Dead Bills
The following bills were introduced during the 2008 Iowa Legislative Session, but were NOT PASSED.
- In order to be debated next legislative session, the bills will have to start over and be re-introduced by another legislator.
- Bills listed with a ** were added into other bills – so all or part of them became law.
State Representatives, the Governor or state agencies introduced these bills. The status listed is where they died – the last action taken on these bills.
HF 70 - ADA Review/State Buildings - Allows $50,000 to be spent on a review of state buildings in order to determine if they are complying with the ADA. Requires the state building code commissioner to report back to the Legislature on the level of need to make all buildings accessible (ADA compliant). Status: House State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Lensing (Chair), Pettengill & Wessel-Kroeschell
HF 791 - Prosthetic Device Insurance Coverage - Requires insurance plans pay for, at a minimum, prosthetic devices as covered by federal laws for the aged and disabled. Applies to all plans renewed or started after 1/1/2007. Status: House Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Petersen (Chair), Jacoby & Soderberg
HF 2014 - Psychiatry Shortage - Requires the Department of Public Health to study and make recommendations on the psychiatrist shortage by 12/31/2008. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Wessel-Kroeschell (Chair), Heaton & Hunter
HF 2031 - Teacher Training/Autism - Gives the Department of Education $200,000 to prepare teachers to better meet the needs of children with autism. Creates an Autism Advisory Council to suggest ways schools may better educate and assist students with autism. The Council is also required to advise state lawmakers on changes to state laws that would better serve children with autism and their families, and create a clearinghouse of education-related autism information. The Council is also asked to look at establishing a program to give schools technical assistance in addressing the needs of children with autism. Requires all colleges to include autism training in their teacher/education degree programs. Status: House Education Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Cohoon (Chair), Staed & Linda Miller
**HF 2056 & HF 2274 Personal Needs Allowance – Currently persons in care facilities are allowed to keep $50/month as a personal needs allowance, and those that have incomes of less than $50/month are given that amount if funds are made available by the Legislature. This bill takes out "if funds are available by the Legislature" - making sure every care facility resident has $50/month for a personal needs allowance. Includes people living in nursing homes, ICF/MRs and ICF/MIs. This bill was added to the Health & Human Services Budget (SF 2425).
HF 2115 - Cost-Based Reimbursement/Elderly Waiver - Requires elderly waiver case management providers be reimbursed at 100% of their costs. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Mascher (Chair), Grassley & Smith
HF 2155 - Medicaid Provider Rate Increase - Increases Medicaid provider rates by 3% (and appropriates $19,934,259). Includes Magellan (mental health managed care contract). Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Chair), Gayman & Heaton. 1% provider increase was passed in the Health & Human Services Budget (SF 2425).
HF 2178 - Long Term Care Insurance Standards - Establishes standards and a uniform format for long-term care policies in the state, so that they may be easily compared. Effective 7/1/2008. Status: House Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Jacoby (Chair), Petersen & Pettengill
**HF 2182 - Mental Health Advocate Appointments - Requires all counties appoint mental health advocates for persons that are involuntarily hospitalized due to mental illness. Right now only counties over 300,000 population do this. Mental health advocates cannot be persons working for places that provide or fund the services. Allows counties to appoint an advocate for the person, even if they have no county of legal settlement. Requires the advocate to file quarterly reports and additional reports if the county thinks it is necessary. Makes the advocate a county employee and requires the county to pay a reasonable fee for the advocate. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Smith (Chair), Ford & Granzow - The Health & Human Services Budget (SF 2425) included a study of mental health advocates.
HF 2222 - Hospitalization of a Minor with Mental Illness - No longer allows a minor being voluntarily hospitalized for a mental illness to object to the admission. Requires the family of the minor to ask juvenile court to allow the admission if the hospital has found the admission to be inappropriate. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Smith (Chair), Granzow & Palmer
HF 2225 - Disabled Veteran Vehicle Registration - Veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 50% or higher will be able to get their motor vehicle registration plates free of charge under this bill. Currently, free registration plates are issued to veterans with serious disabilities who have been given an automobile or other vehicle by the United States government. Veterans with disabilities wanting personalized plates must still pay the personalized plate fee. They may also substitute any of the special plates associated with military service without additional fee. The use of the free registration plates passes to the surviving spouse upon the death of the veteran. Status: House Transportation Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Swaim (Chair), Mertz & Worthan
HF 2236 - Long Term Health Insurance - Establishes a Consumer Advocate Bureau in the Insurance Commissioner's Office to make sure people are treated fairly by insurance companies. Adds $60,000 for a Senior Health Insurance Information Program to disseminate educational information and raise public awareness on insurance product choices designed to meet the needs of older Iowans. Includes new definitions and requirements for long-term care policies. The two study bills are the same, but do not include the establishment of a Consumer Advocate Bureau. Status: House Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HF 2239 - Education Technical Changes/Special Education - Makes it clear that a child who turns 21 in the middle of the school year is entitled to continue to receive special education until the end of the school year. Also, any notices sent to a child’s parent after the child turns 18 must also go to the child. Status: House Floor; Rep. Kelley (Floor Manager)
**HF 2251 - Mental Health Patient Advocates - Requires a legislative interim study committee review the state's mental health patient advocate system. Status: House Judiciary Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Smith (Chair), Heaton & Lensing - This bill was added to the Health & Human Services Budget (SF 2425).
