GAC Legislative Meeting Agenda

The ILA Government Affairs Committee looks forward to seeing you at our annual Legislative Reception, this Tuesday, March 11. We'll meet at 2:30 p.m. in Room 310 of the State Library Building for the briefing (see agenda below). After that, we'll hike over to the State Capitol to lobby our legislators.

We should be ready to head for home by about 6:00 p.m. With DST coming early this year, we should be on the road well before dark. The forecast for Tuesday is excellent: Temps in the mid-50s and sunshine! I plan on driving down from Waterloo with a friend from Cedar Falls and could take one more--send me an email and we'll make arrangements. At least one of the LSAs will be providing vans; contact your local LSA for details.

If you've never been to a legislative reception, you really should try to make it. Seeing the State Library Building, the State Capitol, and the Law Library would by themselves justify a trip. And, no one wants to miss an opportunity to chat with legislators while munching hors d'oeuvres.

ILA Legislative Reception Briefing – 3/11/08
2:30 p.m.
310 Ola Babcock Miller (State Library) Building
Reception: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
State Capitol Law Library

Barbara Peterson, ILA President-welcome and introductions.

Mary Wegner, State Librarian-review of proposed funding reductions and how they will harm the SLI, the LSAs, and programs funded by direct aid.

Amy Campbell/Craig Patterson, ILA Lobbyists-review of legislative issues, focus on reductions proposed for SLI, LSAs, and Enrich Iowa. How to talk to your legislators.

Mike Dargan, Governmental Affairs Committee chair-introduce GAC members who will assist in finding legislators not at the reception, explain how reception works, reinforce our opposition and dismay for proposed reductions in state funding for library services.

Restoring state funding for library services to FY08 levels is our Primary Goal!

Top Priorities: Library Issues 2008
Þ Provide statewide access to additional high-demand databases, such as test preparation software through the State Library of Iowa.
Þ Increase funding for Enrich Iowa to raise reimbursement rates of the popular and heavily used Open Access program.
Þ Increase funding for the Library Service Areas (LSAs) to support the Early Childhood Initiative and encourage family literacy, and provide valuable support services to Iowa’s libraries.
Þ Support full implementation of the teacher librarian requirement and the end to the two-year waiver period.
Þ Preserve hometown governance in Iowa public libraries by maintaining support for the local decision-making.

Bills of Interest – As of March 9, 2008

HF 2396 & SF 2176 - Cultural Affairs Changes (House Floor/Senate Floor)
Requires the Historical Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) create a digital collection of records for research purposes and make the collection available to the public. Requires DCA establish a statewide culture, history, arts, and tourism program, and to implement the program by creating regional committees for the coordination of cultural efforts. Establishes a Civil War Advisory Committee to help the Historical Division plan a sesquicentennial commemoration of Iowa's role in the American civil war. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Miller (Floor Manager); Sen. Black (Floor Manager) Position: Monitor
Amendment: By Sen. Black: Takes out "Tourism" from the regions (because there are already tourism regions) and replaces it with "Teams" so that the CHAT acronym remains (Culture, History & Arts Teams).

HF 2516 - Property Tax Changes (House Ways & Means Committee)
Division I of the bill makes the assessment limitations of residential, agricultural, and commercial property mutually dependent by limiting the percentage increase in all of those classes of property to the percentage increase of that class of property that is the lowest percentage increase under the allowable (4 percent) limit. Division II of the bill requires that if an equalization order issued to an assessing jurisdiction that is a percentage increase in assessed values, then property taxes are limited to the amount certified in the previous year, unless the city or county adopts a resolution declaring that it does not intend to reduce its levy rates to compensate for the increase in valuation due to the equalization orders. Division III of the bill provides that if an increase in allowable growth causes an increase in property taxes the state shall pay that increase rather than property owners. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Not yet assigned Position: Undecided

