Sheets Snapshot – March 22nd, 2018
by Larry Sheets
Dear friends in House District 80,
The House and Senate reached a final compromise on the deappropriation of 2018 Budget. With that behind us, work can continue on the 2019 Budget. The so-called Heartbeat Bill passed the committee vote and will be voted on in the House very soon. This Bill outlaws the sale of Baby body parts resulting from abortion. It also limits the use of abortion after the baby heartbeat is detected. By that point, the baby is clearly not a mass or tumor-like growth in the mother.
School funding increases have outpaced inflation since 2011, demonstrating our strong commitment to K-12 education!
• $765 million in new funding
• 2,300 new teachers in Iowa classrooms
• Lower student-to-teacher ratio
• Best high school graduation rate in the country
• One of the top states for ACT scores
We are providing school boards and officials with the tools needed to ensure Iowa’s students and staff are safe in our schools. SF2364 requires every Iowa school district to coordinate with local law enforcement to develop an active shooter plan. In addition, teachers will be required to go through active shooter training once a year. The Iowa House passed legislation (HF2441) that provides schools with even greater flexibility, allowing schools to direct more funding to hire school security personnel, providing schools with the additional flexibility needed to improve safety and security measures. HF2438 advances an extension of the school infrastructure fund, known as SAVE. Schools can use these funds to make security upgrades to their facilities to improve school safety. SF2113 requires all licensed school staff to go through annual suicide prevention and adverse childhood experience training. HF2406 gives school districts the option to share a licensed mental health professional for student mental health support. HF2456 and HF2305 expand mental health services to more Iowans across the state.
The mental health bill strengthens Iowa’s regional mental health system, ensuring Iowans can access services near their families and in their home communities. This will ensure that when a family has a loved one facing a mental health crisis, they have a place to turn to. Additionally, the telehealth bill will make mental health services more available to people in rural Iowa. Telehealth systems allow an Iowan to speak with, visually see, and be treated by a doctor using audio/visual technology.
Healthcare is now costing many self-employed citizens more per month than their mortgage and car payments combined. Farmers are being driven off the farm to work for someone else that provides insurance. Until Washington DC gets its act together, we will continue to find ways to help our constituents survive this Washington created nightmare.
A very significant Healthcare Bill passed (69 to 30) out of the House. SF2349 has two parts:
1)The first relates to Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWA) and allows new MEWAs to be created. These are not well known by most people, but supports employer plans to provide health insurance to their employees.
2)The second is a health benefit plan. It provides an affordable alternative to the (unaffordable) Affordable Care Act (Obama Care). It is sponsored by a nonprofit agricultural organization (Farm Bureau). It is technically not insurance or subject to insurance regulations. This health benefit plan will be administered by a domestic entity registered with the insurance commissioner (Initially WellMark). This third-party administrator must have a history of providing healthcare services. There are enumerated requirements on such an organization and they are required to file with the insurance commissioner certifying they meet all requirements.