**HF 2252 - Optical Scan Voting - Requires a county use only optical scan voting systems that identify a person using their eye. Appropriates $6 million to reimburse counties for the purchase of optical scan voting systems. Applies to elections held on or after November 4, 2008. Status: House State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Gaskill (Chair), Jacobs & T. Taylor – This bill passed in SF 2347, which appropriated $4.9 million.
HF 2254 - Medicaid Copayments - Directs DHS to adopt the following changes to Medicaid programs that require copayments: 1) eliminates copayments for inpatient care at a hospital, nursing home, state mental health institute or any facility where the person receives a personal needs allowance (currently there is no copayment); 2) requires a $5 copayment for all covered ER services when no inpatient admission is required (currently there are no copayments for this service); 3) requires the Medicaid eligibility card of a person over 21 years of age include a statement of the copayment charges for office and ER visits; and 4) requires a Medipass program card include information telling the person they must see the doctor whose name is printed on the card, or receive a referral from that doctor to receive any non-emergency care. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Smith (Chair), Ford & Grassley
HF 2259 - IowaCare Re-Enrollment - Allows a person who was an IowaCare member prior to 7/1/2007, had a family income of less than 100% of the federal poverty level, and missed their premium payment to re-enroll in the program without being required to repay the premiums missed. The premium requirement for this income level was eliminated on 7/1/2007, but it required people to repay any missed premiums before re-enrolling. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Ford (Chair), Foristall & Jacoby
HF 2264 - Voter Registration Deadline - Makes the deadline for voter registration 11 days before any election (currently voter registration deadlines vary between 11 days and 10 days depending on the election). Iowa still has same day voter registration, but the ballots cast after this 10 day deadline are provisional, meaning the voter must first be verified as eligible (18 years old or older, citizen, never been convicted of a felony) before the vote is counted. Effective upon enactment. Status: House Floor; Rep. Gaskill (Floor Manager)
HF 2285 & HF 2285 Health Care Workforce - Getting mental health and health care in rural areas of the state can be difficult because there are simply not enough providers in some areas of the state. This bill is trying to address this shortage by encouraging people to practice in rural and underserved areas of the state by creating a loan forgiveness program, a psychiatrist residency program, tax credits for shortage professions, and increased use of telemedicine. Also requires 65% of any increased nursing home reimbursement go to direct care workers. Establishes Direct Care Worker Advisory Council to recommend ways to credential direct care workers (recommendations due 11/30/2008). Establishes a new pilot program to give tuition assistance to people who are working in facilities that serve persons with disabilities. Tuitions can be used at a local community college while they are working in the facility. Status: House Human Resources Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Chair), L. Miller & Smith
**HF 2288 - Minority Impact Statements - Requires all applications for grants from the Iowa Departments of Public Health, Human Services or Human Rights to include a minority impact statement (written by the applicants) describing the proposal's unique impact on minority persons, reason for the proposal if there is an impact and evidence the applicant has consulted with representatives of the minority persons if there is an impact. Persons with disabilities are included in the definition of "minority." HF 2288 is the same but it applies to all agencies. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Lensing (Chair), Abdul-Samad & Roberts - This was included in HF 2393, which has been signed into law.
**HF 2301 - Health Information Technology - Creates an Iowa Health Information Technology System governed by a seven-member Electronic Health Information Commission consisting of persons with broad experience and vision in health care and health technology, a public member, and someone representing the Governor's office. The Commission is to adopt a statewide health information plan by 1/1/2009, identify and integrate existing efforts into the plan in order to avoid duplication, work with public and private networks to build a backbone, promote the use of telemedicine, address workforce needs generated by increased use of health information technology, and identify state laws that may be barriers to creating this interoperable network. Requires all health care professionals use a single patient identifier or other mechanism and continuity of care record (health care passport) by 1/1/2010. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. T. Olson (Chair), Smith & Upmeyer - A version of this is included in the Health Care Reform Act (HF 2539).
