Legislative update from the Jim Obradovich from the Capitol Group:

Subcommittee Meeting Set For ISSWA Legislative Priority!

Just one week into the 2020 Session of the Iowa Legislature, a priority of the Iowa School Social Workers Association is ready for consideration.

Tuesday, January 21 the subcommittee assigned to Senate Study Bill 3020 will meet. 

The bill is an ISSWA legislative priority. It requires schools to include the telephone number of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline on school student ID cards.

The meeting will take place at 3:00 pm in the Senate Lounge.

Please take a moment and send a short note in support of the bill to the following members of the subcommittee:

Sen. Jeff Edler - jeff.edler@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Annette Sweeney - annette.sweeney@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Jackie Smith - jackie.smith@legis.iowa.gov

Governor Proposes Keeping School Mental Health Training Appropriation!

Included in her proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 is the continuation of an ISSWA backed appropriation for school mental health training.

Last year lawmakers approved a new $2.1 million appropriation for mental health awareness training for educators and schools; for area education agencies to be used to identify a range of approaches to best meet the mental health needs of students and to strengthen community support for students; and for area education agencies to create a clearinghouse of mental health resources for use by schools and community providers.

It is important to note that the Governor is asking lawmakers to dedicate $3 million dollars to the program for the 2021 fiscal year, an increase of $900,000!

Attend The ISSWA / ISPA Legislative Day At the Iowa Statehouse

Make plans now to attend the association’s Day At The Hill on March 4th!

It will be a great opportunity to talk with your local State Representatives and Senators about the needs and concerns of School Psychologists and the students you serve.

Shameless Plug!!!

My wife, Kathie Obradovich is now Editor-In-Chief of the Iowa Capital Dispatch. To receive the Iowa Capitol Dispatch’s “Daily Dispatch” each morning for free, sign up at the Dispatch’s website: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/

Bills of Interest:

Special Note - A small amount of bills introduced last year have been reassigned subcommittees and may be considered this year, that is why some bills with three digit numbers appear on this bill list.

(SF = Senate File, SSB = Senate Study Bill, HF = House File, HSB = House Study Bill)

SF 2027 - Student ID’s Suicide Prevention Number (F) - The bill requires schools to inlcude the national suicide prevention hitline telephone number on student ID cards.

Referred to Education

SF 376 - Mental Health Education Requirements (F) - The bill adds mental health awareness, coping skills and suicide prevention to the subnject matter that must be included in a unit of health education.

Subcommittee: Sinclair, Behn and J. Smith

SF 342 - Immunity For Reporting Alcohol Injuries (F) - The bill provides immunity from certain alcohol related criminal offenses and prohibits certain disciplinary actions for persons who seek or require emergency assistance for alcohol overdoses.

Subcommittee: Zaun, Nunn and R. Taylor

SSB 3020 - Student ID’s Suicide Prevention Number (F) - The bill requires schools to inlcude the national suicide prevention hotline telephone number on student ID cards.

Subcommittee: Edler, J. Smith and Sweeney

Subcommittee meeting - 1/21 in Senate Lounge at 3:00 pm

SSB 3016 - Smoking Age Increase (F) - The bill increases the minimum age to purchase tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products and cigarettes from 18 to 21.

Subcommittee: Cournoyer, Celsi and R. Smith