Expanding opportunities on Iowa Volunteer Day, more Iowa Arts Council grant programs this Spring: Iowa Capitol Digest, Feb. 20

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Monday, Feb. 20, 2018:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: On Tuesday, which was Iowa Volunteer Day, legislation to expand opportunities for volunteers was introduced in the Iowa House.

HF 2420 calls for the establishment of an Iowa National Service Corps program to align with AmeriCorps and other national service programs. State agencies, political subdivisions such as cities and counties and private, nonprofit organizations that serve local and state needs could be a part of the national service programs, according to Rep. Kevin Koester, R-Ankeny, a member of the Iowa Volunteer Commission.

In some cases, he explained, AmeriCorps personnel could fill volunteer positions that do not fall under the National Service Corps umbrella. School reading and tutoring programs, and local emergency services are examples of services that could be aided by the proposed law.

'It's a way to incent these kinds of experiences with Iowa talent,” he said. National Service Corps participants earn a stipend and college tuition assistance. There would be no cost to the state if the bill is enacted.

IOWA ARTS GRANTS: A new round of Iowa Arts Council grant programs opens this spring, and artists, nonprofit organizations, communities, tribal councils and schools are encouraged to by May 1.

Last year, the Iowa Arts Council awarded $1.3 million to projects and organizations in 66 communities across 45 Iowa counties. Grant programs administered by the Iowa Arts Council support its mission of cultivating creativity, learning and participation in the arts while empowering Iowans to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities. Funding is provided by appropriations from the Iowa Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

A list of fiscal 2019 grant programs and descriptions can be found at https://iowaculture.gov/arts/grants.

Applications for the grant programs listed above must be submitted online at https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com by May 1 unless otherwise noted.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'Republicans, you said at the beginning of session that Iowans were going to have to tighten their belts, but this bill asks Iowa kindergartners to tighten their belts and we hope they don't pee their pants in the process.” - Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, commenting on a bill passed 30-18 that would allow school districts to increase school bus ride times to longer than 75 minutes each way, or more than two-and-a-half hours per day to and from school.