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Capitol Notebook: Iowa governor issues disaster proclamation for Mississippi River counties
Also, Reynolds signs several bills into law
Apr. 28, 2023 6:01 pm
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for two more counties in response to Mississippi River flooding on Friday, activating the Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program for Allamakee and Muscatine counties.
The announcement follows a proclamation Tuesday activating those programs in Clayton, Clinton, Dubuque, Jackson and Scott counties. Counties along the Mississippi River have seen major flooding over the last week as melting snow along the river caused levels to rise.
Iowans in affected counties can apply for individual assistance grants of up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, replacing clothing or food, and temporary expenses. Grants are available for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Information about the grants can be found at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs.
Under the Disaster Case Management Program, case managers work with clients to aid in recovery and obtaining resources. People interested in the program can visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.
Reynolds signs bills into law
Reynolds also signed several bills into law, including increasing penalties for continuous sexual abuse of a child. People who attempt to elude Iowa law enforcement officers also will face stiffer penalties, and it’s open season on raccoons in Iowa.
Reynolds signed a total of 28 bills into law on Friday.
Among those bills Reynolds signed:
- House File 176: Increases penalties for those over the age of 18 who have been charged three times or more with sexual abuse of the same child over at least the last 30 days. A person convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child is guilty of a Class B felony and can be sentenced up to 50 years in prison. The new law adds a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years.
- House File 358: Adds penalties for a second offense of eluding law enforcement. The new law increases the penalty for fleeing law enforcement at speeds the exceeding the speed limit by 25 miles per hour or more from an aggravated misdemeanor to a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $10,245 fine. It also increased the penalty for a second violation of eluding or fleeing law enforcement from a class D to a Class C felony, and allows those convicted of eluding to be issued a temporary restricted license.
- House File 317: Allows Iowans year-round permission to shoot, trap or snare animals that are deemed to be a nuisance, including raccoons, opossums and skunks. The new law allows the owners or tenants of agricultural properties outside city limits to kill or trap the animals on their properties. It does not apply to any animals designated as endangered species.
- House File 474: Expands the state’s Newborn Safe Haven Act to allow newborn infants to be relinquished to a nonprofit state‐licensed private adoption service. Under current law, a newborn up to 90 days of age may be relinquished to a hospital, health care facility or a first responder. It also requires employees of adoption service agencies to be certified in First Aid and CPR.
You can view the full list of bill’s the governor signed into law here).
State awards $379,000 to support youth internships
Iowa Workforce Development announced $379,000 in new grant awards to support internships in in-demand jobs across the state.
The funding will support eight projects and an estimated 176 high school and college age interns.
Priority funding was awarded to projects that included a focus on high-demand careers and the recruitment of at-risk youth who face barriers to success and upward mobility in the workforce.
A map and list of employers, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations who received grant awards is available here.
“Not every business can provide paid internships, nor can everyone take an unpaid one,” Reynolds said in a statement. “This program helps bridge the gap — supporting meaningful career paths for our at-risk youth while supporting their financial needs.
“Internships provide eager students with the ability to develop their skills and professional network, and nobody should be priced out of these valuable experiences.”
For more information on Iowa’s Summer Youth Internship Program, go to https://bit.ly/3oXqZ4g.
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