HF 2319 - Lead Paint Testing/Child Care Homes - Requires any facility or home used for child care, early care, and preschool programs to be tested for lead paint (if they receive public child care funding). Lead paint exposure in children can cause learning disabilities and mental retardation. Getting rid of lead paint in older homes (homes built before 1979 may have lead paint in them) can help prevent these disabilities. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Ford (Chair), Granzow & Smith
HF 2324 - Information Technology Devices/Visual Impairment - Directs the Department of Administrative Services to buy information technology devices that are accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Under this bill, whenever computer or other information technology devices are purchased, they must be accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired. Status: House State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Jochum (Chair), Roberts & Wessel-Kroeschell
HF 2339 - Special Education/Male Student Story - Requires the Department of Education to conduct a study to determine the reasons there are more boys in special education than girls. Status: House Education Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HF 2371 - Psychiatric Residencies at University of Iowa - Appropriates $1.4 million to the University of Iowa to add a minimum of 14 additional psychiatric residency positions. Requires psychiatric residents in these programs practice in the state for a minimum of four years following completion of the program. Requirements for 4 of the positions funded under the bill include that the person practice at one of the state's MHIs for their four-year commitment. Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Winckler (Chair), Foege & Heaton
HF 2377 - Employment Support for Persons with Mental Illness or Mental Retardation - Requires the Department of Human Services (Division of Mental Health & Disability Services) to look at the employment support available for persons with mental illness and mental retardation, and identify options for improving outcomes. Requires the Division to work with counties, Governor's DD Council, MH/MR/DD/BI Commission, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Center for Disabilities and Development, and the Brain Injury Commission in doing this. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Hunter (Chair), Forristall & Mascher
HF 2485 - Health Care Whistleblower - Protects health care worker whistleblowers (employees who report their employers for health and safety violations). This includes people providing care to persons in state institutions, nursing facilities, and hospitals. Does not protect persons who disclose information prohibited by law. Status: House Floor; Rep. Mascher (Floor Manager)
**HF 2493 - Emergency Mental Health Crisis Services System - The intent of this bill is to create a statewide system to respond to persons with mental illness that are in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program will start off as a pilot project, with ten sites (depending on funds available, $3 million needed to fund the ten sites). Community mental health centers (or providers identified by the county as providing services instead of a community mental health center), a county or city, or ay other public/private provider who is approved by the Department of Human Services may apply for grants. The services system must at a minimum: be regional (serve more than one county); coordinate with other providers in the area, the county central point of coordination (CPC), community-based corrections, the courts, and law enforcement; include basic services such as face-to-face crisis intervention, stabilization, support, counseling, preadmission screening for persons requiring psychiatric hospitalization, transportation, and follow-up services; and include telephone hotlines, mobile crisis staff, collaboration protocols, follow-up with community services, information systems, and competency-based training. FISCAL IMPACT: $6 million request for up to 10 state block grants of $600,000 each. Status: House Floor; Rep. Wessel-Kroeschell (Floor Manager) – This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425), which funded it at $1.5 million and delayed the start until 1/1/2009.
**HF 2579 - Individual Development Accounts - Individual Development Accounts are savings plans available to low income individuals, including persons with disabilities, to increase opportunities for self sufficiency by allowing them to save money for qualifying purchases, such as paying for educational expenses, buying a home or starting a small business. Right now money in these accounts is tax-free, and they can be matched by the operating organizations (such as the credit unions participating). The organizations giving this match are given tax breaks for doing this. This bill makes a number of changes to these accounts - accounts may have only $30,000 in them (lowered from $50,000), administration of the program is moved from DHS to the Division of Community Action Agencies in the Department of Human Rights, and household income thresholds are to be determined by the Division with input from the Family Development & Self-Sufficiency (FADSS) Council. Also requires the Division to send out an RFP to select operating organizations, and gives organizations providing a match a full tax break (100% instead of 15-25%). Changes the current state match limit from $2,000 per year to $2,000 total. Requires the Division to work with Iowa's federal delegation to get a federal tax break on the money organizations give as match as well. Effective upon enactment. Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Chair), Gayman & Heaton - This bill was included in SF 2430, with $150,000 to start the program.
**HF 2587 & SF 2265 Children/Youth Mental Health Services System - Requires DHS to create a mental health services system for children (0-18 years old) and youth (18-22 years old who met the criteria for "serious emotional disturbance" before they turned 18). Defines what is a "qualifying mental health disorder." The purpose of this new system of care is to improve access for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and youth with other qualifying mental health disorders to mental health treatment, services, and other support in the least restrictive setting possible so the children and youth can live with their families and remain in their communities. Makes DHS the lead agency for the new system. Uses competitive block grants through existing community mental health centers and other local service providers to assist in the creation of this network. Directs DHS to analyze options for leveraging additional Medicaid options, and engaging local school, child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, and health care professionals. Certain services, such as school-based mental health services and the development of mental health assessment capacity based in public schools and clinical settings, are required to be supported through the block grants. The services supported may also include other services such as mobile crisis intervention services and prevention-oriented services. Requires regular reports to the MH/MR/DD/BI Commission. Status: House Appropriations Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Chair), Gayman & Heaton; Sen. Bolkcom (Chair), Dvorsky, Ragan, Johnson & Seymour - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425), which funded it at $500,000 and delayed the start until 1/1/2009.
