Bill Text: IA SSB3031 | 2021-2022 | 89th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A bill for an act to relating to the Iowa telecommunications and technology commission contract approval process.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-18 - Subcommittee: Goodwin, Bisignano, and Williams. [SSB3031 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2021-SSB3031-Introduced.html

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Senate Study Bill 3031 - Introduced
SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____
BY (PROPOSED IOWA
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION BILL)
A BILL FOR
An Act to relating to the Iowa telecommunications and
technology commission contract approval process.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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S.F. _____ H.F. _____
Section 1. Section 8D.11, subsection 1, Code 2022, is
amended to read as follows:
1. a. The commission may purchase, lease, and improve
property, equipment, and services for telecommunications
for public and private agencies and may dispose of property
and equipment when not necessary for its purposes. The
commission may enter into a contract for the purchase, lease,
or improvement of property, equipment, or services for
telecommunications pursuant to this subsection in an amount
not greater than the contract limitation amount without prior
authorization by a constitutional majority of each house of
the general assembly, approval by the legislative council
if the general assembly is not in session, or the approval
of the executive council as provided pursuant to paragraph
“b” . A contract entered into under this subsection for an
amount exceeding the contract limitation amount shall require
prior authorization or approval by the general assembly, the
legislative council, or the executive council as provided in
this subsection . The commission shall not issue any bonding
or other long-term financing arrangements as defined in
section 12.30, subsection 1 , paragraph “b” . Real or personal
property to be purchased by the commission through the use
of a financing agreement shall be done in accordance with
the provisions of section 12.28 , provided, however, that the
commission may purchase property, equipment, or services for
telecommunications pursuant to a financing agreement in an
amount not greater than the contract limitation amount without
prior authorization by a constitutional majority of each house
of the general assembly, approval by the legislative council
if the general assembly is not in session, or the approval
of the executive council as provided pursuant to paragraph
“b” . A contract entered into under this subsection for an
amount exceeding the contract limitation amount shall require
prior authorization or approval by the general assembly, the
legislative council, or the executive council as provided in
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S.F. _____ H.F. _____
this subsection .
b. Approval by the executive council as provided under
paragraph “a” shall only be permitted if the contract for which
the commission is seeking approval is necessary as the result
of circumstances constituting a natural disaster or a threat to
homeland security.
c. For purposes of this subsection , “contract limitation
amount” means two million dollars. However, beginning July
1, 2008, and on each succeeding July 1, the director shall
adjust the contract limitation amount to be applicable for the
twelve-month period commencing on September 1 of the year in
which the adjustment is made. The new contract limitation
amount shall be published annually as a notice in the Iowa
administrative bulletin prior to September 1. The adjusted
contract limitation amount shall be calculated by applying
the percentage change in the consumer price index for all
urban consumers for the most recent available twelve-month
period published in the federal register by the United States
department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, to the
existing contract limitation amount as an increase or decrease,
rounded to the nearest dollar. The calculation and publication
of the contract limitation amount by the director are exempt
from the provisions of chapter 17A .
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
This bill strikes the contract limitation amount established
for the Iowa telecommunications and technology commission,
which oversees the Iowa communications network. Currently, any
contract that would exceed this limitation amount requires the
prior authorization of a constitutional majority of each house
of the general assembly, approval by the legislative council
if the general assembly is not in session, or approval of the
executive council as a result of circumstances constituting a
natural disaster or threat to homeland security.
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