Creating an Iowa institute for public policy

This bill provides for the establishment of the Iowa institute for public policy as a nonprofit corporation for the purpose of assisting policymakers in this state in making informed judgments about important long-term issues facing the state and to improve the effectiveness of government in the state. The institute is governed by a 12-member board of directors. The membership of the board consists of two state representatives, two state senators, two members appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the president of the university of northern Iowa, one member appointed by the president of the university of Iowa, one member appointed by the president of Iowa state university of science and technology, one member appointed by the Iowa association of independent colleges and universities, one member appointed by the Iowa association of community college presidents, and the director of the legislative services agency. The bill provides that the board shall appoint co-chairpersons of the board, one who is a state representative and one who is a state senator. The bill provides for meetings of the board and for adoption of bylaws for the board and the institute. The bill provides that the board shall employ an executive director who shall be responsible for all operations of the institute, including the hiring and supervision of staff. The bill provides that employees of the institute or board shall be considered state employees for purposes of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system, state health and dental plans, and other state employee benefits plans and the Iowa tort claims Act. The bill also provides that the institute may be funded from public and private sources.15, requiring the executive council to establish a public policy research foundation, is repealed.