AUTISM SUPPORT. Last week, I was the floor manager of the Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust (HITT) fund bill, which allocates $35.4 million from the HITT fund to various health, substance abuse, community empowerment, and correctional programs. Funding for this legislation is a result of revenue that comes to Iowa through the master settlement agreement with tobacco manufacturers, so it does not impact the general fund.

The bill, SF 2417, appropriates a total of $4.4 million to the Department of Human Services to be used for various programs. As the floor manager, I was able to recommend including a $25,000 appropriation for support services for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids is a leader in providing these much needed support services for families who live with this perplexing disorder. As the manager of this bill, I was pleased that I received support from my colleagues in the House, and even the Minority Leader, Christopher Rants, had positive comments about my amendment. In a separate bill, the Iowa Legislature will establish an Autism Council to address the growing problems of autism spectrum disorder.

The bill appropriates $23.8 million to the Department of Public Health for tobacco prevention and control programs, substance abuse programs, and other health related programs.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $4.5 million to the Department of Corrections for community-based correction facilities, the Fort Madison Prison, and to support transitional housing for parolees. There is an increase in this portion of the bill to provide substance abuse treatment through our Courts and Community Based Corrections systems.

The bill appropriates $2.7 million to the Department of Education to fund Community Empowerment and some “before and after school” programs. A $200,000 increase will benefit the before and after school programs, providing for a total of $505,000 in funding. SF 2417 now goes back to the Senate to consider the changes the House made.

TIME-21. The House and Senate approved funding proposals to address the recommendations of the TIME-21 interim committee regarding the shortfall in road and bridge repair and construction funding. TIME-21 was the short name of a study done by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Officially, it is the “Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the Twenty-First Century” report.

We are facing a $1 billion road-funding shortfall, and the bill we approved will bring much needed improvements to our transportation system. Those of us who frequently drive on Highway 30 or I-380 certainly are aware of the need for road repairs. Good roads are critical for public safety, and a safe, reliable transportation system is critical for our economy.

SF 2420, which is based on the recommendations of the TIME-21, will provide an additional $161 million per year for transportation needs, still short of $200 million per year shortfall predicted by The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).

While not changing any registration fees for existing cars or trucks, the bill will raise an additional $161 million after five years from registration and title fees on new vehicles. The bill does not raise the state’s gas tax. The bill revises the registration fee system to make fees for newly purchased pickup trucks the same as cars. The new fees in the bill will not go into effect until January 1, 2009, and, generally, owners will not have to pay more than what they paid in a previous year. Most of the increases will affect Iowans only when they purchase a new vehicle or trailer.

RENEWABLE ENERGY. The Iowa House approved three bills designed to strengthen Iowa’s economy. Two of the bills are related to renewable energy and energy efficiency, while another bill encourages redevelopment of under-utilized, blighted or abandoned property. These bills, which now go to the Senate, are another step in growing our economy through renewable energy and redevelopment of blighted areas. In addition to our $25 million commitment to making Iowa a world leader in renewable energy, we are working to reduce our energy consumption through green design and construction, energy efficiency, and energy conservation.

Obviously, it was a very busy week. In addition to the many important bills that we debated and passed into law, I was given the opportunity to present my farewell speech, in which I thanked all of you friends and neighbors in House District 29 for allowing me to represent you for the past 12 years.

This will probably be our last week of the session. This session is designed to end after 100 days, and Tuesday, April 22, is the one-hundredth day. I hope to provide you with a summary of the 2008 Legislative session in next week’s article. In the meantime, you can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call me at 515/281-7328 or e-mail me at  ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us.

Ro

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