HF 2590 - Consumer Fraud/Private Cause of Action - Establishes a private cause of action for consumer fraud violations. Status: House Floor; Rep. Palmer (Floor Manager)
HF 2592 - Mental Health Parity/Veterans - Requires all health insurance plans pay for the treatment of mental illness (any mental illness) and substance abuse for veterans, starting January 1, 2009. Prohibits lifetime limits and copayments/deductibles more than required for medical care, and guarantees a minimum of 30 inpatient and 52 outpatient visits annually. Status: House Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Petersen (Chair), Berry & Pettengill
HF 2634 - Non-Smoking Business Tax Credit - This bill allows a business a property tax credit of up to $500 for voluntarily banning smoking at its workplace. The credit ceases or is not available upon enactment of state or local law that prohibits smoking in the workplace. Status: House Ways & Means Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HF 2643 - Small Business Linked Investments Program - The bill changes the allocation of available moneys invested in the small business linked investments program. Currently, half of the moneys are available to business owners who are women, minority persons, or persons with disabilities. The bill changes the allocation of moneys available to women, minority persons, or persons with disabilities to 40 percent and allocates 10 percent to veterans. The bill also changes the net worth requirement for the program. Currently, in order to qualify for assistance, the combined net worth of all owners of a business or borrowers under the program cannot exceed $750,000. The bill raises the limit on combined net worth to $1 million. Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HF 2650 - Health Insurance Mandates Commission - Creates a State Health Insurance Mandates Commission that will look at any bill that requires insurance plans to cover a service or illness, and evaluate its fiscal impact and its societal impact. A legislative committee is not allowed to pass any mandate bill until the commission finishes its work (which can take up to 45 days). Bills referred to this commission would be funnel-proof (meaning they do not have to meet deadlines during session and will be alive for the entire session). In addition, any current legislation including a health insurance mandate would be immediately sent to the commission at the close of session for consideration (so there are recommendations immediately when session begins in 2009). Health insurance mandates before the legislature this year include mental health parity (requiring health insurance plans to pay for the costs of any mental illness or substance abuse treatment), prosthetic mandate (requiring insurance plans pay for prosthetics), and HPV (requiring insurance plans pay for human pappiloma virus - HPV - vaccinations which prevent cervical cancer). FISCAL IMPACT: Requires $67,930 appropriation in FY09 and on. Other commission costs are minimal. Status: Senate Floor; Sen. Rielly (Floor Manager)
HF 2657 - Medical Device Exemption - Expands the sales tax exemption on medical equipment bought or used by a person with a disability to include equipment and accessories on a motor vehicle, ambulatory aids, manual and powered wheelchairs, stairway lifts, scooters, and durable medical equipment including home respiratory equipment and accessories, hospital beds and accessories, Braille writers, electronic Braille equipment, reading machines, electronic print enlargers and magnifiers, and electronic alternative and augmentative communication devices. Status: House Ways & Means Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Shomshor (Chair), Reasoner & Sands
**HF 2664 - Medicaid Provider Increase/ICF & RCF - Increases state reimbursement to providers of services to persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Increases reimbursements to intermediate care facilities for mental retardation (ICF/MR) by 4.1% and reimbursements for residential care facilities for mental retardation (RCF & RCF/MR) by 3%. Appropriates $1,846,000 to pay for this increase. Legislators have been proposing this as a way to increase local capacity for community-based care (which is needed before any discussions about closing institutions can progress). Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned - The Health & Human Services Budget included a 1% provider increase (SF 2425).
HSB 564 - Mental Health & Substance Abuse Parity - Requires health insurance plans to pay for the treatment of all mental illnesses including substance abuse. Limits inpatient days (30) and outpatient visits (52) and does not apply to federally regulated plans (ERISA) or individual health plans. Also requires insurance plans cover services provided in a PMIC (Psychiatric Medical Institution for Children). Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Wessel-Kroeschell (Chair), Abdul-Samad & Soderberg
HSB 626 - Antiepileptic Drug Substitutions - Current law allows a pharmacist to select a drug product with the same generic name and demonstrated use as the drug prescribed for the patient. This bill limits that discretion in the case of an antiepileptic drug prescribed by brand or generic name. The pharmacist would first need to obtain consent both the doctor and the patient or the patient's representative. Status: House Veterans Affairs Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. H. Miller (Chair), Staed & Worthan
HSB 627 - Elections/Voter Registration - Requires all polling places be accessible to persons with disabilities and requires all polling places have voting equipment for use by voters with disabilities in counties where paper ballots are not used. Prohibits the use of cell phones, cameras, pagers, and other electronic communications while voting. Status: House State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Gaskill (Chair), Abdul-Samad & Jacobs
**HSB 636 - Health Care for All (Universal Health Care) - Implements many of the recommendations of the Affordable Health Care for Small Businesses, Families & Individuals Commission that met this summer. Creates a Health Care Coverage Exchange to continue the work of the commission to ensure all Iowans have health insurance that is affordable, and recommend steps to make progress as funding becomes available. The Exchange is a new state agency, governed by an independent board of directors headed up by former Governors Branstad and Vilsack. The Exchange is to find a way to mandate children's health insurance by the end of 2009 (including enrolling all kids eligible for Medicaid and hawk-i, and through a new sliding fee scale assistance program). Beginning 2010, all parents will need to show proof of insurance for their kids. The Exchange is also to work on a mandate for individual health insurance coverage (requiring everyone have proof of coverage). Also sets up the structure to create a "medical home" for anyone who wants one to encourage more collaboration of health care providers, expand the use of telemedicine and electronic health records, and creates a new division in the Department of Public Health to expand access to information and improve consumer education. PREVENTION & CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT: Establishes a statewide initiative for prevention and chronic care management to help people manage chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease more effectively. LONG-TERM CARE PLANNING & ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVES: Requires hospitals and health care providers establish nonjudicial (outside the courts) means to resolve disputes over "Do Not Resuscitate" orders and durable power of attorney. Promotes the use of palliative care (easing pain and suffering in a dying person, care that makes a person comfortable). Mandates hospice coverage in insurance plans. Requires all Department of Elder Affairs programs (and those in other appropriate agencies) help recommend a public education strategy for long-term living. Directs the Department of Elder Affairs to work with others to identify resources to help continue the work of the Aging & Disability Resource Center. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Chair), Gayman & Heaton - The Health Care Reform Act (HF 2539) passed the Legislature.
