Capitol Briefs 2-8-2010

A roundup of legislative and Statehouse items of interest for Monday, Feb. 8:

OVERTIME APLENTY: Legislative bill drafters are working overtime these days to keep up with the demand for legislation sought by individual lawmakers and committee leaders. Richard Johnson of the Legislative Services Agency said his staff of 16 have handled about 1,600 bill requests and 700 amendments in the first month of the 2010 session. Those numbers are similar to other election-year sessions, he said, but this year is different because the pace is greatly accelerated because lawmakers hope to wrap up this year's work in 80 days instead of the normal 100-day even-year session. “We've had to do more work in a shorter time period so it's really pushed us. I know all of our overtime is higher this year earlier than in most second sessions.”

CHARITABLE GROUPS: Large charitable organizations raising money in Iowa would be required to register with the Iowa Attorney General's Office under a bill that cleared a Senate subcommittee on Monday. Senate Study Bill 3191 would establish registration and require detailed information about administrative expenditures and fund distributions that would be made available for public scrutiny. The bill would exempt religious and political groups and organizations raising less than $50,000 annually. State officials said the proposal was designed to “put another arrow in the quiver of the consumer,” but subcommittee chairman Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, was not sure if the bill would move very far in the process this year.

FREE ONLINE TAX HELP: Qualifying low- and moderate-income Iowans could get free help in filing their state and federal income tax returns free of charge this year. A public-private partnership Free File Alliance between the Internal Revenue Service (www.freefile.irs.gov) and a group of tax software companies is making online tax preparation and electronic tax filing available to taxpayers meeting certain criteria. Proponents said the software programs available through the Iowa free file program should help taxpayers identify all credits and deductions eligible to them. State revenue officials said Iowa ranks among the top states participating in electronic filing with 74 percent of Iowa filers using the online option last year.

ACCRUING SICK PAY: All employees working full-time or part-time jobs would be eligible to accrue paid sick time under a bill that cleared a Senate subcommittee Monday. Senate Study Bill 3176 would provide that all employees who work 1,040 or more hours a year or 20 or more hours a week shall accumulate paid time off for days they miss work due to illness. The bill was opposed by Iowa's largest business organizations and Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, said he was uncertain how far the measure would progress this session.

HELPING THE BIRDS AND BEES: Mowing ditches along Iowa roads would be restricted until July 15 of each year as part of what HF 2210 sponsor Rep. John Beard, D-Decorah, called a “feel good bill” intended to improve habitat for wildlife, including game birds, song birds and bees.

The measure, which applies to the Department of Transportation, counties and private property owners, was approved 21-0 by the House Natural Resources Committee. Beard said he hoped to rein in “recreational mowing.”

PREVAILING WAGE LITE: A version of the prevailing wage bill that died on the House floor last year when Democrats failed to muster 51 votes was approved by the House Labor Committee 9-8 Monday. The bill, which applies to public improvement projects of $100,000 or more, would allow local governments to opt out of paying prevailing wages.

Opponents said the bill would restrict or eliminate the competitive advantage of start-up contractors who underbid older companies in order to get business. They cited a study showing the vast majority of new jobs in the past 30 years were created by companies less than five years old.

Rep. Lance Horbach, R-Tama, called the bill Democrats' “blatant political payback” to labor unions.

Republicans were joined by Rep. Geri Huser, D-Altoona, in voting against HSB 699.

 HEARING AID: Insurance companies would be required to cover the cost of hearings aids for Iowans 18 and younger under HSB 682, which was approved 12-9 by the House Commerce Committee.

The Legislature had appropriated $190,328 for hearing aids, but the Department of Public Heath reduced that by $34,347 after Gov. Chet Culver's 10 percent across the board budget cut. Proponents said 231 children were assisted by the program last year.

There was no estimate for the cost of the mandate.

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION: Pharmacists would have to notify patients and prescribing physicians if they substitute an antiepileptic drug, whether name brand or generic, for one prescribed for the treatment of seizures, including epilepsy under HSB 529, which was approved by the House Commerce Committee 12-10 Monday.

The bill could have national implications, according to dale Todd of Cedar Rapids, a vice president of the National Epilepsy Foundation. The incentives for pharmacists to substitute less expensive drugs are significant, he said. However, research now exists showing there can be differ3ences in the therapeutic value of generic medications,” Todd said. “For the fragile epileptic, the difference can be huge.”

“All we want is for the patient to be aware of the substitution,” he said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “They're not going away. They are motivated thinking that God designed marriage, the government didn't, and when government tries to basically spit in God's face and redefine marriage – which they have no right to do – these people are not going away anytime soon.” – Chuck Hurley, head of the Iowa Family Policy Council, discussing efforts to get a legislative vote this session to put a constitutional amendment to define marriage only as one man and one woman before the people of Iowa.