Office of Governmental Relations
2016 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
The 2016 Legislative session ended on April 29. Funding for UNI was provided in three budget bills. The Governor
has 30 days to take action on these bills.
Education Appropriations Bill
SF 2323 funds UNI’s general operations base budget at $97.1 million, an increase of $2.781 million (2.9%). Other
funding for UNI contained in the education budget bill includes:
• $5.2 million and 6.20 FTEs (full-time equivalent positions) for the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) collaborative initiative, which is status quo from FY 16. $500,000 is to be used for
technology education opportunities to high school, career academy and community college students
through a public-private partnership, as well as opportunities for these students and faculty to secure broadbased information technology certification.
• $175,256 and 3 FTEs for the recycling and reuse center, which is status quo from FY 16
• $125,302 and 1 FTE for the real estate education program, which is status quo from FY 16
Economic Development Appropriations Bill
HF 2455 appropriates the following for UNI, which is status quo from FY 2016:
• $1,066,419 and 9.75 FTEs for UNI’s economic development programs, including the Institute for Decision
Making, Metal Casting Center, and MyEntre.Net. At least $617,639 of this appropriation must be used to
support entrepreneurs through UNI’s Center for Business Growth and Innovation and Advance Iowa.
• $900,000 from the Regents Innovation Fund to support entrepreneurship, business expansion, and regional
development
• UNI is required to direct expenditures for research toward projects that will provide economic stimulus for
Iowa and provide emphasis to providing services to Iowa-based companies. The moneys are allowed to
carry forward and be used over two years.
Infrastructure Appropriations Bill
SF 2324 maintains the second year funding of $15.9 million from the State’s rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund to
finish the renovation of Schindler Education Center. It is anticipated that classes will resume in the building January
2017.
Additional Policy Bills that may affect UNI are as follows:
Reading and Literacy Requirements for Practitioner Preparation Programs
SF 2196 requires educator programs to include preparation in reading theory, knowledge, strategies, and
approaches; and for integrating literacy instruction into content areas. Such preparation must address all students,
including but not limited to students with disabilities; students at risk of academic failure; students identified as
gifted and talented; students with limited English proficiency; and students with dyslexia, whether or not such
students have been identified as children requiring special education under chapter 256B. The State Board of
Education will consult with teacher education faculty members in colleges and universities, then adopt rules to
implement the bill.
20 Seerley Hall • Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0705 • Phone: 319-273-6144
Smarter Balanced Assessments
SF 2323 suspends the Iowa Department of Education’s rules on smarter balanced assessments until July 1, 2017.
The legislature’s administrative rules review committee must review this rule at its regular meeting in December
2016. This delay means that the assessment used by school districts will continue to be the Iowa Assessments
for another year. This suspension is effective upon enactment. (Governor action pending)
Third-Grade Retention and Intensive Summer Reading Programs
SF 2323 puts a one year delay on the implementation of the third-grade retention portion of the Education
Reform Early Literacy Initiative of 2012 and also delays for one year the requirement for school districts to offer
intensive summer reading programs. The start date was changed to May 1, 2018. (Governor action pending)
Early Literacy Initiative – Reading Proficiency Assessments
HF 2413 makes terminology changes to the Education Reform Early Literacy Initiative of 2012 by changing the
wording “substantially deficient” in reading to “persistently at risk” in reading. Persistently at risk means the
student has not met the grade-level benchmark on two consecutive screening assessments. The bill also
provides clarification in the law that parental notification should be more often than once a year and that
reading proficiency at the end of third grade for determining retention is not based on a single test score.
(Governor action pending)
Registration of Postsecondary Schools
HF 2370 requires all entities currently exempt from registering as a postsecondary school, including the Board of
Regents universities, to apply to the College Student Aid Commission for approval of the exemption every two
years and demonstrate to the commission that it qualifies for the exemption and meets consumer protection
standards established by the commission. This approval process would be in addition to the SARA registration
required through the commission. The bill is effective upon enactment of April 6th to allow rules to be
implemented and postsecondary schools to begin participating immediately.
Regent Peace Officers Included within Protection Occupation Category of IPERS
SF 2147 includes Regents peace officers in IPERS protected occupation category that may allow for earlier
retirement due to physical limitations this work may engender.
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarships
HF 2275 clarifies that at the students’ request, the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship may be awarded over a
single academic year or two academic years. The scholarship disbursed over one academic year is at the
average resident tuition rate and mandatory fees established by the Board of Regents, or one-half of that
amount for a scholarship disbursed over two academic years.
Divestment of Public Funds in Companies that Boycott Israel
HF 2331 restricts state agencies from directly investing in certain companies that boycott Israel. The Board of
Regents will need to work with IPERS and other agencies holding public funds to contract with a provider who
will advise on companies in violation of this intent, make quarterly reviews, and provide an annual report by
October 1.