Bill Text: IA SR121 | 2013-2014 | 85th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A resolution conferring authority upon the standing Committee on Government Oversight to conduct an investigation of specified issues relating to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services and the Iowa Department of Workforce Development.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-02 - Resolution adopted. S.J. 922. [SR121 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2013-SR121-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution 121 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 121 BY GRONSTAL A Resolution conferring authority upon the standing 1 Committee on Government Oversight to conduct an 2 investigation of specified issues relating to the 3 Iowa Department of Administrative Services and the 4 Iowa Department of Workforce Development. 5 WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding the 6 management at the Iowa Department of Administrative 7 Services established pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 8 8A; and 9 WHEREAS, the concerns have specifically addressed 10 confidential settlement agreements with former 11 employees and related payments, hiring and employment 12 practices, and bidding, purchasing, and contracting 13 policies and practices in several state agencies; and 14 WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding 15 the management at the Iowa Department of Workforce 16 Development established pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 17 84A; and 18 WHEREAS, the concerns have specifically addressed 19 the management of Administrative Law Judges in the 20 department’s Unemployment Insurance Services Division, 21 the effect of this management on decisions made 22 by Administrative Law Judges, and management and 23 fiduciary practices related to unemployment insurance 24 compensation; and 25 WHEREAS, the standing Committee on Government 26 Oversight is empowered, pursuant to Iowa Code sections 27 2.15 and 2.23, to require information of state agencies 28 -1- LSB 6223XS (2) 85 rn/rj 1/ 3
S.R. 121 and departments and to conduct investigations with 1 authority to call witnesses, administer oaths, issue 2 subpoenas, and cite for contempt; NOW THEREFORE, 3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the standing 4 Committee on Government Oversight is authorized to 5 conduct an investigation of issues relating to the 6 management practices and procedures at state agencies 7 and departments; and 8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the investigation shall 9 be conducted in accordance with the full authority 10 granted the standing Committee on Government Oversight 11 by law including but not limited to the authority to 12 conduct the investigation, call witnesses, administer 13 oaths, issue subpoenas, cite and impose punishment for 14 contempt, and otherwise exercise and enforce these 15 investigative powers as authorized by and in accordance 16 with law, subject to the following: 17 1. The scope of the investigation shall be 18 confined to confidential settlement agreements with 19 former employees and related payments, hiring and 20 employment practices, and bidding, purchasing, and 21 contracting policies and practices at the Department 22 of Administrative Services and other state departments 23 and agencies; and the management of Administrative 24 Law Judges in the Unemployment Insurance Services 25 Division, the effect of this management on decisions 26 made by Administrative Law Judges, and management and 27 fiduciary practices related to unemployment insurance 28 compensation. 29 2. Subpoena authority conferred by this Resolution 30 -2- LSB 6223XS (2) 85 rn/rj 2/ 3
S.R. 121 shall exist until December 31, 2014. 1 3. A citation and punishment for contempt may be 2 issued and imposed according to the following schedule: 3 a. An initial citation may be issued by the 4 standing Committee on Government Oversight by a 5 majority vote of the members of the committee and is 6 punishable by a fine of $500. 7 b. A second or subsequent citation may be issued 8 by the standing Committee on Government Oversight by 9 a majority vote of the members of the committee and is 10 punishable by a fine of $1,000. 11 c. In addition to the fines authorized pursuant to 12 paragraphs “a” and “b”, the Senate may by resolution 13 impose a punishment of imprisonment for a period of up 14 to six months. 15 4. Subpoenas and citations for contempt shall be 16 signed by the Chairperson of the standing Committee on 17 Government Oversight, the President of the Senate, and 18 the Secretary of the Senate. Warrants for contempt 19 shall be signed by the President of the Senate and the 20 Secretary of the Senate. 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the standing Committee 22 on Government Oversight may meet at such times and at 23 such places as the Chairperson of the Committee deems 24 necessary; and 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the investigation shall 26 continue until completed, or until such time as the 27 investigation is terminated by the standing Committee 28 on Government Oversight by majority vote of the members 29 of the committee. 30 -3- LSB 6223XS (2) 85 rn/rj 3/ 3
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