Capitol Digest 3-15-2010

A roundup of legislative and Statehouse items of interest for Monday, March 15:

TEXTING GOES TO CONFERENCE Representatives insisted on the House version HF 2456, the ban on texting while driving, sending the bill to a conference committee where floor manager Rep. Curt Hanson, D-Fairfield, hope differences can be ironed out.

The House banned the use of all handheld electronic communication and entertainment devices by teen drivers. The Senate version bans reading, writing and sending text messages and e-mails.

House conferees are Democrats Hanson, Rick Olson, Des Moines, and Jim Lykam, Davenport, and Republicans Dave Tjepkes, Gowrie, and Chris Hagenow, Windsor Heights. The Senate conferees are: Democrats Jeff Danielson, Waterloo, William Heckroth, Waverly, and Tom Rielly, Oskaloosa, and Republicans Kim Reynolds, Osceola, and Tim Kapucian, Keystone.

TAX PENALTIES WAIVED Many taxpayers who filed their 2008 state income tax under the assumption Iowa would couple its tax code with the IRS would have their penalties and interest waived under HF 2088 that was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee Monday. Originally, the waiver would have applied only to taxpayers with 2008 disaster losses, but the committee accepted an amendment by Rep. Nick Wagner, R-Marion, expanded the waiver to those who took other federal tax breaks that aren't allowed when the state doesn't couple. They include deductions for teachers' out-of-pocket expenses, one-time new car registration fee and higher education tuition and fees. Floor manager Rep. Tyler Olson said the change has an estimated revenue impact of $350,000.

HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE: The state Department of Public Health has been awarded $8,375,000 over the next four years to plan and implement Iowa's statewide Health Information Exchange. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announced the funding Monday through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Iowa e-Health is a public and private collaboration with a mission of improving health care quality, safety and efficiency through the use of health information technology. Often, patients taken to the emergency room are unable to tell health professionals about the medications they've taken or recent conditions for which they've been treated. The new health technology offers an opportunity to improve patient care through the collection of patient health information in electronic health records that can be shared with other care providers through the statewide health information exchange. For more information about Iowa e-Health, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/ehealth.

DOA PUBLIC HEARING: Iowa Department on Aging Director John McCalley announced Monday his department will host a public hearing on April 6 to discuss reauthorization and amendments to the federal Older Americans Act in 2011. The hearing will provide citizens a chance to voice their public policy goals aimed at improving the lives of individuals age 60 and older. The public hearing will take place from 3-5 p.m. over the Iowa Communications Network at sites in Ames, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Creston, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, Sioux City and Spencer. Participants must sign up by March 31, 2010 by telephone at: (800) 532-3213 or electronically at contactida@iowa.gov. Those unable to attend the hearing may provide input via the Department's web site using the form provided at: www.aging.iowa.gov.

WIND ENERGY RECOMMENDATIONS: Gov. Chet Culver will participate in a teleconference Tuesday to release the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition's recommendations for national wind energy investments. Culver is the chairman of the national coalition; he will be joined on the conference call by Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, the coalition's vice chairman. The governors will release recommendations that encompass a broad range of wind energy policy initiatives that address the coalition's top priorities: green economic development, job creation, and energy security. Proponents say the report represents the first set of comprehensive wind energy recommendations ever submitted to Congress by a group of the nation's governors.

PROJECTS SOUGHT TO CUT ENERGY USE: The Iowa Office of Energy Independence is seeking proposals -- under state and federal funding sources -- from municipal organizations in Iowa for projects that will reduce energy use, have a positive impact on budgets and enhance economic development through job creation. Up to $4 million in grant funding is available to be awarded under the program. The purpose of the request for proposals is to seek projects from entities that are eligible to issue tax-exempt debt – such as school districts, cities, counties, and other local government agencies or other non-profit entities. State officials say the online application portal for this funding can be found at www.iowagrants.gov and will be available beginning March 23.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I feel like we're in Hazard County and Boss Hogg has just raised the rates.” – Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, commenting on a proposal to raise traffic fines, fees and court costs by $8.8 million beginning July 1.