HSB 656 & SF 2194 - Oversight of Nonprofits (House Government Oversight Committee/Senate Floor)
This bill creates a charities oversight fund and establishes an appropriation from the fund to the attorney general to support the oversight, including regulation, of persons organized or doing business in this state on a nonprofit basis (domestic nonprofit corporations and domestic charitable trusts). The fund would be supported by moneys collected by the secretary of state from domestic nonprofit corporations who must file a report each odd=numbered year with the secretary. The amount of the fee, determined by the secretary in consultation with the attorney general, would be based on the amount necessary to support the attorney general's efforts. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Swaim (Chair), Lensing & Baudler; Sen. Connolly (Floor Manager) Position: Monitor

HSB 715 & SSB 3236 - Combined Corporate Reporting (House Ways & Means Committee/Senate Ways & Means Committee)
This bill is a major revenue raiser (~$70-75 million) in the Governor's budget proposal, however legislators do not believe they have the votes to pass this proposal. This bill requires that the net income of affiliated groups of corporations engaged in a unitary business be computed on a combined return basis for corporate tax purposes if the group meets the requirements for filing a consolidated return for federal tax purposes. The affiliated group would include corporations with common ownership whereby one or more corporations own 80 percent or more of another corporation. The bill would require that one Iowa corporate income tax return be filed that would include all unitary members of an affiliated group. Any nonunitary member that is subject to Iowa tax would file its own separate corporate return. Only Iowa sales of those corporations doing business in Iowa would be included in the numerator of the Iowa sales ratio. The bill also provides that only those corporations doing business in Iowa are jointly and severally liable for the tax of the combined return. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Shomshor (Chair), Reasoner & Sands; Sen. Bolkcom (Chair), McCoy & McKibben Position: Monitor

SSB 3058 - Tax Code Clean-Up (Senate Ways & Means Committee)
Allows a privately owned library or art gallery being used for public purposes (and not for private profit) to receive a property tax exemption. Effective 7/1/2008. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Sen. McCoy (Chair), Dotzler & Putney Position: Monitor

SSB 3164 - Open Records & Public Meetings (Senate Floor)
A new bill number will be assigned. Makes many changes to Iowa's open records and public meetings laws, and clarifies many areas of the law that have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. Library patron records are exempted from open records laws, unless the custodian of the record (the library director) permits the access. This bill adds a sentence to the exemption of library patron records clarifying that the custodian of the records may release records of a minor to the minor's parent. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Sen. Connolly (Floor Manager) Position: Monitor
Amendment: SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT: Took out library section.

SSB 3243 - Local Income Surcharge (Senate Ways & Means Committee)
This bill authorizes a city that is not part of a combined incorporated area to impose a local income surcharge after an election at which it is approved by a majority of those voting. A combined incorporated area is an area that includes all contiguous cities. The bill contains several provisions and stipulates that revenues would need to be deposited into a property tax relief fund for purposes of providing property tax credits, and the remaining revenues, if any, are to be deposited into the city general fund to be used for any lawful purposes of the city. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Sens. Quirmbach (Chair), McCoy & Angelo Position: Monitor

DEAD Bills – Bills ILA was tracking that died in the 1st Legislative Funnel
Bear in mind that some of these dead bills may have an identical companion that is still alive.
HF 2442 - Early Childhood Iowa Advisory Council (DEAD) Creates this Council to support the development of an early childhood system for Iowa by integrating early care, health and education systems. Changes the name of the Community Empowerment "Gifts & Grants Account" to "First Years First Account." Council membership is open to any organization that touches the lives of children zero to age five. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Petersen (Chair), Mascher & Roberts Position: Monitor

HSB 654 - Open Records & Public Meetings (DEAD) Senate version is alive. Makes many changes to Iowa's open records and public meetings laws, and clarifies many areas of the law that have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. Library patron records are exempted from open records laws, unless the custodian of the record (the library director) permits the access. This bill adds a sentence to the exemption of library patron records clarifying that the custodian of the records may release records of a minor to the minor's parent. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Lensing (Chair), Abdul-Samad, Jacoby, Boal & Jacobs Position: Monitor