HSB 639 - Family Support Subsidy - The family support subsidy program assists families with a family member who is younger than 18 and has an educational or developmental disability, or has special health care needs. Under this bill, families with one child receiving the family support subsidy will receive 50% of the subsidy for any additional children (so they receive 100% of the subsidy for the first child, but only 50% of the subsidy for each additional child). If the subsidy for the first child is ended, the second child's subsidy is bumped up to 100%. Allows DHS to withhold family support subsidy payments to a family who is appealing a decision to end the subsidy for a child turning 18, but the withholding must end when the appeal is resolved. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HSB 656 & SF 2194 Oversight of Nonprofits - This bill creates a charities oversight fund and establishes an appropriation from the fund to the attorney general to support the oversight, including regulation, of persons organized or doing business in this state on a nonprofit basis (domestic nonprofit corporations and domestic charitable trusts). The fund would be supported by moneys collected by the secretary of state from domestic nonprofit corporations who must file a report each odd-numbered year with the secretary. The amount of the fee, determined by the secretary in consultation with the attorney general, would be based on the amount necessary to support the attorney general's efforts. Status: House Government Oversight Committee/Senate Floor; Subcommittee: Rep. Swaim (Chair), Lensing & Baudler; Sen. Connolly (Floor Manager)
HSB 715 & SSB 3236 Combined Corporate Reporting - This bill is a major revenue raiser ($70-75 million) in the Governor's budget proposal, however legislators do not believe they have the votes to pass this proposal. This bill requires that the net income of affiliated groups of corporations engaged in a unitary business be computed on a combined return basis for corporate tax purposes if the group meets the requirements for filing a consolidated return for federal tax purposes. The affiliated group would include corporations with common ownership whereby one or more corporations own 80 percent or more of another corporation. The bill would require that one Iowa corporate income tax return be filed that would include all unitary members of an affiliated group. Any nonunitary member that is subject to Iowa tax would file its own separate corporate return. Only Iowa sales of those corporations doing business in Iowa would be included in the numerator of the Iowa sales ratio. The bill also provides that only those corporations doing business in Iowa are jointly and severally liable for the tax of the combined return. Status: House Ways & Means Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Rep. Shomshor (Chair), Reasoner & Sands; Sen. Bolkcom (Chair), McCoy & McKibben
HSB 720 - Audiology Coverage Insurance Requirement - Requires health insurance to pay for audiological services to children, including hearing aids and ear molds. Status: House Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. T. Olson (Chair), Kressig, Petersen, Clute & Upmeyer
HSB 731 - Child Welfare Services Provider Reimbursements - Increases the reimbursement for child welfare service providers annually at the same percentage rate as the school allowed growth rate. Includes shelter, remedial services, HCBS children's mental health waiver, and court-ordered services (under chapter 232). New bill number will be available soon. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Petersen (Chair), Mascher & Grassley
HSB 750 - Involuntary Commitment Interim - Requests an interim study on the Clerk of Court duties and procedures for involuntary commitment applications and treatment of persons who suffer from serious mental impairment. Status: House Judiciary Committee; Subcommittee: Lensing (Chair), Heaton & Winckler
**HSB 755 - Insurance Consumer Advocate - Establishes an Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate in the Attorney General's Office to hear, investigate and resolve complaints about insurance. Status: House Judiciary Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Lensing (Chair), Winckler & Horbach - This was included in HF 2555, but the office was located in the Insurance Commissioner’s Office.
State Senators, the Governor or state agencies introduced these bills. The status listed is where they died – the last action taken on these bills.
**SF 2023 - Utility Replacement Tax/Mental Health Risk Pool - The recent sale of the Dwayne Arnold Power Plant in Palo to a Florida company triggered a utility tax payment in the amount of $600,000 this year (expected to double next year). Because of the way Iowa's law is written, these funds would have been used to give additional mental health property tax reductions (which does not add to the overall pot of money for services). Instead, this bill places these new funds into the MH/MR/DD Risk Pool, to help counties that have needs beyond what their local property taxes and state allowed growth permit. Counties may apply to this risk pool to avoid cuts to services or reduce waiting lists. Status: House Floor; Subcommittee: Rep. Foege (Floor Manager) - Partially addressed in Health/Human Services Budget Bill (money goes to Medicaid in first year).
SF 2030 - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Study - Requires the Department of Public Health and Department of Veterans Affairs to look at how often Persian Gulf War veterans were diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Status: Senate Veterans Affairs Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Beall (Chair), Hartsuch & Danielson
**SF 2047 & HF 2117 Personal Needs Allowance - Adds an annual cost of living increase to the personal needs allowance (the money that a care facility resident may keep each month, currently $50). The COLA will be the same as allowed by the Social Security Administration. Status: Senate Human Resources Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Sen. Wood (Chair), Johnson & Ragan; Rep. Mascher (Chair), Heaton & Smith - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425).
