Iowa Legislative Report
87th General Assembly, 2017 Session
Iowa Talented & Gifted Association
Week 10: March 13 – March 17th, 2017
Paula Feltner & Mike Heller, Lobbyists
The budget situation in the state continues to be a problem for the state
legislature. The first bill debated was a de-appropriations bill necessitated by a much
lower than expected budget projection for FY 17, the current fiscal year. The revised
estimate meant that the current FY 17 state budget was no longer in compliance
with the statutory 99% spending limitation. Consequently, the Governor and the
Legislature had to bring the FY 17 budget back into compliance by lowering it
approximately $118 million.
This week, financial analysts once again adjusted the budget estimate, declaring
Iowa is taking in less-than-expected revenue and must address a new shortfall of about
$131 million for its current budget. The three-member Revenue Estimating
Conference announced Tuesday that Iowa was expected to take in about $7.1 billion for
the current budget year, which ends June 30. This time, Governor Branstad has
proposed off-setting the deficit by tapping the state's cash reserves rather than make
additional cuts for the remaining three months of the fiscal year. However, the same
revenue estimating conference predicted Iowa also must cut about $191 million from
the budget year beginning in July, FY 2018.
Right after the Revenue Estimating Conference, Representative Pat Grassley (RNew Hartford), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following
statement regarding the Revenue Estimating Conference’s latest revenue projections:
“There is no time to waste. While a reduction in state revenue this far into the fiscal
year is challenging, sound budgeting principles will allow House Republicans to craft a
plan that keeps the budget balanced and Iowa moving forward. Going forward our plan
will be threefold:
♣ First, taxpayers and the Legislature need more accurate revenue
estimates from the Revenue Estimating Conference. We understand this is a
difficult task that many states are struggling to deal with right now, but we need
to find a way to better predict state revenue. Changes in how the state tracks
and collects revenue need to be made to make estimates more reliable.
♣ Second, a very hard look needs to be taken at the “what” and “where”
taxpayer money is used to make sure Iowans are getting the best value and
their priorities are being met. This very well could mean the state needs to
curtail or end longstanding spending.
♣ Third, every tax credit is on the table. The sacred cows need to be
reevaluated to make sure taxpayers are getting a good deal. A complete
approach needs to start immediately instead of the piecemeal, year-by-year
strategy that has been in place.”
Clearly, the rest of the session will be keenly focused on the budget.
We continued to have a lot of activity on education bills. As you know, the House
passed HF 564 EDUCATION SPENDING and HF 565 EDUCATION FLEX SPENDING
this last week which ITAG was heavily involved in amending – thanks to all members for
their work. Both bills are "hot-linked" below.
Perhaps the most important piece of legislation to pass through the Senate to be
sent to the House was the school district funding equity bill. This bill, SF 455, provides
for district cost per pupil equity and transportation cost per pupil equity among school
districts. Senator Sinclair described the bill this way in her newsletter and this bill is also
"hotlinked" below:
"Division I - District Cost Per Pupil Equity: Adds to the statewide cost per pupil after the
annual calculation of SSA to close the gap between the highest district costs per pupil
and the statewide cost per pupil. The increase will be phased in over 10 years
beginning in FY 18. At full implementation, all school districts in the state would have a
district cost per pupil equal to the statewide cost per pupil.
"Division II - Transportation Cost Per Pupil Equity: Creates supplementary weighting to
offset the cost of transportation costs per pupil to help equalize the amount of per pupil
funding each district is able to spend in the classroom versus just getting kids to school.
The supplementary weighting will be phased in equally over 10 years beginning in FY
18 and will be calculated using the following factors:
o
o
o
The three-year average of costs incurred for the transportation of students
as required under Chapter 285, excluding those paid from PPEL and
SAVE, at a 90% factoring.
The district’s budget enrollment at a 5% factoring.
The district’s route miles at a 5% factoring."
These are the bills that we are involved in on your behalf at this point in the session.
There are some new bills so PLEASE ADVISE your IF YOU WANT TO TAKE
POSITIONS ON ANY BILLS! The bills are “hotlinked” if you would like to view the entire
bill or of course all bills may be accessed on the legislative website at www.legis.iowa.gov.
If you have questions, please contact us. Thanks, and have a good week.
SSB 1136 Preschool Spending
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to authorized expenditures for preschool programs under the
statewide preschool program for four-year-old children and including effective date
provisions.
02/21/2017
SF 475 DOE Matters
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to educational programs developed or administered by the
department or state board of education, school districts, or accredited nonpublic
schools, and to school-age children’s health screenings, providing for or relating to fees,
and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1137.)
03/07/2017
SF 455 School Transportation Supplement ( see explanation above)
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to school district finance by modifying provisions relating to the
calculation of the regular program state cost per pupil and the regular program district
cost per pupil, and by establishing a supplementary weighting plan for certain
mandatory school district transportation costs and including effective date provisions.
(Formerly SSB 1124.)
03/09/2017
SF 440 Preschool Spending
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to authorized expenditures for preschool programs under the
statewide preschool program for four-year-old children and including effective date
provisions. (Formerly SSB 1136.)
03/06/2017
SF 427 English Language Supplemental
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 329,HF 351,SF 150,SF 6)
A bill for an act relating to supplementary weighting for limited English proficient
students and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly SF 150.)
03/02/2017
SF 389 School District Levy
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to school district funding by establishing a voter-approved
district cost equity tax and levy or reduction, modifying provisions establishing the
district cost per pupil, and including applicability provisions.