HSB 682 - Lifelong Learning Accounts Program (DEAD) This bill directs the treasurer of state, in coordination with the department of workforce development, to establish a lifelong learning accounts program within the Iowa educational savings plan trust. The purpose of the program is to encourage employees and their employers to save for worker training and retraining. The bill provides a refundable tax credit for the employer for contributions to an employee's account equal to 50 percent of the first $500 of the employer's contributions made during the employer's tax year. The tax credit may be used to reduce the tax liability under the individual and corporate income, franchise, insurance premiums, and moneys and credits taxes. The bill applies to tax years ending after the effective date of the bill. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Rep. Bailey (Chair), Ford & May Position: Monitor

SF 2107 - Video Restrictions/Minors (DEAD) Requires public libraries that receive state funds to adopt policies allowing a child under 17 to check out only G, PG, and PG-13 rated videos. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Sen. Kreiman (Chair), Connolly & Zaun Position: Oppose

SSB 3068 & HSB 577 - Statewide Preschool Program (DEAD/DEAD) Makes several changes to the statewide preschool program, including requiring a child to be age four on or before September 15 of a school year to enroll in the program, striking authority for monthly proration of preschool foundation aid for school districts that are approved to participate for each month after September 1 that the programming begins, and reallocating and increasing the FY2008 amount designated for purposes of the pay-for-performance program to an early childhood professional development system. Also provide that the receipt of funding for purposes of the program, the need for funding for the program, or the enrollment count of eligible students cannot be used to grant supplemental aid to or establish modified allowable growth for a school district. Subcommittee/Floor Manager: Sen. Appel (Chair), Schmitz & Zieman; Rep. Mascher (Chair), Gayman & Tymeson Position: Monitor
Top Priorities: Library Issues 2008
Þ Provide statewide access to additional high-demand databases, such as test preparation software through the State Library of Iowa.
Þ Increase funding for Enrich Iowa to raise reimbursement rates of the popular and heavily used Open Access program.
Þ Increase funding for the Library Service Areas (LSAs) to support the Early Childhood Initiative and encourage family literacy, and provide valuable support services to Iowa’s libraries.
Þ Support full implementation of the teacher librarian requirement and the end to the two-year waiver period.
Þ Preserve hometown governance in Iowa public libraries by maintaining support for the local decision-making.
Important Dates of the 2008 Legislative Session
Þ March 7th, 2008 – First funnel deadline. A House bill must have been approved by the committee of jurisdiction in the House in order to remain alive (and vice versa). Bills exempt from funnel deadlines include any bills in the Committees on Appropriations, Oversight and Ways & Means.
Þ March 11th, 2008 – ILA’s Legislative Day at the Iowa State Capitol.
Þ March 28th, 2008 – Second funnel deadline. A House bill must have been approved by the committee of jurisdiction in the Senate in order to remain alive (and vice versa). Bills exempt from funnel deadlines include any bills in the Committees on Appropriations, Oversight and Ways & Means.
Þ April 22nd, 2008 – 100th Calendar Day of the 2008 legislative session. Per Diems for legislators expire.



Talking with your legislator:
Legislators want to hear from YOU! You are the expert on library issues and you can tell them how legislation passed in Des Moines affects their local libraries.
--State your goal: For example, help in restoring the State Library of Iowa or Library Service Area budget to FY08 levels.
--List one or two supporting points: Reductions in State Library Funding will stop the expansion of access to online databases; Reductions in LSA funding will hinder the early childhood reading program.
--Personalize your message with a story about why this issue is important to you and
your library. Especially useful would be descriptions of programs funded by Enrich Iowa funding.
--Thank them for their time and support and invite them to your library.