SF 2056 - Automatic Absentee Ballot - Allows an absentee voter to receive absentee ballots for all future general elections without having to request one each time. Status: Senate State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Appel (Chair), Kibbie & Zieman
**SF 2092 & HF 2152 Dependent Adult Abuse Clean-Up - Allows a person to access information on the dependent adult abuse registry if they have a signed authorization from the person. Some agencies do not have access to the registry for background checks, and employers may wish to check the background. Both will be able to do so under this legislation, as long as they have the written permission of the person being checked. Status: House Floor/House Floor; Subcommittee: Rep. Abdul-Samad (Floor Manager) - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425).
SF 2128 - Therapeutic Recreation Board - Requires therapeutic recreation specialists to be licensed. Therapeutic recreation specialists provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities to restore functioning and independence. Status: Senate Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Bolkcom (Chair), Behn & Hatch
** SF 2163 - Emergency Mental Health Crisis Services System - The intent of this bill is to create a statewide system to respond to persons with mental illness that are in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program will start off as a pilot project, with ten sites (depending on funds available, $3 million needed to fund the ten sites). Community mental health centers (or providers identified by the county as providing services instead of a community mental health center), a county or city, or ay other public/private provider who is approved by the Department of Human Services may apply for grants. The services system must at a minimum: be regional (serve more than one county); coordinate with other providers in the area, the county central point of coordination (CPC), community-based corrections, the courts, and law enforcement; include basic services such as face-to-face crisis intervention, stabilization, support, counseling, preadmission screening for persons requiring psychiatric hospitalization, transportation, and follow-up services; and include telephone hotlines, mobile crisis staff, collaboration protocols, follow-up with community services, information systems, and competency-based training. FISCAL IMPACT: $6 million request for up to 10 state block grants of $600,000 each. Status: Senate Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Bolkcom (Chair), Dvorsky, Hatch, Johnson & Seymour - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425), but only $1.5 million was appropriated beginning 1/1/2009.
**SF 2242 - Insurance Consumer Advocate - Establishes an Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate in the Insurance Commissioner's Office to hear, investigate and resolve complaints. Status: Senate Commerce Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Heckroth (Chair), Kettering & Olive – This was included in HF 2555.
**SF 2259 - ICF/MR & ICF/MI Employee Tuition Assistance - Establishes a pilot tuition assistance program at North Iowa Area Community College for students who are Iowa residents and work at an Intermediate Care Facility for Mental Illness or Mental Retardation. Status: Senate Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Dvorsky (Chair) & Kettering - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425), but the program was made available statewide with an appropriation of $500,000.
SF 2262 & HF 2506 Family Support Subsidy - The family support subsidy program assists families with a family member who is younger than 18 and has an educational or developmental disability, or has special health care needs. Under this bill, families with one child receiving the family support subsidy will receive 50% of the subsidy for any additional children (so they receive 100% of the subsidy for the first child, but only 50% of the subsidy for each additional child). If the subsidy for the first child is ended, the second child's subsidy is bumped up to 100%. Allows DHS to withhold family support subsidy payments to a family who is appealing a decision to end the subsidy for a child turning 18, but the withholding must end when the appeal is resolved. Status: House Floor/House Floor; Rep. Hunter (Floor Manager)
**SF 2279 - Healthy Kids Act - Requires school meals and food/drinks sold at school be healthy, requires every physically able child be physically active for 30 minutes every school day for Kindergarten to Grade 6 (120 minutes each week for Grades 6-12), and requires all students complete a course in CPR before graduating. Requires licensed dieticians in the schools to support the inclusion of these guidelines in the individual education plans for children requiring special education. Effective 7/1/2009. Fiscal Impact: Annual costs to Area Education Agencies is between $34,000 - $244,000. Status: House Floor; Rep. Staed (Floor Manager) - This was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425).
SF 2306 - Long Term Health Insurance - Establishes a Consumer Advocate Bureau in the Insurance Commissioner's Office to make sure people are treated fairly by insurance companies. Adds $60,000 for a Senior Health Insurance Information Program to disseminate educational information and raise public awareness on insurance product choices designed to meet the needs of older Iowans. Includes new definitions and requirements for long-term care policies. The two study bills are the same, but do not include the establishment of a Consumer Advocate Bureau. Status: House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Rep. Jacoby (Chair), Foege & Heaton
SF 2312 - Elections/Voter Registration - Requires all polling places be accessible to persons with disabilities and requires all polling places have voting equipment for use by voters with disabilities in counties where paper ballots are not used. Prohibits the use of cell phones, cameras, pagers, and other electronic communications while voting. Status: House State Government Committee; Sen. Appel (Floor Manager)
**SF 2334 & HF 2604 Medicaid Recovery from Insurance - Medicaid is the "payer of last resort," which means it will only pay for services if the person has no other way to pay for it. If a person has insurance, but the insurance company refuses to pay for the service because the person qualifies for Medicaid, Medicaid is required by Federal law to bill that insurance company. This bill enforces this law, and requires insurance companies to give Medicaid a list of the people they insure. This list will be used to determine if person has some other way to pay for services (the person will continue to receive services, the only difference is that DHS will go after the insurance company to recover the costs of providing those services). Requires Medicaid to present claims within three years of service, or within six years of the state bringing suit. - Contained in Health Care Reform Bill (HF 2539).
