James Q. Lynch, CR Gazette –
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, March 6, 2012:
BIRDS OF A FEATHER House members approved a bill that requires the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, along with public and private partners, to conduct a multi-year study to determine the effectiveness of stocking first-generation wild pheasants in the state. The legislation also requires a study to determine the economic impact of pheasant hunting in the state, focusing on the impact to rural and small communities.
STEM REGIONAL HUBS: The Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council has announced the release of a request for proposal (RFP) with the intent of creating six regional STEM networks to promote science, technology, engineering and math education and economic development in communities across the state.
“These six regional hubs will be at the center of elevating STEM education and creating a stronger STEM workforce statewide,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who co-leads the STEM Advisory Council with University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen.
The six regional networks, overseen by local managers, will develop an interwoven STEM community within and across regions, Reynolds said. The regional networks will include representatives of education, business and industry and local governments and will focus on their region’s STEM challenges and opportunities, and how to best meet them.
The RFP bid documents can be found at www.iowamathscience.org/HUB and must be submitted by the end of business April 6.
For more information about the Iowa regional STEM network hub RFP or the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, contact Jeff Weld, executive director, atimsep@uni.edu.
FIGHTING FIGHTER CUTS: Gov. Terry Branstad intends to fight job cuts by the Air Force’s plans to cut 492 positions at the 132nd Fighter Wing headquartered in Des Moines.
The cuts would dramatically alter the ability of the National Guard to respond to emergencies and protect citizens, such as the levee monitoring activities last summer along the Missouri River, he said.
As co-chair of the Council of Governors, Branstad is leading a nationwide effort on behalf of the nation’s governors to ensure that the complete value of the National Guard is reflected in national policy and the Pentagon budget. Branstad appreciates the initial response of the Iowa congressional delegation and will continue to work with them, fellow governors, their adjutants general and the Air Force to find alternative solutions to maximize capabilities at the lowest possible cost.
“To cut this efficient, low-cost, and effective response force in the name of cost savings is short-sighted,” Branstad said. “We should rely on the National Guard more, not less.”
FISHY LEGISLATION: House members unanimously approved legislation that changes the definition of an animal to include fish. The bill also allows people who operate fish farms only can choose to abide by the state’s water quality standards to deal with waste as opposed to complying with the standards the state requires on other animal containment and processing facilities.
REGENTS VS. LAWMAKERS: Democratic Sens. Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls and Bill Dotzler of Waterloo and Reps. Bob Kressig, Deborah Berry and Anesa Kajtazovic are seeking the opinion of the Iowa Attorney General on whether the Board of Regents has the authority to close Price Lab at the University of Northern Iowa.
The legislators’ request includes arguments describing how the Iowa Board of Regents overstepped its authority in deciding to close Price Lab.
Their formal request is part of their effort to determine what options are available for Price Lab School and secure more support from the Legislature for UNI next year.
BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD: House members unanimously approved legislation that allows the best interest of the child in a custody case to include whether one parent knowingly allows a child to be left unsupervised with a person who is required to register as a sex offender or is on the sex offender registry as a sex offender.
SMART GRID: Josh Milberg of the Environmental Defense Fund will speak at noon March 7 in Room 19 at the Capitol on developing and implementing smart grid strategy in the Midwest.
Milberg also is a vice president of Midwest operations for Willdan Energy Solutions, building energy efficiency and smart grid practice. He has significant experience in strategy, finance, environmental policy, economics, and organizational development.
Milberg is a recognized leader in the fields of sustainability, smart grid and electric vehicle deployment strategies. He has presented at international conferences on energy efficiency building retrofit strategies, electric vehicle infrastructure, smart grid, environmentally sustainable economic development, and how cities can develop and implement robust climate plans including the UN Habitat World Urban Forum in 2011.
BIRTH CERTIFICATE: The House unanimously approved legislation that allows families of a stillborn infant the opportunity to have both a birth certificate and a death certificate. The bill does not change the definition of stillbirth — a birth after 20 weeks or of a fetus of at least 350 grams. A death certificate will be issued and families will be able to obtain a “certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.” About 200 stillbirths are reported in Iowa each year, according to the Department of Public Health.
Quote of the Day: “I don’t think in my time here that I have worked on legislation where changing two words within the Iowa Code has meant so much to so many people.” – Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, on SF 2247, changing references to “retardation” in the Iowa Code to “intellectual disabilities”
–Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau
STEM REGIONAL HUBS: The Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council has announced the release of a request for proposal (RFP) with the intent of creating six regional STEM networks to promote science, technology, engineering and math education and economic development in communities across the state.
“These six regional hubs will be at the center of elevating STEM education and creating a stronger STEM workforce statewide,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who co-leads the STEM Advisory Council with University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen.
The six regional networks, overseen by local managers, will develop an interwoven STEM community within and across regions, Reynolds said. The regional networks will include representatives of education, business and industry and local governments and will focus on their region’s STEM challenges and opportunities, and how to best meet them.
The RFP bid documents can be found at www.iowamathscience.org/HUB and must be submitted by the end of business April 6.
For more information about the Iowa regional STEM network hub RFP or the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, contact Jeff Weld, executive director, at imsep@uni.edu.
