SF 188 – Prohibits regent universities from disallowing the use/carry of stun guns
SF 394 – Online classes to count for required course offerings
HF 546 – SAVE extension, property tax reduction payments
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 188 – Prohibits regent universities from disallowing the use/carry of stun guns
SF 188 prohibits state universities from adopting a policy that would disallow the carrying of stun guns, except for university stadiums and university hospitals. As of last year (and SF 2321), the requirement for a permit to carry a stun gun was eliminated. A person who is at least 18 may go armed with a stun gun (not a Taser). Under this bill, public universities and community colleges cannot adopt or enforce any policy that prohibits carrying, transporting or possessing a stun gun, as long as the weapon is not used in the commission of a public offense. The House amended the bill to allow the Board of Regents to develop a policy to prohibit felons from carrying a dangerous weapon/stun gun on campus.
[4/22: 38-11 (No: Bolkcom, Celsi, Giddens, Hogg, Jochum, Mathis, Petersen, Quirmbach, Ragan, J. Smith, Wahls)]
SF 394 – Online classes to count for required course offerings
SF 394 permits public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to offer online classes to meet up to two “offer and teach” course requirements. Schools can use Iowa Learning Online (ILO) or offering such a course through any online platform that meets standards specified under the Online School Code chapter and is approved by the Department of Education.
Currently, Iowa Code allows up to two “offer and teach” requirements to be waived by the Department of Education if a school district or accredited nonpublic school is unable to employ an appropriately licensed teacher for the specified course, or too few students typically enroll in the specified course, or the school proved to the Department’s satisfaction that they have made every reasonable effort to meet Iowa’s educational program requirements.
Currently, the specified course must be provided by the ILO. The bill changes this so the course can be offered through a private provider that meets Iowa teacher and curriculum standards. The bill clarifies that schools must offer these classes either in person or online and that two or more schools could go into a partnership to offer these online options. The House amended the bill to remove the requirement that schools must show a “good faith effort” to find a licensed teacher to teach these courses.
[4/22: 49-0 (Excused: Segebart)]
HF 546 – SAVE extension, property tax reduction payments
HF 546 extends the 6% sales tax rate until January 1, 2051, and the allocation to the SAVE fund. The sales tax rate of 6% is reduced to 5% on January 1, 2030, and Code chapter 423F, along with other corresponding provisions, is repealed on December 31, 2029. Education groups are pushing to have this sunset extended because schools need to use their SAVE fund dollars to secure 20-year bonds, which go beyond the program.
HF 546 increases property tax relief in two main ways. The bill increases the amount in the Property Tax Equity Relief fund (PTER) from the current 2.1% SAVE allocation to 30% total, assuming there is at least 2% growth in sales tax receipts after 2020. The increase in distribution grows by 1% every year to the 30% max. A new Foundation Base Supplement Fund (FBSF) will supplement the other property tax relief programs by providing property tax relief to all districts by buying up the school foundation aid level of 87.5%.
Other provisions in the bill include:
- Career Academy Fund Grant: The bill creates a Career Academy Fund. In FY20, the SAVE fund would transfer $1 million to the Career Academy Fund.
- Subsequent transfers will be the equivalent of the prior year’s transfer, plus 0.5% of the sales tax growth in the fund, if the growth rate is at or exceeds 2.5%. The amendment caps the amount to be transferred at no more than $5 million in any fiscal year.
- A single grant cannot exceed $1 million to a school district. The grants would go toward infrastructure and equipment and to further the goals of establishing and operating the center.
- Revenue Purpose Statements: Existing statements expire on January 2031 and require school boards to seek voter approval for new revenue purpose statements (RPS). The statements must include that failure to approve the RPS will result in those funds being used for property tax reduction.
- Bonding: Current law authorizes a school district to anticipate its share of SAVE fund revenues by issuing bonds without voter approval. Under the bill, they must hold a public hearing on the project and how it will be funded. The public must be notified at least 10 days in advance of the hearing. Voters have a 14-day window following the public hearing to petition for a special election. Petitions require the signatures of 100 eligible voters or 30% of the voters in the last regular school election. The bond issuance requirements are tied to the July 1, 2019 cut off and not the timing of the district’s RPS.
- Athletic Facilities: Puts in place enhanced public engagement processes surrounding the use of SAVE funds for the construction of athletic facilities.
- School Safety – Legislative Intent: SAVE funds are prioritized for school safety and security infrastructure, before sports facilities. This would include safe rooms, remote entry technology and equipment, security camera systems, and communication systems with access to fire and police frequencies.
- Certificate of Need Threshold and Cost Benefit Analysis: Currently, a school district with a certified enrollment of fewer than 250 pupils must apply to the Department of Education for a certificate of need before the school district can expend supplemental school infrastructure monies. The criteria in the bill is modified to include the cost-benefit analysis of remodeling, reconstructing or repairing existing buildings versus new construction and consideration of the benefit of the new construction on student learning.
[4/24: 48-2 (No: Chapman, Zaun)]