**SF 2355 - Time Off for Caucus - Allows a person to take unpaid time off from work to attend a presidential precinct caucus for up to four hours beginning one hour prior to the start of the precinct caucus. The bill contains several details of how a person would go about requesting their time off. Status: House Floor; Rep. Jochum (Floor Manager) – Included in the Standings Bill (HF 2700).
SF 2370 - Health Care Workforce - Getting mental health and health care in rural areas of the state can be difficult because there are simply not enough providers in some areas of the state. This bill is trying to address this shortage by encouraging people to practice in rural and underserved areas of the state by creating a loan forgiveness program, a psychiatrist residency program, tax credits for shortage professions, and increased use of telemedicine. Also requires 65% of any increased nursing home reimbursement go to direct care workers. Establishes a Direct Care Worker Advisory Council to recommend ways to credential direct care workers (recommendations due 11/30/2008). Establishes a new pilot program to give tuition assistance to people who are working in facilities that serve persons with disabilities. Tuitions can be used at a local community college while they are working in the facility. Status: Senate Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Dotzler (Chair), Hatch & Seymour
SF 2384 - Child Welfare Services Provider Reimbursements - Increases the reimbursement for child welfare service providers annually at the same percentage rate as the school allowed growth rate. Includes shelter, remedial services, HCBS children's mental health waiver, and court-ordered services (under chapter 232). Status: Senate Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Dvorsky (Chair) & Kettering
**SF 2390 - Health Care Reform (Senate Version) - COVERING KIDS: Mandates coverage for all kids by January 1, 2011, if funds become available, by covering more kids under hawk-i; uses Iowa Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (Insurance Division). Subsidizes private coverage for non hawk-i eligible children up to 19 years up to 300 % FPL on sliding-scale. COVERING ADULTS: Goal of providing unsubsidized coverage for low-income adults with family income up to 400 % FPL. CONTINUED DEPENDENT COVERAGE: Up to 25 years of age on parent’s insurance if full time student. MEDICAL HOME: Establishes patient-centered medical home in a primary care setting and a Medical Home Commission to implement a statewide medical home system (IDPH). Changes date for implementation of the dental home initiative to December 31, 2010 and clarifies that EPSDT services are required. ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS: Establishes an Iowa Electronic Health Information Commission to promote use of electronic health information technology. CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT: Establishes Prevention and Chronic Care Management Advisory Council to develop a state initiative for chronic care management (IDPH), and a Clinicians Advisory Panel. LONG TERM CARE PLANNING: Long-term care public education and awareness campaign, End-of-Life Pilot Project (Linn County), and Advisory Committee. COST CONTAINMENT: Establishes a new office of Health Care Quality, Cost Containment, and Consumer Information. TRANSPARENCY: Establishes Bureau of Health Insurance Oversight and establishes health care transparency reporting requirements. Adds to the duties of the Bureau of Health Care Access to develop a Statewide Health Care Delivery Infrastructure and Resources Strategic Plan, including elements that could impact the Certificate of Need program. CERTIFICATE OF NEED: Expands Health Facilities Council from 5 to 7 members. Adds health economist and actuary. Status: Senate Floor; Sen. Hatch (Floor Manager) – The House version of the Health Care Reform Bill passed (HF 2539).
SSB 3027 - Public Accommodations/Jail & Prison - The Iowa Civil Rights Commission requires all government and public facilities to make reasonable accommodations to all persons. This bill requires jails, prisons, community based corrections, and other detention facilities to comply with these public accommodation laws. This means jails and prisons will need to meet the needs of persons with disabilities under their supervision. Currently, there is much debate over this and the fact that persons with mental illness and disabilities are not receiving the care and physical accommodations they need while in prison or jail. Status: Senate State Government Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Connolly (Chair), Hatch & Behn
SSB 3071 - Education Technical Changes/Special Education - Makes it clear that a child who turns 21 in the middle of the school year is entitled to continue to receive special education until the end of the school year. Also, any notices sent to a child’s parent after the child turns 18 must also go to the child. Status: House Education Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Appel (Chair), Connolly & McKinley
SSB 3093 & HSB 592 Whistleblower Complaints - Allows the Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman to choose not to investigate a whistleblower compliant (as they can with any other complaint filed with them).Whistleblowers are people that "blow the whistle" on their employers, telling about some illegal action. Requires the Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman to write to the employee filing the complaint and explain why they decided not to investigate. If the Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman decides to investigate, s/he must send any reports issued to both the employer and employee. States that the Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman cannot be forced to testify on any report on whistleblower complaints. Status: Senate State Government Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Sen. Schmitz (Chair), Danielson & McKibben; Rep. Mascher (Chair), Jacobs & Lensing
SSB 3093 & HSB 620 FBI Gun Checks/Persons Adjudicated Mentally Ill - After the Virginia Tech killings, the Federal government passed a law prohibiting persons who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution from having gun (it is a permanent restriction). States that do not comply could lose federal funds. In order to comply, the state must provide the FBI with a list of persons who have been committed involuntarily to a mental institution. The information will be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background System maintained by the FBI. This bill complies with that requirement. Effective 1/1/2009. Status: Senate Judiciary Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Sen. Schoenjahn (Chair), Horn & Hartsuch; Rep. Wessel-Kroeschell (Chair), Palmer & Tomenga
SSB 3122 & HSB 667 Children Adjudicated Mentally Ill - If a child commits a delinquent act and is mentally ill or mentally retarded, the courts right now commit the child for treatment and dismiss the delinquency charge. This bill no longer requires that delinquency charge to be dismissed. This allows the court to both treat the child and still have that child face the consequences of his/her delinquent act. Status: Senate Judiciary Committee/Dead; Subcommittee: Sen. Kreiman (Chair), Fraise & Hartsuch; Rep. Wendt (Chair), Smith & Heaton
**SSB 3153 - Background Checks/Employees of Care Facilities - Requires child and dependent adult abuse and criminal record checks for the employees of all hospitals and care facilities (nursing homes, residential care facilities, intermediate care facilities). Currently hospitals are not included in the requirement and child abuse registry checks are not required for any facility. Requires these checks be done prior to any ownership transfer. Prohibits any of these facilities from hiring a felon or founded abuse record for five years following the application. After that five-year period, DHS may evaluate that person and determine whether or not the person may be employed. Requires the employee to notify their employer within 48 hours of being convicted of a crime or a founded abuse record is made. Status: Senate Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Wood (Chair), Ragan & Seymour - A version of this was included in the Health & Human Services Budget Bill (SF 2425).
