Establishing a pandemic response review committee

This bill establishes a pandemic response review committee. The membership of the committee shall consist of the chairs and ranking members of the house and senate state government committees, the attorney general or the attorney general’s designee, the auditor of state or the auditor of state’s designee, a chair of the division of infectious disease of the department of internal medicine of the university of Iowa, and such other persons as the legislative council deems necessary. Members of the committee shall be appointed in accordance with gender and political affiliation balance requirements. Members shall also elect a chair and vice chair. The bill requires members to be appointed and the committee to meet as soon as practicable during the 2021 legislative interim. Thereafter, the committee shall meet every four years and members shall be appointed by January of each year in which the committee is required to meet. The bill requires the committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the state of Iowa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate instances of profiteering and negligence in the private sector. The investigation shall be led by an investigator from the attorney general’s office and an investigator from the auditor of state’s office. The bill allows the committee to call witnesses, administer oaths, and issue subpoenas, and cite for contempt, subject to approval by the legislative council. The committee shall submit its findings to the general assembly by March 1, 2022. The bill requires the committee to convene and hear the reports of working groups on public health, education, workforce development, COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccine distribution, federal and state COVID-19 relief appropriations, and state contracts and services. The committee shall submit a report making recommendations on what changes should be made to increase pandemic preparedness in the state to the general assembly by December 31, 2022. The report shall be reviewed every four years. The bill requires the legislative services agency to provide administrative assistance to the committee.