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Rep. Upmeyer: “Getting down to business” in second week of session

“My clerk (Victoria Fillipi) and I enjoy time out on the Iowa House floor,” Rep. Upmeyer said.

The following is a legislative update from GOP Rep. Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake, Speaker of the Iowa House:

It is the second week of session and we are getting down to business. It has been fun being out on the floor; I get the chance to engage more with my colleagues and spend time with visitors who stop by. As Speaker, my day was filled with scheduled meetings, as many of you know. This session I get to enjoy more casual meetings. This week has been filled with meetings as legislators and stakeholders work on their legislative priorities. In this newsletter, I have included some of the most significant proposals which would make Iowa schools safer.

This week, Governor Reynolds announced plans to create a School Safety Bureau headed by the Department of Public Safety and Department of Education. The Bureau will provide resources and work closely with Iowa’s school districts and law enforcement to keep students, faculty and staff safe such as:

• Consistent training for rapid response
• An anonymous reporting tool
• Law enforcement assistance

House Republicans appreciate the Governor’s attention to this important issue and look forward to working with her on it during the session.

During previous sessions, House Republicans have worked hard to make school safety a priority. Here are some examples of legislation that House Republicans have passed to keep students, faculty, and staff safe while at school:

Resources for security updates
In 2019, the Legislature passed an extension of the SAVE penny that is used for school infrastructure and property tax relief. As part of that legislation, House Republicans fought to ensure that school boards and administrators are able to use these resources for school safety measures and prioritizes upgrades like secure entrances, security cameras, and other safety enhancements.

Emergency Plans
In 2018, the Legislature passed legislation requiring schools to develop emergency response plans in coordination with local law enforcement. Many schools already had a strategy in place, but it encouraged another look at plans. This legislation also required teachers to go through active shooter training once a year so that if a situation ever arose, schools and staff are prepared to respond.

Flexibility
Over the last several sessions, House Republicans have championed efforts to provide school districts with unprecedented flexibility over the funding they receive from the state. As part of these efforts, House Republicans made it easier for schools to direct more resources towards hiring school security personnel. With greater flexibility, school boards now have the ability to address their own unique safety and security challenges in a way that best meets their district’s needs.

Teacher misconduct
In 2019, House Republicans also passed legislation that protects students from known predators in schools who move undetected from district to district by requiring administrators to report employee misconduct in a timely way.

House Republicans will continue to look for opportunities this session to ensure the safety of Iowa’s students, faculty, and staff while at school.

I would once again like to thank all of my constituents back home who have allowed me the privilege and honor to serve as their voice in the Iowa House.

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