ILA Legislative Day Pre-Registration

Hello--

The 2008 Iowa Library Association Legislative Day is nearly upon us! Please join your library friends and colleagues in Des Moines next Tuesday, March 11 for the activities:

2:30-3:45 p.m. Legislative Briefing, Room 310, State Library Building
4:00-6:00 p.m. Legislative Reception, Capitol Building - State Law Library

State of Iowa parking ramp across from the State Historical Building is available. Enter from Grand Avenue

Please visit the ILA website and pre-register!http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/calendardisplayevent.cfm?event=197119&date=11-Mar-2008

We'll be sending out the Legislative Briefing agenda later in the week. This has been a tough year for Iowa's libraries; a big turnout would help to impress upon our legislators the dire consequences of the proposed cuts to library funding.

I look forward to seeing you there!

ILA Lobby from Home Day Looms!

Fellow Librarians:

Lobby from Home day is fast approaching. Please think about what you would like to say to your state representative and senator when you contact them Wednesday, February 27. The ILA Legislative Agenda is posted in the Legislative section of the ILA website. Detailed Lobby from Home Day information may also be found on the website.

Proposed cuts to state funding for library services have been the focus of our attention since their announcement in January. For an archive of the budget-related action alerts, as well as links to various helpful documents and tools, browse to my blog.

Other important links--especially for talking points--include Impact of Direct Aid Cuts and How you can Respond.

For contact information, try Governor Culver's response form, the Iowa House Email Addresses, Iowa Senate Email Addresses, and the Iowa General Assembly page.

If you have questions please contact Government Affairs Committee members:

Mike Dargan, Cedar Falls & Waterloo Public Libraries Chair, MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org
Sheryl Bissen, Grinnell College, bissen@grinnell.eduLinda Fox, Oskaloosa Public Library, linda.fox@opl.oskaloosa.orgDawn Hayslett, Burlington Public Library, larrydawnhay@msn.com
Amy Paulus, University of Iowa, amy-fuls@uiowa.eduDarlene Richardson, Leon Public Library, leonpl@grm.net
Duncan Stewart, University of Iowa, duncanstewart@iowalibraryassociation.orgCarlette Washington-Hoagland, University of Iowa, carlette-w-hoagland@uiowa.edu
Michael Wright, University of Iowa, michael-wright@uiowa.edu
Iowa Library Association Lobbyists
Amy Campbell, amy@campbell-patterson.comCraig Patterson, craig@campbell-patterson.com

I'll be sending out an ILA Lobby From Home Day reminder late Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Until then, consider getting your ducks lined up a day or so ahead. Determine who you will contact, find their contact information, then form your message. We care about the ILA Legislative Agenda and are also concerned about the impact of the governor's proposed budget cuts.

And remember: Be polite, but be adamant. The 2 million patrons Iowa's libraries deserve strong support from state government.

While you're at it, the Government Affairs Committee would like to see samples of your messages. If you're willing to help us, please take a moment and copy or forward your messages to me, MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org.

Thank-you for your support of Iowa's libraries!

Important URLs:

Lobby from home toolkit: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/Lobbyfromhome2008.pdf
ILA Legislative Agenda: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/ILA%202008%20Legislative%20Agenda.pdf
ILA Legislative Page: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=13
ILA Website: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/index.cfm-- Michael J. DarganChair, Government Affairs CommitteeIowa Library Association
hawkeyelibrarian.blogspot.com

Waterloo Courier Guest Opinion

Check out my guest opinion in last Sunday's Waterloo Courier. I'm finding that newspaper editors tend to be bibliophiles--and partial to libraries. Proof can be found in last week's Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, and Des Moines Register editorials.

Let's keep up the pressure on the governor. According to Brian Cooper, editor of the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Governor Culver is rethinking his attempt to cut state funding to Iowa's libraries.

If you agree that an 18% cut in state aid to library services is un-called for, express your opinion on the governor's website.

It's important that the governor hear from you, but the ball is in the legislature's court. Be sure to contact your local solon and ask him or her to support Iowa's libraries by restoring library funding to 100% of FY08!

