The Driscoll Dispatch

The eighth week of the legislative session included our first major deadline of the year. This deadline led to a whirlwind of subcommittee and committee meetings as we work to move bills through the legislative process.

Personally, a lot of my time this week was spent in committee meetings. Hundreds of bills are filed each year, and this deadline helps us narrow them down to the ones with the support to continue on to the Senate floor for debate and to the other chamber for discussion.

One of the committees I serve on, the State Government Committee, had a lot of bills to consider this week.

Senate Study Bill 1200 was one of the bills that was passed through committee. This bill protects citizens’ private, personal information from inspection by the state auditor. It would include medical records, academic records, or any similar information an individual would reasonably expect to be kept private.

The goal for this legislation is to ensure some of the most private information of Iowans is protected and to give Iowans confidence in knowing the information they believe is confidential is in fact confidential and private. This bill is common-sense legislation to protect Iowans’ information that is unnecessary for an audit.

We also had an Agriculture Committee meeting this week where the committee unanimously passed SSB 1183 and SF 404. SSB 1183 would authorize veterinary auxiliary personnel to provide medical care to animals as long as the medical care is provided under the correct level of supervision by a licensed veterinarian for the appropriate type of veterinary auxiliary personnel. This includes veterinary technicians, assistants, students, and graduates from a foreign college of veterinary medicine.

SF 404 amends the provisions of the Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council (ILHAC) by doing the following:

• Aligns the definition of “livestock” with the definition found in Iowa Code Chapter 717 (Livestock Injury)

• Changes the name of the Iowa Poultry Association to the North Central Poultry Association

• Adds a turkey producer, appointed by the Iowa Turkey Federation, to the council

• Prohibits members of the council from receiving expenses or compensation

• Eliminates the provision requiring IDALS to furnish supplies and host the council’s meetings, requiring this instead from ISU

• Clarifies that the council’s recommendations apply only to funds used by the College of Veterinary Medicine for research of diseases affecting livestock

• Eliminates the ability for ISU to expend funds without recommendations from the council

Overall, I think we had a productive Agriculture committee meeting and we got good pieces of legislation passed out of committee before the funnel deadline.

Day in the District

Last Friday in the district was focused on education. Representative Hora and I started off the day in Washington with the superintendent of Washington Schools, Willie Stone. We went over legislation that might be affecting our school districts in the area. He talked about how he appreciated so many of education bills that will be good for the schools.

Then we toured Kirkwood Community College, Washington County Regional Center. We toured the building and learned about the opportunities that earning college credit in high school can provide. We enjoyed touring the welding, construction, and automotive labs. What an amazing opportunity to have so many apprenticeship opportunities for the students as well for the businesses!

Lastly, we went to visit with Brad Hohensee, who is the superintendent of HLV and BGM. We discussed the bills being discussed in the legislature. We had a great discussion on transportation costs, the PERL tax levy, and many other education bills being considered in committees this week.

This was a great Day in the District and I always look forward to these days. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns on pieces of legislation that are moving through the Senate.

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