Relating to matters involving the state board of regents and the institutions the state board of regents governs, and including retroactive applicability provisions

USE OF IOWA TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (ICN) WAIVER.9 is amended to exempt regents institutions from a requirement that they certify to the telecommunications and technology commission that they are or intend to be part of the network, and to use the network for all video, data, and voice requirements unless they petition the commission for a waiver; and from a provision requiring such institutions to petition the commission for a waiver. The bill allows a regents institution to become part of and use the ICN for its requirements as determined by the regents institution. CLOSED MEETINGS —— REGENTS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.5(1)(1) is amended to include any health care facility operated by a regents institution under the definition of public hospital. The provision allows a governmental body to hold a closed session, following a public vote, in order to discuss patient care quality and process improvement initiatives or to discuss marketing and pricing strategies or similar proprietary information in a meeting of a public hospital. CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS.7 to permit a public record to be kept confidential if the record is proprietary intellectual property owned or held under contractual agreements by the state board of regents or a regents university. STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS —— COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.2(10)(k) is amended to provide that the activities of a regents institution or a school corporation are exempt from the provisions prohibiting competition with private enterprise whether the activities take place on or off campus; and the activities include health care and related services to patients and visitors by the university of Iowa, and goods, products, or professional services provided to the public in furtherance of the institution’s or school’s mission. Current law exempts services provided at the university, and requires that the goods, products, and services be incidental to the school’s teaching, research, and extension missions. LICENSURE —— ELECTRICIANS EMPLOYED BY REGENTS INSTITUTIONS.22(2) is amended to exempt electricians employed by regents institutions from the electricians and electrical contractor licensure requirements of Code chapter 103. ADVERSE HEALTH CARE INCIDENTS —— NOTIFICATION. Code chapter 135P provides a process by which a health care provider, or a health care provider with a health facility, may confidentially discuss an adverse health care incident with a patient. The bill includes the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics in the definition of health facility and extends from 180 days to one year the time within which the notice of an offer to engage in an open discussion must be sent to the patient. The bill also provides that if an adverse health care incident occurs, the facility may on its own provide such notice, and that a facility may designate a person or class of persons to provide the patient with written notice of the desire of the facility to open discussion with the patient. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT —— REGENTS UNIVERSITIES.9(36) is amended to eliminate obsolete language and to require that the board annually evaluate the student outcomes assessment program rather than the effectiveness of the plans. INVESTMENTS BY REGENTS INSTITUTIONS.14(3) is amended to permit funds belonging to a regents institution to be invested in private enterprises if such investment is done in furtherance of the institution’s mission. REGENTS RESOURCE CENTERS.9(22), that requires the board to assist a nonprofit organization located in Sioux City in the creation of a northwest Iowa regents resource center.28 is amended to eliminate references to the regents resource centers and to their ability to transfer moneys between centers. OWNERSHIP OR EQUITY INTERESTS.4 to authorize any regents institution to use its retained earnings, or the retained earnings of an affiliated entity, to acquire, hold, and dispose of ownership or equity interests in entities that arise from research and development efforts conducted at such institution in accordance with Code chapter 262B. SPECIAL SCHOOLS —— FEES AND PAYMENTS.3 is amended to direct the state board of regents to set the admission fees for nonresident students of the school for the deaf. The bill also eliminates a provision that requires the fees to be paid in advance. Currently, the fee is not less than the average expense of resident pupils.4 is amended to eliminate reference to transportation costs for students enrolled in the school for the deaf. These provisions also apply to the braille and sight saving school. The bill makes conforming changes. REPORTS.44 requires state departments, agencies, boards, and institutions receiving federal funds or any other funds from any public or private sources to submit a written report within days after receipt of the funds to the director of the department of management. The bill requires the state board of regents to submit the written report on a quarterly basis in the format specified by the director of the department of management. 2019 Iowa Acts, chapter 135, section 9, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), is amended to require that the financial report the state board of regents must submit to the general assembly and the legislative services agency monthly shall instead be submitted quarterly.7 (local food and farm program coordinator’s report to the governor and general assembly). REPEALS. The bill repeals several Code provisions.5, which requires the superintendent of the school for the deaf to certify to the director of the department of administrative services the amounts due from counties. The provision requires the director to credit the amounts due to the general fund of the state, and to charge the amount to the proper county. The bill makes conforming changes.7, which require the superintendent of the school for the deaf to send a duplicate copy of the certification to the affected county auditors, who shall collect and pay the amounts due into the county treasury; and require the county auditor to pass it to the credit of the state, and issue a notice to the county treasurer authorizing transfer of the amount to the general state revenue.7 also provides a penalty against counties that fail to pay the amounts due. The bill makes a conforming change. The bill repeals Code chapter 256G, which provides legislative intent, and requires the university of northern Iowa and the Cedar Falls school district to develop a student transfer policy for the research and development school, makes the board of regents the governing entity of the research and development school, makes the department of education the accreditation agency for the school, and creates an advisory council. The bill makes conforming changes.