[DSM-Iowa] Reynolds seeks to overhaul agencies Bill reshaping all Iowa government on table

[Amena Thomas]

hello,
The board does way more than hire and fire the director. The board would still be reviewing policy and approving it I'd imagine. They'd also be a place where clients could go if there's a problem with services I'd imagine too.


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On Feb 13, 2023, at 7:21 PM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org> wrote:


Yes, I understand this. What my question is, will there still be a board of commissioners who act just as a figurehead? Or will it be completely eliminated?

Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter (she/her)
Freelance writer/marketer, Contributing writer, The Omaha Daily Record
bkpollpeter at gmail.com<mailto:bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
“in a time of doubt and uncertainty, a nation is wise if it turns to its artists for enlightenment.”
Edward O’Brien

From: Enrique Mejia <emejia083 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 6:30 PM
To: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Cc: Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [DSM-Iowa] Reynolds seeks to overhaul agencies Bill reshaping all Iowa government on table

Hello

It doesn’t specifically mentioned this in the article, but the law they are talking about has division, 13. Which makes it so that the governor can hire or fired the Director, without the need for the commission board. Meaning that the law was stripped the commission board from all of its powers to be able to hire and fire the agency Director. Thus making the agency Director a political appointee.

Reach Stephen Gruber-Miller at sgrubermil at registermedia.com Enrique

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On Feb 13, 2023, at 18:14, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

What is not clear to me when specifically speaking of depts. Like IDB and IDD is what happens to the current system of board of commissioners? Do we still have them? What is their function under this proposal? Or will governing boards like these be eliminated?

I’ve not specifically seem this mentioned anywhere.

Thanks.

Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter (she/her)
Freelance writer/marketer, Contributing writer, The Omaha Daily Record
bkpollpeter at gmail.com<mailto:bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
“in a time of doubt and uncertainty, a nation is wise if it turns to its artists for enlightenment.”
Edward O’Brien

From: DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Enrique Mejia via DSM-Iowa
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2023 5:32 PM
To: NFB Chapter List <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Enrique Mejia <emejia083 at gmail.com>
Subject: [DSM-Iowa] Reynolds seeks to overhaul agencies Bill reshaping all Iowa government on table




Reynolds seeks to overhaul agencies Bill reshaping all Iowa government on table By Katie Akin and , Stephen Gruber-Miller Des Moines Register February 13, 2023



Gov. Kim Reynolds' proposal to overhaul Iowa's entire state government and combine more than a dozen state agencies is on the move at the Iowa Capitol.

The massive bill spans more than 1,500 pages. It would cut by more than half the number of cabinet-level agencies in Iowa, from 37 to 16, restructure department hierarchies and responsibilities, and rewrite big chunks of the Iowa Code.

Republicans have described the legislation as an opportunity to streamline state government while still providing services to Iowans. Reynolds' staff said at the beginning of the legislative session they do not anticipate any layoffs or reductions in services as a result of the reorganization.

Reynolds' office estimates the consolidation would save $215 million over four years.

"We're not looking at cutting any jobs. We're not cutting any departments. We're just shifting them under other departments," said Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood, who chairs the House State Government Committee.

Democrats raised concerns about portions of the bill that would give the executive branch additional power and reduce lawmakers' role in approving some of the governor's appointees, as well as remove set term limits for gubernatorial appointees.

"The way that this particular bill is written, it's a huge power grab for the executive branch and mainly the governor," said Rep. Amy Nielsen, D-North Liberty. "My question to my Republican colleagues would be: If there was a Democratic governor in that office right now, how would you feel about this? And I would put money on it that they would not be OK with it.

The enormous bill started its process toward passage last week, but it's unlikely to move very fast. Republican leaders in both chambers plan to consider the bill in parts, holding several long public meetings.

"We're going to go through, section by section," said Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig. "We'll have multiple subcommittees and just find out how many objections there are and how surmountable they are.

Here's what the bill would do:

How would Iowa agencies merge and change? Many of Iowa's cabinet-level agencies would become part of already existing departments.

The Department of Health and Human Services already the result of a merger would incorporate the Department on Aging and the Department of Human Rights.

The Department of Health and Human Services would also take over the administration of programs such as Early Childhood Iowa and Volunteer Iowa.

The Department of Revenue would take charge of the Alcoholic Beverages Division and the Iowa Lottery Authority.

The Department of Public Safety would absorb the Office of Drug Control Policy.

The Department of Education would establish a new higher education division to encompass the Board of Educational Examiners, the College Student Aid Commission and the Community Colleges Bureau.

The Department of Inspections and Appeals would become the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. It would house the Civil Rights Commission, as well as the Division of Labor and the Division of Workers' Compensation.