03/01/2017
SF 350 High School Equivalency Degree
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 473)
A bill for an act relating to high school equivalency programs and assessments and
including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1057.)
02/23/2017
SF 274 Computer Science
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 507)
A bill for an act relating to computer science education by providing for education
standards by the state board of education, for instructor endorsements and
authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners, for establishment of a
computer science professional development incentive fund, and for the establishment of
a computer science education work group. (Formerly SSB 1047.)
02/16/2017
SF 240 Core Assessments
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 271)
A bill for an act relating to statewide assessments of student progress utilizing core
academic indicators, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1001.)
02/13/2017
SF 239 School Reports on Drugs and Alcohol
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 217)
A bill for an act relating to disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee
required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. (Formerly SSB 1017.)
02/13/2017
SF 238 Exploitation By School Employees
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 20,SF 83)
A bill for an act relating to the criminal offense of sexual exploitation by a school
employee, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SF 83.)
02/13/2017
SF 166 1.1% School Funding
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 136)
A bill for an act relating to the state school foundation program, by modifying
requirements for the enactment of the state percents of growth, establishing state
percents of growth, modifying provisions relating to school district property tax
replacement payments, and including effective date and applicability provisions.
(Formerly SSB 1028.) Effective 2-8-17.
02/07/2017
SF 13 Save Fund
(87 GA)
A bill for an act striking certain statutory repeal provisions relating to the state sales and
use tax and the secure an advanced vision for education fund.
01/10/2017
HSB 187 Tax Expenditures
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to state revenue and finance by limiting the total amount of
certain tax expenditures that may be claimed in a fiscal year, providing for transfers to
the taxpayers trust fund, and eliminating the refundability of Iowa tax credits, and
including effective date and applicability provisions.
03/13/2017
HSB 101 Financial Literacy
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to a requirement that undergraduate students enrolled in an
institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents complete a onecredit hour financial literacy course and including applicability provisions.
02/13/2017
HF 573 School District Powers
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 26,SF 271)
A bill for an act relating to the exercise, by school districts, of any broad and implied
powers not inconsistent with the laws of the general assembly, and to the construction
of statutes related to school district boards and school districts. (Formerly HF 26.)
03/08/2017
HF 566 School Elections
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 166,SF 112)
A bill for an act relating to political subdivision elections by changing the date of the
election of directors of local school districts, merged areas, and area education agency
boards, by providing for the combined administration of regular and special school and
city elections, making changes to the administration of elections for political subdivisions
located in more than one county, establishing requirements for ballot arrangement and
placement for political subdivision offices, and including effective date and applicability
and transition provisions. (Formerly HF 166.)
03/08/2017
HF 565 School Flexibility Funds
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 446)
A bill for an act relating to public school funding by authorizing the establishment of
school district flexibility funds and authorizing the transfer and expenditure of certain
unexpended and unobligated funds. (Formerly HF 446.)
03/08/2017
HF 564 School District Funding/Expenditures
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to school district funding and authorized expenditures and
transfers and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 178.)
03/08/2017
HF 560 School District Reorganizations
(87 GA)
A bill for an act giving weight to school district reorganization petitions filed with an area
education agency and signed by eligible electors. (Formerly HF 349.)
03/08/2017
HF 534 Child Facility Licensing
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to exceptions from child care facility licensing requirements.
(Formerly HF 277.)
03/07/2017
HF 515 School Security Plans
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 353)
A bill for an act requiring school districts to establish security plans for school buildings
and providing for a school security task force and report. (Formerly HF 353.)
03/02/2017
HF 508 Supplemental School Weighting
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to shared operational functions for purposes of supplementary
weighting for school districts. (Formerly HF 29.)
03/02/2017
HF 507 Computer Science
(87 GA)
(S/C SF 274)
A bill for an act relating to computer science education by providing for education
standards by the state board of education, for instructor endorsements and
authorizations issued by the board of educational examiners, for establishment of a
computer science professional development incentive fund, and for the establishment of
a computer science education work group. (Formerly HSB 107.)
03/02/2017
HF 473 High School Equivalency Degree
(87 GA)
(S/C SF 350)
A bill for an act relating to high school equivalency programs and assessments and
including effective date provisions. (Formerly HSB 97.)
02/28/2017
HF 472 Teacher Assistance Program
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to eligibility requirements for grant and loan forgiveness
programs administered by the college student aid commission that provide assistance
to elementary and secondary school teachers in this state. (Formerly HSB 96.)
02/28/2017
HF 304 School Supply Donations
(87 GA)
A bill for an act prohibiting a school district’s teachers and administrators from granting
extra academic credit to students who contribute school supplies for use in the
classroom. (Formerly HSB 33.)
02/14/2017
HF 230 SAVE Fund
(87 GA)
(S/C HF 188,SF 15,SF 9)
A bill for an act extending the period of time for collecting sales tax for deposit in the
secure an advanced vision for education fund.
02/06/2017
HF 217 School Reports on Drugs and Alcohol
(87 GA)
(S/C SF 239)
A bill for an act relating to disciplinary actions taken against a licensed school employee
required to be reported to the board of educational examiners. (Formerly HSB 17.)
02/06/2017
HF 161 Sex Abuse Awareness and Prevention
(87 GA)
A bill for an act relating to child sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and
prevention.
01/31/2017
HF 89 School Pension Merger
(87 GA)
A bill for an act authorizing a retirement system merger relating to an alternative
retirement system for certain school district employees.
01/24/2017