In This Issue
Important Dates
Legislation
Committee Assignments

Quick Links


January 31, 2014   

Skills2Compete Coalition Policy Agenda 

The Iowa Skills2Compete Coalition released its 2014 workforce policy agenda this week. It is available here. AIWP is a member of the coalition.

  

Federal Policy Update
The National Skills Coalition reports that President Obama today announced $150 million in new support from the U.S. Department of Labor for sector partnerships, or "job-driven training partnerships," to help the long-term unemployed get back to work. The "Ready to Work" Partnerships will be built through a DOL grant competition "to support and scale innovative partnerships among employers and non-profits in states and cities across the country that are helping to prepare and place the long-term unemployed into good jobs," according to the White House. Click here for more details. Leaders from Des Moines' Principal Financial Group, which participates in a sector partnership organized by Central Iowa Works, were part of a summit today with President Obama on helping the long-term unemployed.

Click here for more from the National Skills Coalition about President Obama and his administration emphasizing workforce issues this week.

 

State Policy Update 

The Iowa Apprenticeship and Job Training Act was introduced in the Legislature, as proposed by Governor Branstad. See the summary in the Legislation section. 

 

The administration has launched a website for the Home Base Iowa initiative: www.homebaseiowa.org

 

Summary of Governor's Budget Recommendations

Summary of FY 2015 Budget and Department Requests 

Important Dates

January 13

First day of session

 

February 5 

AIWP Legislative Breakfast, 7:00-9:00 a.m., Legislative Dining Room (Ground Floor of the Capitol)

 

February 21 - First Funnel

Final date for House bills to be reported out of House committees, and Senate bills out of Senate committees, to stay alive.

 

March 14 - Second Funnel

Final date for Senate bills to be reported out of House committees, and House bills out of Senate committees, to stay alive.

 

April 22 

Target adjournment date (100th calendar day of session) 

Legislation
Senate File 2076 Establishes an Iowa Employment Rides initiative in the Department of Transportation to provide funds to public transit systems for programs and services that provide employment transportation to Iowans. Appropriates $1 million per year for the next three fiscal years, to be distributed on a competitive grant basis. Introduced, referred to Transportation. Sponsored by Mathis.

Senate File 2039 Increases the state minimum hourly wage to $9.00 on July 1, 2014, and $10.25 on July 1, 2015. Also increases state minimum hourly wage for employees employed for less than 90 days to $8.10 on July 1, 2014, and $9.35 on July 1, 2015. Introduced, referred to Labor and Business Relations. Subcommittee, Dearden, Anderson, and Dotzler. Sponsored by Quirmbach.

Senate Study Bill 3071 Prohibits employers from refusing to hire job applicants based on certain criminal history and providing penalties. Specifically, prohibits a person from refusing to hire a job applicant because the applicant has been arrested for or convicted of a public offense more than 10 years before the date of application, unless the elements of the public offense are substantially related to the qualifications to perform the job they are applying for. Proposed Judiciary Committee bill by Chairperson Hogg. Subcommittee, Hogg, Petersen, Schneider.

Senate Study Bill 3052 and House Study Bill 541 Iowa Apprenticeship and Job Training Act. Makes changes to the job training program and fund under Code Chapter 260F. Changes the parties and process for training agreements: The Economic Development Authority (EDA) (instead of a community college) would make an agreement with an eligible business for a training/education arrangement that meets the business's workforce needs. (This is instead of allocating funding to community colleges to conduct these projects.) Moves the Job Training Fund from the EDA's Workforce Development Fund to the State Treasury. Transfers $5 million from the Workforce Development Fund to the Job Training Fund. Makes the match from all businesses participating in a job training project under Chapter 260F permitted instead of mandatory. Allocates 40% of the money in the Job Training Fund for financial assistance to eligible businesses and 60% of the money for financial assistance to apprenticeship programs. Provides for what type of financial assistance may be offered depending on the type of training provided. Financial assistance is generally a loan for the full cost of a project with 50% repayment required. However, if the training is provided by a statewide industry association that facilitates training utilizing industry-recognized standards resulting in portable credentials for the skilled trade, or the project is conducted by community college faculty or staff, the financial assistance is a grant or forgivable loan for the full cost. An apprenticeship sponsor may apply to EDA for financial assistance for apprenticeship programs in Iowa for apprentices who will be employed at Iowa worksites. Repeals Code sections relating to EDA's duty to coordinate the job training program and allocation of funding to community colleges, as that no longer applies to the newly required agreements and available funding. Repeals Code sections relating to the business network training and the high technology apprenticeship program. Provides transition provisions, stating that financial assistance awards through the job training program under agreements between community colleges and businesses entered into prior to July 1, 2014, remain in effect. Loan payments, repayments, recaptures, and any other moneys accruing pursuant to those agreements will be transferred to the Job Training Fund, as amended by the bill. Proposed Governor's bill. In Economic Growth. Senate subcommittee: Dotzler, Bowman, Chelgren. House subcommittee: Baltimore, Jorgensen, Wood.

House File 2041 Requires various actions by applicants/participants in certain public assistance programs administered by the Department of Human Services: Family Investment Program, food assistance, and medical assistance (Medicaid). Requires, as conditions of program eligibility, an applicant/participant to provide a work history and participate in various work-related activities, possess a high school diploma or equivalent or be engaged in activities to attain such diploma, and be subject to random drug testing. Introduced, referred to Human Resources. Subcommittee, Forristall, Fry, and Murphy. Sponsored by Heartsill.

House File 2024
Provides for a task force to develop common statewide service delivery districts. Introduced, referred to State Government. Subcommittee, Costello, Hein, and Prichard. Sponsored by Heartsill.

House File 2011 Increases the state minimum hourly wage and provides subsequent increases by the same percentage as the increase in federal social security benefits. Minimum hourly wage increases to $7.75 on July 1, 2014; $8.25 on Jan. 1, 2015; $9.00 on July 1, 2015; and $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2016. Increases state minimum hourly wage for employees employed for less than 90 days to $6.85 on July 1, 2014; $7.35 on Jan. 1, 2015; $8.10 on July 1, 2015; and $9.20 on Jan. 1, 2016. Beginning in 2016, increases the state minimum hourly wage annually on July 1 by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits. Introduced, referred to Labor. Subcommittee, Forristall, Murphy, and Watts. Sponsored by Murphy, M. Smith, Mascher, T. Taylor, R. Olson, Meyer, Gaskill, Staed, Kearns, Ourth, Anderson, Thede, H. Miller, Wolfe, Dawson, Steckman, Hunter, Stutsman, Wessel-Kroeschell, Lensing, and Hanson.

House Study Bill 512 Allows private employers to grant a preference in hiring and promotion to veterans and certain spouses. Proposed Committee on Veterans Affairs bill by Chairperson Alons. Subcommittee, Stanerson, Costello, and Staed. Passed subcommittee.
Committee Assignments
Click here to view members of workforce-related committees and their corresponding workforce development region.

This update is a bi-weekly publication intended to share information and resources regarding legislative activities, events, and bills related to workforce issues in Iowa. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Stacie Bendixen at sbendixen@sppg.com or 515-237-0338.