HF 756 – Federal Block Grant bill
HF 759– Administration and Regulation Budget HF 765 – RIIF Budget
SF 608 – Economic Development Budget
SF 616– Judicial Branch Budget
COMMITTEE ACTION:
HF 756 – Federal Block Grant bill
HF 756 appropriates federal funds made available from federal block grants and other non-state sources. The bill authorizes the receipt and expenditure of federal block grant funds totaling $360.9 million for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 20 and $361.1 million for FFY21. The federal funding levels specified in the bill are based on projected spending authority yet to be authorized by Congress. Departments and agencies to receive funding include the Department of Public Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Justice, Governor’s Office of Drug Control, Division of Community Action Agencies in the Department of Human Rights, Iowa Economic Development Authority and Department of Transportation. The bill specifies procedures for prorating funds to various programs if the funding received is less or more than the amount appropriated.
[4/17: short form (Absent: Shipley)]
HF 759– Administration and Regulation Budget
HF 759 is the FY2020 Administration and Regulation Budget that makes appropriations to various state departments and agencies. The bill and a Senate amendment make a supplemental appropriation to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for FY19. A Senate Republican amendment makes these appropriations and language changes:
FY19 Action $48.0 million
FY20 House Action $52,420,985 w/1,168.22 FTEs
FY20 Senate GOP Amendment $55,576,149 w/ 1,177.72 FTEs
FY19 Supplemental
- DAS: $456,979 for utilities shortfall
Notable recommended increase – FY20
- Ethics and Campaign Disclosure: $68,500 (additional staff attorney)
- Governor’s Office: $200,000 (for salaries, adds two FTEs for tax policy analyst and health care policy assistant )
- Terrace Hill Quarters: $0 (House GOP: $48,000)
- of Management: $125,000 (Retirements and Salaries)
- of Revenue: $250,000 in Operations (House GOP: no increase)
- DAS: $168,000 to use towards future utility expenses
NEW:
- Fraud Investigation Program: $647,355 with seven additional FTEs
- Chief Information Officer (OCIO): $650,000 (Owes Feds $3 million for receiving and spending too much grant money)
- OCIO: Broadband Grants: $5 million (House GOP: $5 million in RIIF)
- Creating a consistent source of funding for the broadband grant
Non-general fund Info:
- of State Address Confidentially Program
- Due to popularity, authorization granted to increase spending by $75,000, for a total of $195,000
o Racing and Gaming Commission
- Contingent on adoption of sports betting
- Additional $275,000 and three FTEs (generated from sports betting income)
New Policy Language:
- Within the Insurance Division at the Dept. of Commerce: Insurance Fraud
- The division must use two FTEs to hire two investigators within the Insurance Fraud Bureau to investigate workers’ compensation fraud and one FTE to hire a prosecuting attorney for insurance
· Insurance Fraud Bureau Report
- The new bureau must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on insurance fraud prosecution from 2021 to
· Dept. of Administrative Services
- Requires DAS to study the feasibility, timeline and costs of developing and maintaining a searchable database of real property owned or leased by the State. The Department must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Appropriations committees by December 31, 2020, and every year
- Requires the OCIO to submit a quarterly report to the Legislature and to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House committees on appropriations detailing the status of technology upgrades or enhancements for State The report must include a list of State agencies coordinating or working with the OCIO and a list of State agencies not coordinating or working with the OCIO.
· Hotel Licensing fee
- Changes the cutoff for the hotel licensing fee increase from “more than one hundred one guest rooms” to “one hundred one guest rooms or “
· Sec. of State
- A voter registration list request by any person will not cost more than $250.
The following language was adopted on the House floor but deleted by the Senate GOP amendment:
- Requires the DAS or the State Board of Regents, as applicable, to investigate a complaint alleging sexual harassment upon receipt or referral, and to complete the investigation within 180 days of the
- Permits a State employee aggrieved by a violation of Iowa Code section 12 to file a civil action within two years in a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Extends the time within which a claimant may bring a claim for discriminatory or unfair practice under Iowa Code section 15 from 300 days to two years, except as provided in Iowa Code section 614.8.
- Requires the Secretary of State to devote $100,000 to voter education and outreach.
[4/17: 12-8, party-line (Absent: Shipley)]
HF 765 – RIIF Budget
HF 765 makes appropriations to state departments and agencies from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) and the Technology Reinvestment Fund (TRF).
Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF)
Fully funds $42,000,000 to the Environment First Fund and $3 million to the State Housing Trust Fund.