Other departments would be split up by the consolidation plan.

The historic division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, including the state archivist and responsibilities related to museum property, will move under the Department of Administrative Services.

The Arts Division of Cultural Affairs and the State Historic Preservation Officer would become part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Iowa Workforce Development would absorb apprenticeship and job training programs from across state government.

Likewise, the Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing would take the lead on regulating fire code and licensing for public health professionals and businesses.

How would consolidation change the appointee confirmation process? The House and Senate each have their own versions of the consolidation bill. The House bill, House Study Bill 126, is a mere 1,568 pages long one page shorter than Senate Study Bill 1123.

The primary difference appears to be a section in the Senate bill that would lower the threshold to approve a governor's appointee. The bill would require three-fifths of the Senate, or 30 senators, to approve an appointee fewer than the 34 currently required for a two-thirds majority.

Senate Republicans have passed legislation in recent years to remove some of legislators' oversight on the governor's appointments. The Senate approved a bill in 2022 that would have allowed dozens of governor appointees to bypass the Senate confirmation process, but the House never passed the legislation.

Both versions of the reorganization bill would remove term limits for many appointees. Instead, those administrators would serve "at the pleasure of the governor.

How would consolidation expand the attorney general's power? Under current law, Iowa's attorney general can help county attorneys prosecute a case if the county attorney asks for help.

But the proposed consolidation bill would allow the attorney general to step in on county-level cases at will even without the blessing of the county attorney. The attorney general would also have exclusive jurisdiction for election-related crimes.

Iowa has a Republican attorney general for the first time in decades after Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird defeated longtime Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller in last year's election.

At a Wednesday subcommittee meeting, Democrats warned the changes could create tension between county attorneys and the attorney general. It would allow the attorney general to take over the most politically charged cases.

"Politics? Elections? Personal controversy? When do you get to jump in as the state attorney general? According to this, anytime," said Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines.

Republicans on the subcommittee said it's the executive branch's duty to ensure laws are enforced, and this will allow the attorney general to step in if justice isn't done on the county level.

"I have faith in Attorney General Bird to use this responsibly," said Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny.

When would Iowa state agencies begin merging? Reynolds has already begun the merger process at several of Iowa's state agencies, holding those changes up as proof of concept that she can further consolidate state government.

The Iowa Department of Human Services and Iowa Department of Public Health have been united to create the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services under director Kelly Garcia.

"I think the Department of Human Services and the Public Health merger has shown us that there's a path for us to be able to do this when we have good people at the helm of making sure that we can accomplish that," House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said in January. "So we've already proven one of the larger organizations within state government, that can be done, and I think that that's really been a good road map that we'll be able to follow.

Other department mergers are already underway.

At a veterans' event in January, Reynolds described her plan to formally merge the Iowa Veterans Home with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. Both agencies are already being led by Todd Jacobus, whom Reynolds named in October to be the commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home and the executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The performance of these two agencies under united leadership I think demonstrates the fact that they do belong together," Reynolds said. "And the result will be more effective and efficient services and a smoother experience for veterans who use them.

Reynolds has also merged the Iowa Department of Economic Development and Iowa Finance Authority under Director Debi Durham, who began her dual role leading both agencies in 2019.

How will Iowa lawmakers handle the massive consolidation bill? Republicans say they're putting extra effort into studying the bill and plan to offer the public multiple opportunities to comment on the legislation as it's considered.

Normally, bills moving through the Iowa Legislature receive one subcommittee hearing in the House and one in the Senate, lasting either 30 minutes or an hour.

But Schultz held the first of several two-hour subcommittee meetings for the bill Wednesday morning, and he anticipates at least one more two-hour meeting to fully discuss the legislation.

Bloomingdale, who chairs the House State Government Committee, said she plans to hold four or five subcommittees focusing on different sections of the bill so lawmakers have several chances to get feedback.

"The last big bill I had was 35 pages," she said. "So (it's) a little bit bigger.

Most subcommittees consist of three lawmakers two from the majority party and one from the minority. The Senate bill will have a five-member panel instead, with three Republicans and two Democrats.

Bloomingdale has assigned House Study Bill 126 to a seven-member subcommittee comprised of four Republicans and three Democrats.

"This could be a terrific bipartisan bill," she said. "It's going to save the government money, streamline some of the processes.

Nielsen, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, praised Bloomingdale for keeping her informed and consulting her about how the committee would begin looking at the bill.

"So far it sounds like Rep. Bloomingdale has a good idea and a good plan for us to get through this," Nielsen said.

Reach Stephen Gruber-Miller at sgrubermil at registermedia.com.

Reach Katie Akin at kakin at registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440.

DesMoines .



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