Relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of school boards, school districts, the department of education, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and children’s residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards

This bill relates to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of school boards, school districts, the department of education, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and children’s residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards. DIVISION I —— BOND SALES. Current law provides that when public bonds are offered for sale, the official in charge of the bond issue shall give notice of the time and place of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any further information which the official deems pertinent by publishing an advertisement in a newspaper. The bill modifies this provision to require the official in charge of the bond issue to give notice of the sale by publishing the time and place of sale, the amount to be offered for sale, and any additional information the official deems pertinent to the bond issue in at least one electronic or written publication with nationwide circulation that is recognized for providing information regarding the sale of public bonds.14 provides that, notwithstanding contrary provisions of Code chapter (authorization and sale of public bonds), a public body authorized to issue bonds or other obligations may elect to receive bids to purchase such bonds or other obligations by means of electronic communication, a proprietary bidding procedure, or by facsimile transmission to a location deemed appropriate by the governing body.3 (sealed and open bids) to the notwithstanding provision. DIVISION II —— SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.6 provides a process to fill vacancies occurring among the members of a school board. This process requires, among other things, the publication in a newspaper of notice stating that the board intends to fill the vacancy by appointment. The bill authorizes notice to be provided by publication on the board’s internet site as well. The bill authorizes the board of directors of a school district and the superintendent, in certain specified circumstances, to use electronic signatures and electronic contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D (electronic transactions) and facsimile signatures when entering into contracts to hire support personnel. Current law requires the board of directors of each public school district to administer the pledge of allegiance in grades through each school day. The bill modifies this provision to require each public school district to administer the pledge of allegiance in grades through each school day. The bill authorizes the president of the board of directors of a school district, or the president’s designee, to enter into original contracts or electronic contracts pursuant to Code chapter 554D and sign, using an original, facsimile, or electronic signature, all school district payments drawn and authorize electronic funds transfers as provided by law. DIVISION III —— DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORK GROUP. The bill requires the department of education to convene and provide administrative support to a health care-related training for school personnel group. The bill requires the group to review and develop a plan to ensure that Iowa educators have the health care training necessary to perform their duties and to submit recommendations for delivery and implementation of training required under state law or rule. The bill specifies the members the group shall include. The bill requires the group to submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the general assembly, the governor, and the state board of education by December 1, 2022. DIVISION IV —— STATEWIDE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING. Current law provides that bonds issued under Code chapter 423F (statewide school infrastructure funding) on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be sold at a public or private sale without notice and hearing. Current law also provides that notice of the sale shall be published in a newspaper. The bill provides that these provisions do not apply to the refinancing of bonds. DIVISION V —— COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD. Current law provides that each county and each city having an assessor shall have a conference board. Current law also provides that in counties, the conference board shall consist of the mayors of all incorporated cities in the county whose property is assessed by the county assessor, one representative from the board of directors of each high school district of the county, who is a resident of the county, said board of directors appointing said representative for a one-year term and notifying the clerk of the conference board as to their representative, and members of the board of supervisors. The bill modifies this provision to require that the conference board consist of the mayors or a designated member of a city council, along with the representatives already provided. The bill also strikes the requirement that the board of directors of a high school district appoint a representative for a one-year term and notify the clerk of the conference board as to the identity of the representative. Current law provides that, in cities having an assessor, the conference board shall consist of the members of the city council, school board, and county board of supervisors. The bill replaces this reference to school board with the board of directors of each high school district in the city. The bill establishes that, in any action taken by the conference board, the board of directors of each high school district in the city or one representative from the board of directors of each high school district of the county shall constitute one voting unit. The bill also establishes that, in any action taken by the conference board, if a city or a county contains only one high school district, the members of or the representative of the board of directors of the high school district, as applicable, shall constitute one voting unit. DIVISION VI —— SEIZURE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. Commencing with the school year beginning July 1, 2023, the bill requires school districts and charter schools to have at least one school employee at each school who has met the training requirements necessary to administer or assist with the self-administration of seizure rescue medications and electrical stimulation using vagus nerve stimulator magnets. DIVISION VII —— CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. The bill provides that for children requiring admission to a residential treatment facility, the residential treatment facility shall complete and provide to the school district of residence the documentation necessary to seek Medicaid reimbursement for eligible services.