Agriculture
Water Quality – $5,200,000
Ag Drainage Wells – $1,875,000
Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund – $3,000,000
Corrections
CBCs 6th District (Linn County) Fire Suppression System – $150,000
Cultural Affairs
Great Places – $1,000,000
Strengthening Communities Grants (Rural YMCAs) – $250,000
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Grants – $5,000,000 Regional Sports – $500,000
World Food Prize Borlaug/Ruan Scholars – $300,000
Easter Seals Innovation Independence Center: FY20 – $200,000; FY21 – $800,000 Lewis and Clark Regional Water System: FY20 – $1,800,000; FY21 – $1,700,000
Human Services
ChildServe Building Expansion: FY21 – $1,250,000 Nursing Home Improvements – $500,000
Iowa Finance Authority
State Housing Trust Fund (additional funding) – $50,000 (total $3,050,000)
Judicial
Justice Centers – $193,620
Natural Resources
Lake Restoration and Water Quality – $9,600,000 Water Trails and Low Head Dam Grants – $500,000 State Park Infrastructure – $2,000,000
Public Defense
Facility, Armory Maintenance – $1,000,000 Readiness Centers – $1,000,000
Camp Dodge – $250,000
Public Safety
Statewide Interoperable Communications System – $3,719,355 Lab Liquid Chromatograph – $325,000
Explosive Trace Detector – $29,000
Regents
Tuition Replacement – $28,098,870
Iowa School for the Deaf: Long Hall Renovation – $4,325,000 UNI: Industrial Technology Center: FY21 – $1,000,000
State Fair
4-H Building Remodel: $500,000; FY21 – $4,500,000
Transportation
Recreational Trails – $1,000,000
Public Transit Vertical Infrastructure – $1,500,000 Railroad Revolving Loan Grants – $1,000,000
Commercial Service Air Vertical Infrastructure Grants – $1,600,000 General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure Grants – $700,000
Treasurer
County Fairs Infrastructure (divided equally) – $1,060,000
Veterans Home
Replacement of mechanical and electric systems – $6,134,840
Technology Reinvestment Fund (TRF)
Corrections
Technology Projects – $1,258,763
Education
Statewide Ed Data Warehouse – $600,000 ICN Part III Maintenance/Leases – $2,727,000
Work-based Learning Clearinghouse/Future Ready Iowa – $50,000
Homeland Security
Alert Iowa messaging system – $400,000
Human Rights
Criminal Justice Information System – $1,200,000 Justice Data Warehouse – $157,980
Human Services
Family and Children Services System – $5,525,660
Management
Transparency Project – $45,000
Local Gov Budget and Property Tax System – $120,000 Electronic Grant Management System – $50,000
Public Health
AMANDA Licensing System – $796,800
Public Safety
Virtual Archive Storage System – $290,000 Post 16 Technology Upgrade – $250,000
Veterans Home
Computer equipment at Iowa Veterans Home – $5,000
—
Senate Technology Reinvestment Fund: FY20 – $13,541,203. Suspends a $17.5 million standing appropriation from the General Fund to the TRF for FY20 and appropriates $16.9 from the RIIF.
[4/17: 13-7, party-line (Yes: Republicans, Lykam; Absent: Shipley)]
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 608 – Economic Development Budget
SF 608 appropriates $41.6 million from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). This is an increase of $1.4 million more than the FY19 budget.
The bill appropriates $28.1 million from other funds. This is an increase of $1.3 million from FY19 budget. Other funds include Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund, IWD’s Special Contingency Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Reserve Interest.
FY20 Senate GOP Recommendation $ 41.6 million FY19 Appropriation $ 40.2 million
Difference $ 1.4 million
Percent Increase 3.5 percent increase
Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA)
DCA receives an increase of $25,000 over FY19 for the Cultural Trust Grants. Cultural Trust Grants go to Iowa nonprofit arts, history, sciences and humanities organizations for education programs and support local endowment building.
Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)
IEDA is receiving a decrease of $25,000 over FY19.
- The World Food Prize is reduced by $50,000.
- The Council of Governments receives an increase of $25,000.
- Other Funds (non- General Fund dollars):
- NEW Appropriation/FUTURE READY IOWA line item: The bill appropriates $400,000 (from the Skilled Workers and Job Creation Fund) to the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services to be used for establishing a volunteer mentor program to support implementation of the Future Ready Iowa Skilled Workforce Last-Dollar Scholarship program. The program was established in the Future Ready Iowa Act (2018).
