Relating to state policies and programs with race or gender requirements

Current law sets forth a state policy to apply affirmative action measures to correct deficiencies in the state employment system where those remedies are appropriate, and sets forth various requirements relating to affirmative action for state and educational entities including but not limited to the department of administrative services (DAS), the state board of regents, the judicial branch, the department of education, school districts, area education agencies, community colleges, and accredited private institutions. 5). The bill also strikes provisions requiring DAS and the board of regents to conduct studies to evaluate employment practices and develop improved methods of dealing with all employment issues related to affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.7(1)(a)). The bill instead requires that DAS’s and the board of regents’ contract compliance policies assure the utilization of Iowa-based businesses and that DAS and the board of regents report on equal opportunity efforts related to the use of Iowa-based businesses. The bill strikes the obligation of school districts, area education agencies, and community colleges to submit an annual report about affirmative action and equal opportunity accomplishments and programs to the director of the department of education. The bill requires the director of the department of education to submit the annual report on fair employment practices to the general assembly, in addition to the department of management as required under current law. The bill strikes the requirement for the director of the Iowa law enforcement academy to promulgate rules related to dealing with gang-affected youth and racial and cultural awareness training, the requirement for a law enforcement agency to provide annual training to officers on issues relating to de-escalation techniques and the prevention of bias, and the requirement for the Iowa law enforcement academy to develop and disseminate related training guidelines. Under current law, a certificate of need is required for a new or changed institutional health service to be offered or developed. The bill removes the contribution of the proposed institutional health service in meeting the needs of racial and ethnic minorities from the list the department of health and human services must consider in determining whether to issue a certificate of need. Under current law, the board of medicine must prioritize processing applications for licensure submitted by a physician, surgeon, and osteopathic physician or surgeon whose practice will primarily involve serving underserved populations, including but not limited to minorities or low-income persons, or persons who live in rural areas. The bill alters this requirement to require the board of medicine to prioritize applications for those who will primarily serve medically underserved communities, including low-income persons, and those living in rural areas. The bill eliminates the academic incentives for minorities program, the minority and women educators enhancement program, and the college-bound program. The bill also removes the provisions limiting the Iowa minority academic grants for economic success program to minorities and strikes the goal of recruiting and retaining women and minorities in math and science education from the math and science education grant program. The bill defines the term “minority” for purposes of the annual report the college student aid commission must submit on the number of minority students and faculty members at a postsecondary institution whose students are eligible for financial assistance under programs administered by the commission. Under federal regulations referenced in the bill, “minority” means African American, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian-Pacific American, or Subcontinent-Asian American. The bill eliminates provisions stating that an applicant for a license to work in health care, architecture, engineering, land surveying, or real estate is not ineligible because of citizenship and that an applicant for certification as a public accountant is not ineligible due to citizenship. The bill repeals the requirement for an application for a grant from a state agency to include a minority impact statement.