Bill Text: IA HF335 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to county compensation boards by requiring that members of the board be elected and that the board review benefits paid to certain comparable officers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-25 - Passed subcommittee. [HF335 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-HF335-Introduced.html
House File 335 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY GASSMAN and SHEETS A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to county compensation boards by requiring that 2 members of the board be elected and that the board review 3 benefits paid to certain comparable officers. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 2070YH (4) 86 aw/sc PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 331.321, subsection 1, paragraph l, Code 1 2 2015, is amended by striking the paragraph. 1 3 Sec. 2. Section 331.905, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2015, 1 4 are amended by striking the subsections and inserting in lieu 1 5 thereof the following: 1 6 1. The county compensation board shall consist of seven 1 7 members elected on a nonpartisan basis at the general election 1 8 for staggered four=year terms commencing on the first day 1 9 of January that is not a Sunday or holiday following their 1 10 election. Any eligible elector residing in the county is 1 11 eligible to the office of board member. If a member is absent 1 12 for sixty percent or more of monthly meetings during any 1 13 twelve=month period, the other members by their unanimous 1 14 vote may declare the member's office vacant. A vacancy in 1 15 the office of board member shall be filled by appointment by 1 16 the remaining members of the board until the next succeeding 1 17 general election, at which time the balance of the unexpired 1 18 term shall be filled as provided by section 69.12. 1 19 2. At each general election, a successor shall be chosen 1 20 for each board member whose term will expire in the succeeding 1 21 January. 1 22 a. Nomination of candidates for the office of board member 1 23 shall be made by petition in accordance with chapter 45, except 1 24 that each candidate's nominating petition shall be signed by 1 25 at least twenty=five eligible electors of the county. The 1 26 petition form shall be furnished by the county commissioner of 1 27 elections. 1 28 b. Every candidate shall file with the nomination papers 1 29 an affidavit stating the candidate's name, the candidate's 1 30 residence, that the person is a candidate and is eligible for 1 31 the office of board member, and that if elected the candidate 1 32 will qualify for the office. The affidavit shall also state 1 33 that the candidate is aware that the candidate is disqualified 1 34 from holding office if the candidate has been convicted of a 1 35 felony or an infamous crime and the candidate's rights have not 2 1 been restored by the governor or by the president of the United 2 2 States. 2 3 c. The signed petitions shall be filed with the county 2 4 commissioner of elections not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 2 5 sixty=ninth day before the general election. 2 6 d. The votes for the office of board member shall be 2 7 canvassed in the same manner as the votes for county officers, 2 8 and the returns shall be certified to the county board of 2 9 supervisors. A plurality is sufficient to elect board members, 2 10 and a primary election for the office shall not be held. 2 11 Sec. 3. Section 331.907, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended 2 12 to read as follows: 2 13 1. The annual compensation of the auditor, treasurer, 2 14 recorder, sheriff, county attorney, and supervisors shall 2 15 be determined as provided in this section. The county 2 16 compensation board annually shall review the compensation 2 17 and benefits paid to comparable officers in other counties 2 18 of this state, other states, private enterprise, and the 2 19 federal government. In setting the salary of the county 2 20 sheriff, the county compensation board shall consider setting 2 21 the sheriff's salary so that it is comparable to salaries 2 22 paid to professional law enforcement administrators and 2 23 command officers of the state patrol, the division of criminal 2 24 investigation of the department of public safety, and city 2 25 police agencies in this state. The county compensation board 2 26 shall prepare a compensation and benefits schedule for the 2 27 elective county officers for the succeeding fiscal year. A 2 28 recommended compensation and benefits schedule requires a 2 29 majority vote of the membership of the county compensation 2 30 board. 2 31 Sec. 4. TRANSITION PROVISIONS. 2 32 1. Membership terms of all county compensation board 2 33 members serving on the effective date of this Act shall expire 2 34 on December 31, 2016. 2 35 2. In each county, the canvass following the general 3 1 election held in 2016 shall declare that the four candidates 3 2 receiving the highest, second highest, third highest, and 3 3 fourth highest number of votes are elected to serve four=year 3 4 terms and those offices shall next appear on the ballot at the 3 5 general election held in 2020. In each county, the canvass 3 6 following the general election held in 2016 shall also declare 3 7 that the three candidates receiving the fifth highest, sixth 3 8 highest, and seventh highest number of votes shall serve 3 9 initial two=year terms, and those offices shall next appear on 3 10 the ballot at the general election held in 2018. 3 11 EXPLANATION 3 12 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 3 13 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 14 This bill relates to county compensation boards by requiring 3 15 that members of the county compensation board be elected and 3 16 that the board review benefits paid to comparable officers. 3 17 Under current law, members of the county compensation board 3 18 are appointed by the board of supervisors, county auditor, 3 19 county attorney, county recorder, county treasurer, and county 3 20 sheriff, with the board of supervisors appointing two members. 3 21 The bill provides for the election of the seven=member county 3 22 compensation board to four=year staggered terms. The bill 3 23 makes provisions related to qualification and elections 3 24 administration, and includes transition provisions. 3 25 Under current law, the county compensation board, in 3 26 making recommendations for the compensation of elected county 3 27 officers, is required to annually review the compensation paid 3 28 to comparable officers in other counties of this state, other 3 29 states, private enterprise, and the federal government. The 3 30 bill requires that the board also review the benefits paid to 3 31 such comparable officers. LSB 2070YH (4) 86 aw/sc
