Excerpts from lobbyist Craig Schoenfeld's weekly news update:
Speakers Disagree Over Labor Bill
A controversial labor proposal would either trash the state's right-to-work law and wreck its economy or offer "reasonable reimbursements" to unions for work that has previously gone unpaid, those on opposing sides of the bill said at a public hearing this week.
"You would not expect to get fire protection without paying taxes. ... Then why would you expect union representation in matters of collective bargaining, arbitration and grievances without people paying their fair share?" said Bill Gerhard, president of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council. "I don't think it's in Iowa's character to expect something for nothing."
The Iowa House on Wednesday night held a public hearing on House File 2420. The bill would allow unions representing executive branch employees to charge nonunion workers fees for services. Under state law, only unions have the power to negotiate with the state on certain pay and work-related issues. Because of that, unions often negotiate for nonunion public employees by default, even though they don't collect union dues from them.
Bill Tracking
(Bill numbers beginning with the letter "H" are House bills and those beginning with the letter "S" are Senate bills):
Follow-up on industry-related legislation activity the week of February 12
HF 2282 HOMESTEAD LIENS
Specifies that liens do not attach to a homestead except in specific cases (certain debts including some created by a written contract, some home improvements, and some other debts related to survivorship). Deems a warranty of title by a former occupying homeowner as a claim against all judgments against the current homeowner (unless noted otherwise in the conveyance). Requires any lien against a homestead to be filed in 30 days in writing. Allows a court order to release a claimed lien by positing a bond of 125% of the claimed amount (making any judgment against the bond). Replaces that the bond be released if no execution on the bond is ordered within 30 days. NO ACTION TAKEN THIS WEEK.
HF 2477 OWNER BUILDER MECHANICS LIEN(Successor to HSB 559)
Establishes a state construction registry. Changes contractor references in regards to these liens to General Contractor and adds a category for Owner-Builder. Requires that a lien include the address of the property of a description of the location. Requires a general contractor to give notice to an owner that subcontractors may file liens. Requires a general contractor or owner-builder to notify IFA on the commencement of work. Requires subcontractors to make various submissions. Establishes deadlines for subcontractors to file liens due to non-payment by a general contractor. Contains other related provisions. NO ACTION THIS WEEK.
HF 2182 ELECTRICAL LICENSING
Exempts farmers, and employees or relatives, from licensing rules on electrical work, from needing to have a permit, and from needing to have the work inspected. NO ACTION TAKEN THIS WEEK.
HF 2062 FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Prohibits a building code from requiring a fire suppression system in a one or two family home or a four-unit apartment. NO ACTION TAKEN THIS WEEK.
Follow-up on general businss-related legislation activity the week of February 19
SF 2199 MANUFACTURED HOME TAXES(Successor toSSB 3133)Requires that the use tax on manufactured homes be paid by the buyer to a licensed manufactured home retailer, and for the retailer to apply for a certificate of title. Requires the tax to be forwarded to the county treasurer or the DOT, and then to the DOR. Allows the county treasurer to keep $1 for each tax payment. Includes other provisions.
HF 2478LLCS & OTHER MATTERS(Successor toHSB 714)
Makes the registered office for all LLCs, whether formed in Iowa or another state the same. Requires that a registered agent be a person or business in the state and that the address of an LLC for its registered office and the business office of its registered agent be the same. Requires notice to the Secretary of State of moves. Allows service of process through the mail and deems service to be complete on the date of a receipt or five days after mailing. Allows service through any other legal means. Allows the SOS to impose fees for filing biennial reports. Authorizes administrative dissolution for the failure to file a biennial report, to have a registered agent or to fail to file notice of a move. Other: Allows a business corporation to be dissolved for failing to pay any fee, tax or penalty due to the Secretary of State. Requires biennial reports to be current when filed. NO ACTION THIS WEEK.
SF 2337 SAFE & SICK TIME (Successor to SSB 3176)
Requires that employees who work 20 hours a week or 1,080 hours a year accrue safe & sick time as of July, 2010. Requires new employees to wait 60 days before using any such time. Establishes conditions for use of such time and a formula for computing it. Allows an employee to use no more than 144 hours per year. Does not require an employer to pay off sick and safe time when the employee leaves the company. Allows an employer to recover the money paid for such time if an employee takes it with meeting the conditions. Allows employees to make complaints to the Labor Commissioner.AMENDED & PASSED out of the Senate Business and Labor Committee 7-4 (Collective bargaining takes precedent.) NO ACTION TAKEN THIS WEEK.
To view any of these bills, go to the Iowa General Assembly web site:
Lobbyist Contact Information:
Wasker Dorr Wimmer & Marcouiller, P.C.
4201 Westown Parkway, Suite 250
West Des Moines, IA 50266-6720
TEL: 515-283-1801
FAX: 515-283-1802
Bill Wimmer Craig Schoenfeld
515-371-8920 (cell) 515-371-8921 (cell)
bwimmer@wdwm.net cschoenfeld@wdwm.net