or concurrent
31enrollment program. Additionally, the division modifies the
32definition of “school infrastructure” for purposes of Code
33chapter 423F to remove requirements related to the adoption of
34a revenue purpose statement that is subject to the approval of
35the electors.
-22- 1Current law provides that bonds issued under Code chapter
2423F on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be sold at a public
3or private sale without notice and hearing. Current law
4also provides that notice of the sale shall be published in
5a newspaper. The bill provides that this provision does not
6apply to the refinancing of bonds.
7The division provides that the repeal of Code section 423E.5
8(bonding) shall not affect the validity of any previously
9issued bonds or other evidences of indebtedness. Code chapter
10423E sunsets on June 30, 2023.
11The division authorizes the board of directors of a school
12district to issue negotiable, interest-bearing school bonds,
13without election, and utilize tax receipts derived from the
14secure an advanced vision for education fund for principal and
15interest repayment pursuant to standards established in the
16division.
17The division authorizes school districts to enter into an
18agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with one or more cities,
19school districts, community colleges, and certain specified
20counties and area education agencies. The division also
21establishes how revenues from such agreements may be expended.
22DIVISION V — COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD. Current law provides
23that each county and each city having an assessor shall have a
24conference board. Current law also provides that in counties,
25the conference board shall consist of the mayors of all
26incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed
27by the county assessor, one representative from the board of
28directors of each high school district of the county, who is a
29resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said
30representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of
31the conference board as to their representative, and members of
32the board of supervisors. The division modifies this provision
33to require that the conference board consist of the mayors
34or a designated member of a city council. The division also
35modifies this provision by replacing references to high school
-23-1districts with references to school districts containing a high
2school.
3The division strikes the requirement that the board of
4directors of a high school district appoint a representative
5for a one-year term and notify the clerk of the conference
6board as to the identity of the representative.
7The division provides that, in any action taken by the
8conference board, if a city or a county contains only one
9school district containing a high school, the members of or
10the representative of the board of directors of the school
11district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit.
12DIVISION VI — CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES. The
13division provides that, for children requiring admission to
14a residential treatment facility, the residential treatment
15facility shall complete and provide to the child’s school
16district of residence the documentation necessary to seek
17Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.
18DIVISION VII — AREA EDUCATION AGENCY BOARDS — POSTING OF
19NOTICE ON PROPOSED BUDGET. Current law requires area education
20agency (AEA) boards to give notice of a public hearing on the
21AEA’s proposed budget by publication on the AEA’s internet
22site and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation
23in the territory of the AEA. The division authorizes AEA
24boards, in lieu of providing notice of a public hearing on the
25AEA’s proposed budget by publication in a newspaper of general
26circulation in the territory of the AEA, to provide notice by
27publication in accordance with Code section 279.36 (authorizing
28notice by publication in at least one newspaper published in
29the district).
30DIVISION VIII — ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. The division
31provides that, for purposes of special elections, nothing
32shall deny a commissioner who is responsible for conducting
33the election the discretionary authority to approve holding a
34special election on the same date as another election, even
35though the two elections may be defined as being in conflict,
-24-1if the commissioner concludes that to do so will cause no undue
2difficulties.
-25-jda/jh