Page Ten
N/Warren Town and County News
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Legislative Newsletter
Stan Gustafson
Iowa House Representative
District 25
Rep. Stan Gustafson (R-Cumming) hosted the Earlham Cardinals basketball team at the Capitol recently. The
group was recognized for qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in their school's history and
placed third in Class 1A. Photo submitted.
rent law only requires an arbitrator to look at a com- tors that an arbitrator must consider when rendering a
parison of other public sector workers. The reason this decision. Under House Rules, each amendment must
Rep. Start Gustafson (R-Cumming) met with Sergeant Bill took so long to be debated is that many amendments be introduced and described by the sponsor and then
Jim Butler from the Des Moines Police Department at were filed, bringing in other education issues. One determined to see if it is relevant to the Bill. If it is, the
the Capitol last week. Butler visited the Statehouse to amendment was divided by its sponsor into 16 sepa- full House votes on it. The Bill finally passed and was
meet with legislators and discuss issues. Pictured are rate amendments, mostly reversing the changes in Concluded p. 15
Jim Butler and Rep. Gustafson. Photo submitted. House File 549, and then adding numerous other fac-
Rep. Stan Gustafson (R-Cumming) met with constitu-
ents Robert Witt Jr. and Heidi Burhans at the Capitol
last week. Robert visited the Statehouse to discuss is-
sues on behalf of Madison County Farm Bureau and
the Iowa Soybean Association and Heidi is the Madi-
son County Auditor and visited to attend County Day
on the Hill. Pictured are Robert Witt Jr., Heidi Burhans
and Rep. Gustafson. Photo submitted.
One of the questions I have gotten from constituents
is "Why don't you debate bills more?" Most of the Bills
that pass out of the House to the Senate have little or no
floor debate. This is because the Bill has generally been
scheduled for a subcommittee hearing at which time
citizens and lobbyists have a chance to give input. Leg-
islators also receive input from lobbyists and citizens
who come to the Capitol at other times. Each party "cau-
cuses" on the Bill before the Bill is submitted to the full
Committee in order for Legislators to share informa-
tion they may have about the Bill and to clarify the lan-
guage of the Bill. The Bill is then voted on by a Biparti-
san committee as to whether it should be voted on by
the whole House. Amendments can be added to the Bill
at any time during this process.
HF549 was a Bill, however, which was debated for
two days this week. This Bill narrowly changes the bind-
ing arbitration process for school district and Area Edu-
cation Agency (AEA) employees. The bill makes three
small, yet very significant changes to what an arbitrator
is allowed to consider when rendering a decision on
union contracts. Currently an arbitrator must choose
one or the other of the two parties' final offer on an item
when there is an impasse between the bargaining enti-
ties. Under this Bill, the arbitrator is authorized to choose
a point between the two offers. This ensures that a com-
promise position can be reached between where the
parties end up. An arbitrator will no longer be able to
consider the public employer's authority to levy taxes
to finance an increase in compensation packages. Unions
point to government's unlimited ability to raise taxes as
the basis for pay increases beyond what current revenues
can afford. Third, an arbitrator will be required to look
at a comparison of public and private sector wages, hours
and conditions of employment for workers doing com-
parable work to get a true and fair comparison. Cur-
Editor's Note: This is a monthly column prepared by the Iowa
Public Information Board to update Iowans on the IPIB's
activities and provide information on some of the issues
routinely addressed by the board.
QUESTION: What are the
powers and duties of the
The IPIB also offers training
IPIB? in Chapters 21 and 22 to gov-
ANSWER: The IPIB is an in- ernment bodies, disseminates
dependent agent authorized by information to the public, sub-
statute (Iowa Code chapter 23) mits an annual report to the
to issue advice, or declaratory Governor and Legislature and
orders with the force of law, makes recommendations relat-
regarding the applicability of ing to access to government
the open meetings (Chapter information.
21) and open records (Chapter QUESTION: What are the
22) laws. limits of the IPIB jurisdie-
It can receive and investigate tion?
complaints alleging violations
ANSWER: The IPIB does not
of the laws and seek resolu-
have jurisdiction over the judi-
tion through an informal pro-
cial or legislative branches, or
cess. If a complaint cannot be
resolved informally, and the over the Governor and Gover-
IPIB has probable cause to be- nor's office. A complaint must
lieve the law has been violated, be filed with 60 days from the
the board may prosecute thetime .the alleged violation oc-
government body or officialcurred or the complainant
in a contested-case proceed- could have become aware of
ing under the Administrative the violation with reasonable
Procedures Act (Chapter 17A). diligence.
The IPIB can issue subpoenas QUESTION: Do I have to
to investigate complaints and file a public meetings or
prosecute cases, and it can also records complaint with the
issue orders with the force of IPIB instead of going to
law to require compliance with court? If I file a complaint
the sunshine laws.
O
with the board and am dis-
satisfied with the result,
can I appeal?
ANSWER: Any person, the At-
torney General or a County At-
torney seeking to enforce open
meetings and records laws can
bring the complaint before the
IPIB, or the individual can
bring an action in state district
court, as under current law. If
more than one party simultane-
ously brings an action before
the IPIB and in court, the court
shall stay the case pending
resolution of the complaint by
the IPIB. A final IPIB order is
subject to judicial review.
QUESTION: Where can I
find out more information
about the IPIB?
ANSWER: The IPIB has a web-
site: www.ipib.iowa.gov. You
can also contact the IPIB staff
by phone at 515.725.1781, by
fax at 515.725.1789 or by email
at IPIB@iowa.gov.