**SSB 3194 - Governor's Health Care Reform Package - Outlines the Governor's strategy to improve efficiency in the health care system, promote wellness, and increase access. Encourages the use of telemedicine and other information technologies to support health are initiatives. Requires all health care professionals use a patient identifier and continuity of care record (health care passport) by 1/1/2010. Creates the "Keep Iowa Healthy" fund to be used for community wellness initiatives or for distribution to county public health agencies for health care screenings, mental health services, and other county-based services to low-income Iowans. Creates a state income tax checkoff for wellness, allowing people to designate $1 or more of their tax refunds for wellness initiatives . Requires health insurers to cover an unmarried dependent child of an insured person until they are 25 years old or are no longer a college student. Requires insurance companies offering plans to small employers establish new rating systems for additional groupings to drive down premiums. Prohibits an insurance company from exempting any pre-existing conditions and no longer allows the pre-existing condition waiting period when changing insurance plans. Limits long-term care insurance rate increases to 12% annually, unless the financial condition of the insurer warrants that increase. Status: Senate Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Hatch (Chair), Bolkcom, Ragan, Seymour & Johnson - The House Health Care Reform Bill passed (HF 2539).
**SSB 3216 & HSB 695 Governor's Health & Human Services Budget - This is the Governor's budget recommendation for various health and human services programs, including Medicaid. The Legislature has made the decision to work off last year's budget (instead of the Governor's), so this bill will not move forward. You can review this bill here: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&ga=82&hbill=SSB3216. Status: Senate Appropriations Committee/House Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee: Sen. Dvorsky (Chair) & Kettering; Not assigned – The Health & Human Services Budget Bill that did pass is SF 2425.
RESOLUTIONS
HJR 2004 - Tobacco Taxes for Health Care/Constitutional Amendment - Proposes an amendment to the Constitution requiring all money coming from the taxes on cigarettes and tobacco be used only for health care. Status: House Human Resources Committee; Subcommittee: Not assigned
HR 110 - Lead Paint Interim - Asks for a study committee over the summer to look at how to fund the removal of lead paint from homes. Lead paint is very toxic to children and is a preventable cause of behavioral and developmental disabilities and mental retardation. Children under the age of six are most at risk. Legislators would study the problem over the summer and fall, and make recommendations to be considered in the 2009 legislative session. Status: House Floor; Rep. Ford (Floor Manager)
HR 138 - Disability-Friendly Health Care Coverage - Asks the Governor, legislators, and businesses to make sure all health care reforms and the state's health care system be disability-friendly. States that there is a higher population of working adults with disabilities that do not have health insurance compared to the general population. Asks that the following principals be applied when considering health policies: 1) an individual is able to maintain stable health care insurance despite changes in employment; 2) health care coverage is affordable; 3) individual contributions for health insurance are based on the individual's ability to pay and the extent employers or the public contribute to coverage; 4) health coverage is made both physically and cognitively accessible for all Iowans and does not limit or exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions; 5) coverage is broad enough to cover range of benefits, including mental health treatment, preventive services, personal health items, and special equipment; 6) eligibility determination used for public programs does not prevent persons with disabilities to live in poverty or remain unemployed in order to receive health benefits; 7) transition between health coverage for children with disabilities and the coverage for adults with disabilities is coordinated in order to prevent gaps in coverage. Status: House Floor; Rep. Whitead (Floor Manager)
HR 145 - Honoring Dr. Kenneth Jernigan - Recognizes and honors the life and work of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan and the Iowa Department of the Blind. Notes that Dr. Jernigan was a known civil rights leader in California when he came to Iowa 50 years ago to work as the Director of the Commission for the Blind. Status: House Floor; Rep. Petersen (Floor Manager)
SCR 103 & HCR 108 Full Funding of Federal Budget - Urges Congress to adopt a budget that meets the needs of Iowa's children and families, restores funding for human needs, and avoids shifting the responsibility for funding of necessary human needs from the federal to state government. Status: Senate Floor/House Floor; Sen. Bolkcom & Rep. Smith (Floor Managers)
|
|