- NEW Appropriation: The bill appropriates $100,000 (from the Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund) to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a Housing Needs Assessment Grant IEDA will develop rules. The program is intended to provide small communities with hard data and housing related information specific to the community being analyzed.
- NEW Appropriation: The bill appropriates $300,000 (from the Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund) to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for Rural Innovation Grants IEDA will develop rules.
- The bill appropriates $1.8 million less to the High Quality Jobs This funding is from the Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund.
Iowa Finance Authority (IFA)
IFA receives status quo funding ($658,000) for the Home and Community-Based Services Rent Subsidy Program that provides rent assistance to individuals on one of the Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) Waivers.
Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
- PERB is receiving status quo
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD)
IWD is appropriated $112,000 more than FY19 out of the General Fund appropriation. IWD is receiving an increase of
$1.25 million more in other funds (Unemployment Insurance Reserve Interest) from FY19 budget.
- $12,000 increase to Workers’ Compensation
- $1.25 million General Fund decrease to workforce field The bill appropriates an increase of $1.25 million from other funds (Unemployment Insurance Reserve Interest) for field offices.
- $50,000 general increase to the Offender Reentry Program.
- New Appropriation/FUTURE READY IOWA line item: There is an appropriation of $1.2 million for the Iowa Employer Innovation Fund which was established in the Future Ready Iowa Act (2018). The funding will be used to match eligible employer moneys to expand opportunities for education and training leading to high-demand jobs and to encourage Iowa employers, community leaders, and others to provide leadership and support for regional workforce talent pools throughout the state and for Future Ready Iowa Education and
- New Appropriation: The bill appropriates $100,000 to fund a position to assist with the support of Home Base Iowa IWD already has an FTE fulling these duties and IWD has been using other, non- appropriated funds.
Board of Regents
- NEW Appropriation: $750,000 to Iowa State University for Biosciences Innovation Ecosystem and $250,000 to University of Iowa Biosciences Innovation Ecosystem. This is a total of $1 million. The Governor recommended
$2 million and the Regents requested $4 million. The money will be used to establish a nationally renowned innovation ecosystem in Iowa bioscience platforms (bio-based chemicals, precision and digital agriculture, vaccines and immunotherapeutics, and medical devices) to grow and diversify Iowa’s economy. The universities look to hire individuals, creating a see funding program focused on early-stage technologies and creating an “Iowa Innovates” program to attract young innovators to Iowa.
- NEW Appropriation: $300,000 to University of Northern Iowa for equipment, technology and salaries to expand UNI’s additive manufacturing capabilities. UNI requested $400,000.
- ISU, UI and UNI are receiving status quo from the Skilled Worker Job Creation Fund for their economic development
College Student Aid Commission
This is the first time the College Student Aid Commission has received an appropriation out of the Economic Development budget. New Appropriation/Future Ready Iowa line item: The bill appropriates $1 million to establish a grant that would allow Iowans who left college with at least half the required credits for a bachelor’s degree in a high- demand field of study to enroll in a public or private four-year institution in Iowa to complete the degree. This program was established in the Future Ready Iowa Act (2018). The House GOP Education proposal funds this program at $1 million from the General Fund.
New language: Adds four ex-officio legislators to the Iowa Finance Authority Board.
[4/15: 32-18, party-line]
SF 615 – Justice Budget
SF 615, the Justice System appropriations bill, appropriates a total of $579,014,608 from the state’s general fund for FY20. That is $8,203,423 over estimated FY19 ($570,811,185). That is a 1.4% increase. However, note that a number of departments and agencies did not receive any proposed increase in the budget bill.
Justice system departments and agencies include:
- Attorney General’s Office including Victim Assistance Grants – status quo
- Legal Services Poverty grants – increase of $160,000
- Civil Rights Commission – status quo
- Department of Corrections and Community Based Corrections
- The Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning of the Department of Human Rights
- Public Defender Office, which includes Indigent Defense
- Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
- Board of Parole – status quo
- Department of Public Defense (Iowa Guard) – status quo
- Department of Public Safety (this includes the Iowa State Patrol and multiple other divisions)
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management – status quo
FY19 Supplemental Appropriations in this bill:
- $2.5 million for indigent defense
- $295,982 for the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for relocation expenses
Increased appropriations:
- Legal Services Poverty Grants – increase of $160,000
- Department of Corrections received a total increase of $2,173,963
- Central office: $316,515
- Madison – Iowa State Penitentiary: $400,000
- Iowa Medical and Classification Center (also known as Oakdale but actually in Coralville): $565,764 for pharmaceuticals
- Newton Correctional Facility: $65,938
- Community Based Corrections District 1 – (Northeast Iowa): $125,090 to fund a community treatment coordinator FTE position
- CBC District 2 (North Central Iowa): $70,351 to fund a community treatment coordinator FTE position
- CBC District 3 (Northwest Iowa ): $70,351 for community treatment coordinator FTE
- CBC District 4 (Southwest Iowa): $70,351 for community treatment coordinator FTE position
- CBC District 5 (Polk County, surrounding counties and south central counties): $140,702 for two community treatment coordinator FTEs
- CBC District 7 (Eastern Iowa, including Scott County): $70,351 for community treatment coordinator FTE
- CBC District 8 (Southeast Iowa): $278,550 for community treatment coordinator FTE and two probation and parole officer FTE positions previously funded by a
- Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning receives a new, separate line item of $140,000 for “a single grant to a program located in a city with a higher than average juvenile crime rate as determined by CJJP with a population greater than 80,000” (Davenport).