And finally, if I can get a guest opinion supporting Iowa's libraries published in a local newspaper, so can you!

What is he thinking?

The Dubuque Telegraph Herald's lead editoral today, "Culver's plan to cut library funding disappointing," took the governor to task for his proposed cuts to state funding for libraries. The Dubuque piece follows the recent Des Moines Register's article "Resist Cuts to Iowa's Libraries," which is similarly opposed to the governor's plans. As I understand it, each editorial was based on interviews with local librarians who were distressed by the governor's 18% cut to library funding. Congrats and thanks to the librarians of Dubuque and Des Moines!

The Government Affairs Committee will be in Des Moines next week to speak with legislators about library issues. We hope to hear from them that they've already been contacted by constituents who have urged them to resist the governor's proposal. If you haven't already contacted your legislator, visit the legislator locator page, find his or her address, and express your opinion. While you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to give the governor an earful as well!

Thanks again for your support of Iowa's libraries and library users. Please contact me at MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org with comments and suggestions.

WPL Patrons Contact Governor via Blog

Waterloo Public Library computer users see a blog when they open their web browser. Earlier this week, I posted an article alerting them to the governor's proposal to slash state funding for library services.

At today's AEA267 legislative forum one of the speakers stepped to the microform, waved a printout of the article, and asked her legislators what they were going to do about it!

It looks like the will is there to resist the governor's cuts. However, we'll have to keep the pressure up. If you get a chance, be sure to contact the governor via his web form. You'll also want to contact your local legislators and ask them to do their best to save funding for Enrich Iowa, the Library Service Areas, and the State Library!

If anyone is interested in learning how to setup a blog to communicate with library computer users, send me an email at MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org or call 319 833 9118 and ask for Mike.

Fellow Librarians:

The First Edition of the ILA Advocacy Hotline is now online. This issue of the Hotline is an excellent resource for librarians wanting to see the details of the proposed cuts to state funding for library services. The newsletter also contains links to resources useful to library advocates.

Monday's Des Moines Register editorial, "Resist Cuts to Iowa's Libraries," was a major coup. However, now's not the time to let up. The state's budget is tight and appears to be growing tighter. We need as much input as possible--from patrons as well as librarians--if we're to get the cuts rescinded. Let's not lose our momentum!

We therefore ask that you contact the governor via his website form. If you agree that an 18% cut in funding for library services, while the rest of the budget increases by 6%, is unacceptable, tell him so. Remember: be polite, but be adamant.

The governor's representatives contend that their proposal is just a starting point and that the legislature is free to amend it as they see fit. That puts the ball squarely in our court: Contact your local legislators and let them know the impact of the cuts on your library's budget. A scenario describing how the cuts to Enrich Iowa funding will impact individual libraries can be found on the ILA website. Please use it to support your argument.

This weekend I will once again attend our local (AEA 267) legislator forum and will once again share my opinions with our local senators and representatives. I encourage you to do the same. When the time comes for public input, be polite, but be adamant, as you tell your legislators precisely how much their library-using constituents stand to lose if the 18% budget cut is not rolled back.

Our efforts thus far have generated lots of positive feedback--especially from legislators. However, adjournment is a long way away, the budget is tight, and we must keep up the pressure. Please let the governor and your local legislator know how you feel about cuts to funding for library services. And it wouldn't hurt to add that about 60% of their constituents are regular library users.

Thanks for staying with us. Please contact me by phone (319 833 9118) or email with questions or comments.

Useful Hyperlinks:

Find your legislator: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/
Contact the Governor: http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/
Advocacy Hotline: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/AdvocacyHotlineJanuary272008.pdf
Impact of cuts to Enrich Iowa: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/725%20000%20cut%20to%20DSA.pdf
"Resist Cuts to Iowa's Libraries": http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801280303
-- Michael J. Dargan
GAC Chairperson
Iowa Library Association
MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org
319 833 9118