Iowa Politics Today: Making GPS stalking a crime; Measuring what bills do to jobs; Restrictions on p

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017:

JOB IMPACT:

Members of the Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve legislation to require that every administrative rule proposed by a state agency or department be accompanied by a jobs impact statement. The information is to outline the rule's purpose and statutory authority and to detail the effect on state agencies, local governments, the public, and the regulated entities, businesses and self-employed individuals.

Backers of Senate File 1 say the measure 'codifies' an executive order that was put in place by Gov. Terry Branstad in March 2011 to build a 'job-friendly environment' for new government rules and regulations. Under the bill that goes to the Senate debate calendar, each impact statement must determine whether a proposed rule would have a positive or negative impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION: HSB 15 would change definition of incarceration so adults in residential correctional facilities would have to register as sex offenders. Under current law, they can go out in the community for at least part of the day without being registered as a sex offender. That, Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, said, presents a danger to the community.

HSB 15 was approved by the House Public Safety Committee and sent to the full House for consideration.

PIERCING BAN: Discussion has indefinitely suspended on HF 33 that would make it a misdemeanor for a minor to receive a body piercing or for anyone to provide a piercing – other than in the ear lobe – without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian.

A Judiciary subcommittee of Rep. Ashley Hinson, Liz Bennet and Megan Jones agreed there were too many questions about the bill to proceed.

The ACLU opposed the prohibition of minors' freedom of expression while the Family Leader said the bill would complement similar regulation of minors receiving tattoos.

MONEY SWAP: HF 9 would allow the Iowa Department of Transportation and local governments to swap federal funds in a way that Rep. Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, said would make more money available for local projects. Local governments would give their federal funds to the DOT, which would replace the money from the Primary Road Fund. By using local funds, he said cities and counties would not have to meet Davis-Bacon wage requirements and environmental regulations that might increase the cost of the project.

The DOT would have to meet those requirements, but Worthan said the agency has the expertise on staff to meet those requirements more efficiently than a local government that might do a project a year.

Committee Democrats were concerned with the attempt to circumvent the wage requirements and the elimination of the 'buy American' provisions attached to federal money used on local projects.

'When you vote for this bill you are voting against having to use American-made products,' Rep. Abbey Finkenauer, D-Dubuque, said. Taxpayers might appreciate the savings, but not at the expense of American manufacturers and American jobs, she said.

The committee approved the bill 12-7.

GPS TRACKING:

It would be a serious misdemeanor to place a global positioning device on a vehicle without the consent of the person who owns or leases the vehicle under legislation approved by the House Public Safety Committee Tuesday.

Exemptions to HF 2 would include parents tracking a minor's vehicle, a business owner tracking fleet vehicles and police with warrants, according to Rep. David Kerr, R-Morning Sun.

There was no consensus on whether the bill would apply to someone turning on an on-board GPS device purchased with the vehicle.

Kerr said amendments will be offered on the floor to address Iowa Department of Transportation concerns about inhibiting the development of driverless vehicles and to expand the prohibition to 'on or in' someone else's vehicle.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I want to say to the people that are concerned — the young people, immigrants, families, you are welcome in Iowa. We are welcoming people. You are valued, your voice is valued and I want you to stay strong because at least some of us here have your back.' – Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, during an Iowa Senate floor speech discussing President Trump's immigration policy executive order.