- Iowa Law Enforcement Academy sees an increase of $729,460 for relocation expenses while the current Academy building is renovated or Apparently, ILEA is renting apartments for the cadets to live in during the renovation. Also, they may be using Upper Iowa University classroom space.
- Public Defender: $100,000
- Indigent Defense: $1.6 million
- Department of Public Safety receives a total increase of $3.4 million
- Division of Criminal Investigation: $1 million increase
- Crime Lab: $50,000 increase
- Narcotics Enforcement: $200,000 increase
- Undercover Funds: $50,000 increase
- Iowa State Patrol: $2 million and 15 FTEs increase
- Firefighter training: $50,000 increase
- Office to Combat Human Trafficking: $50,000 increase (but no FTEs, so only have one)
New language and language changes in the bill:
- Contingent upon passage of SF 366 (the sports gambling bill), SF 615 appropriates an additional $300,000 from the Gaming Enforcement Fund and authorizes three This fund is not comprised of general fund monies, but includes monies deposited by the gaming industry which pays for all costs for gaming enforcement officers (special agents) at facilities throughout the state.
- Requires the Attorney General to report all money settlement awards and court money awards made to the The AG must report which funds are designated to receive the moneys and under what legal authority the designation is being made.
- Sets up a fire service training revolving fund under the control of the Department of Public These monies come from fees paid for fire service training classes. Iowa State University previously did the accounting, etc. relating to these fees, but ISU informed the state in the fall that they would no longer do it for the Fire Service Training Bureau.
- Authorizes the Department of Corrections to use any FY19 appropriations to resolve a settlement agreement with Iowa OSHA relating to inadequate communication devices for staff at the Iowa State The radios are estimated to cost about $1.5 million. The DOC has $700,000 savings from FY19 county confinement and federal prisoner appropriations that they will use to purchase new radios and will use the $700,000 to Ft. Madison. It is imperative that staff be able to communicate when there are attacks and other issues at the prison.
- Allows the Public Defender Indigent Defense Division to continue its pilot project allowing indigent persons to choose an eligible attorney to represent the The pilot project is limited to four counties.
Language that is maintained from FY19
Appropriates monies from the Attorney General’s Consumer Education and Litigation Fund:
- Farm Mediation Services – $300,000
- AG prosecutions and appeals and state tort claims – $1,500,000
[4/15: 32-18, party-line]
SF 616– Judicial Branch Budget
SF 616 is the FY20 Judicial Branch budget. The bill appropriates $184,224,293, which is $1.9 million less than what the Judicial Branch requested.
FY20 $184,226,293 FY19 $180,674,797
| Increase | $ 3,551,496 |
| Percentage | |
| Increase | 1.96% |
- Requires the clerks of court offices to operate in all 99 counties and be accessible to the public as much as reasonably However, at a minimum, clerks’ offices must be open to the public for at least the same hours as other county offices in the county and if county offices have differing hours, the clerk’s office must be open “consistent with the county office that is open the greatest number of hours.”
- Establishes annual salary rates for all judicial officers and makes salaries provided for in this section paid from funds allocated to the Judicial Branch from the salary adjustment fund, but if that isn’t sufficient, from funds appropriated in this These salaries represent an approximate 2% salary increase for judicial officers.
- Removes the enhanced court collections fund and court technology and modernization fund language that was in previous budget There is language relating to these funds in SF 457.
- Removes language which says any pass-through budget request from the Judicial Branch will be reduced by any amount of salary increases for judicial
[4/15: 35-15 (Yes: Republicans, Bisignano, Kinney, Mathis)]