SF 2038 – IDVA, Commission duties
SF 2097 – Public Defense Military Division omnibus
SF 2112 – Veterans driver’s license identification
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2038 is a recommendation by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs to make Iowa Code Chapters 35 and 35A (IVC) more reader-friendly and to strike obsolete references and programs that have sunsetted. The proposal also clarifies training and service school provisions for county commissioners, and for county executive directors and administrators, and allows funds remaining in a county commission training program account at the end of a fiscal year to be used to train IDVA personnel, as well as county veterans’ affairs staff. [2/1: 49-0]
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 2097 (SSB 3081) is a recommendation by the Military Division of the Department of Public Defense that:
- Exempts the Department and the Armory Board from the requirement that all state property leases be administered by the Department of Administrative Services, and conforms state military status definitions and terms, such as “federal service” to “federal active duty,” to more closely align with federal law for clarity.
- Changes the term “state military service” to “national guard duty” and defines it as training or other duty that is paid for with federal funds. That includes but is not limited to full-time National Guard duty, inactive duty training and annual training.
- Expands the responsibility of the State Quartermaster to include all state military facilities, equipment and state military property to more accurately reflect the current role of that position, and strikes reporting and bond requirements relating to the Quartermaster.
- Redefines the Iowa National Guard Civil Relief Act relating to suspension or postponement of the performance of certain civil obligations (e.g., lease termination, eviction, disconnection of gas or electric services) while a person is engaged in military service, by reducing the period of duty required from 90 days to 30 days. In many cases, State Active Duty is for 30 or 60 days of service and adjusting the protections will help those called to serve in Iowa in emergencies or natural disasters. This section takes effect upon enactment.
- Requests the Legislative Council to appoint an interim study committee to assess the feasibility of allowing military occupational specialty training to qualify toward professional or other certifications required in Iowa for certain occupations and to recommend legislative or regulatory changes to implement the recommendations. The report would be due by January 1, 2013. [1/31: short form]
SF 2112 (SF 2037) allows any U.S. military veteran to request that their veteran status be noted on his or her driver’s license or non-operator’s identification card issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The person must provide satisfactory proof of veteran status as established by the Department. The license or card will have the word “VETERAN” prominently on its face. The provisions will apply to new or renewal applications. [1/31: short form]