House OKs $844 million education budget

DES MOINES -- The House Monday approved an $844 million education appropriations bill to fund Iowa's regent universities, community colleges, some K-12 school functions and preschool programs next school year.

Senate File 2376, sent back to the Senate 55-44, included a general 3.94 percent across-the-board reduction in most areas to meet budget targets. However, some funding was reduced even more.

The Department for the Blind funding was decreased $80,000 to $1.95 million. College Student Aid funding dropped $1.8 million to $59.3 million.

The Department of Education support increased $16.2 million to $241 million and the Board of Regents funding increased $10.4 million to $542 million.

General fund dollars for the current year were cut and replaced with federal stimulus funds -- $80 million for regents and $26 million for community colleges. SF 2376 replaces those federal stimulus funds with general funds dollars.

SF 2376 will provide more than $12 million in increased funding for the voluntary statewide preschool program, increase support for Iowa's community colleges by $10 million and channel more than $542 million to Iowa's public universities.

An amendment was adopted 96-0 to require all non-profits supported in whole or part with public revenues would be required to operate under Iowa's open meetings and public records law. That would include the Iowa Association of School boards and similar agencies.

Another amendment would protect teacher salary funds from future across the board cuts. As a result, opponents said, the cuts will fall more heavily on other departments and state employees.

The House also approved SF 2310 92-7 to set the parameters for spending money that will be raised it if a constitutional amendment establishing a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund is approved by voters in November.

The amendment calls for establishing the trust fund to protect and enhance water quality and natural areas including parks, trails, fish and wildlife habitat, and conserving agricultural soils. No revenue will be credited to the fund until the next time the Legislature increases the sales tax. Then 3/8th of 1cent of a future state sales tax increase would be credited to the trust fund. That's expected to generate $150 million.

HF 2438 was approved 98-0, making enticing a minor under the age of 13 for sexual abuse or exploitation a Class C felony. It also increases the penalty for enticing a minor younger than 16 with the intent to commit an illegal act a Class D felony. Both are aggravated misdemeanors.