A state panel wants to eliminate 100-plus Iowa boards and commissions. Which could go?
A state panel is recommending eliminating or consolidating more than 100 Iowa boards and commissions, the latest step in Gov. Kim Reynolds' push to shrink state government.
The preliminary recommendations come from a Tuesday meeting of the state's Boards and Commissions Review Committee, created as part of a sweeping government reorganization law Reynolds signed in April that reduced cabinet-level state government agencies from 37 to 16.
Kraig Paulsen, the committee's chair and director of the Iowa Department of Management, said the group started with a list of 256 state boards and commissions and is proposing eliminating or consolidating 116, leaving the state with 140.
When could the changes take place?
After hearing from the public later this month, the committee will submit a report with final recommendations to Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature by Sept. 30. It would then be up to lawmakers to decide whether to act on the proposal.
"No vote we take in here actually changes, modifies, eliminates, creates any boards or commissions anywhere," Paulsen said. "So this is part of the conversation."
State Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said she's concerned there wasn't an opportunity for the public to weigh in as the committee members came up with their initial recommendations for eliminating boards and commissions.
"I think there’s a line to be drawn between efficiency and not allowing sufficient input from the public and potentially consolidation of power," she said.
What will happen to the duties of the boards and commissions eliminated?
Committee members said some of the boards or commissions have been defunct for years or haven't received new funding, while others have to operate in order for the state to receive federal funds.
In most cases, eliminating a board or commission would result in its duties being taken over by the state agency it exists within. Consolidating boards or commissions would fold their duties into other boards and commissions.
Under the committee's recommendations, the commissions on the Status of African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Deaf Services, Persons with Disabilities, Latino Affairs, Native American Affairs and the Status of Women would all be folded into the Iowa Human Rights Commission.
Could Iowa get rid of gender balance requirement for boards and committees?
One of the committee's overarching recommendations is to eliminate Iowa's legal requirement that boards and commissions are balanced with equal numbers of men and women.
"I think that was a law that was put in place and was necessary and helpful in 1986," Paulsen said. "And maybe it is still necessary and helpful in 2023, but why not have the conversation?"
Some lawmakers, including Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, proposed eliminating the gender balance requirement during this year's legislative session. But the idea did not pass.
Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood, who chairs the House State Government Committee, said the state should strive to have some gender balance but she understands the desire to look at removing the requirement from the law.
"Sometimes that gender balance gets in the way of getting good people on a board," she said. "I think we do want to strive to have men and women on a board, but when we require it, it can make it difficult for some boards."
The committee's other recommendations include creating an ongoing process to review boards and commissions, streamlining the structure of advisory boards, allowing virtual or hybrid participation at board meetings, compensating board members and creating consistent licensing standards across professions.
When will public input sessions be held?
Iowans will have the chance to weigh in at a public hearing next week, where they can share their thoughts about whether certain boards should be kept the same, modified or eliminated.
When: 12 p.m., Sept. 6
Where: Iowa State Capitol, Room 103, the historic Iowa Supreme Court chamber
What: A 2-hour-long public meeting of the Boards and Commissions Review Committee. Speakers will be given 2 minutes each.
How to sign up: Iowans interested in speaking should email BCRCcomments@iowa.gov with their name, who they represent (including themselves) and any details about which board or commission they'd like to speak about. If an Iowan has thoughts but does not wish to speak at the hearing, they can still send comments to the same email address.
The committee's full report is available online.
Here's a look at the committee's recommendations.
Boards and commissions that would be eliminated
Capitol Planning Commission
Board of Athletic Training
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Board
State Building Code Advisory Council
Dental Hygiene Committee
Board of Dietetics
Elevator Safety Board
Fire Extinguishing System Contractors and Alarm Systems Advisory Board
Health Facilities Council
Board of Hearing Aid Specialists
Interior Design Examining Board
Midwifery Advisory Council
Board of Nursing Home Administrators
Board of Pharmacy (alternate members)
Conservation Education Program Board
Federal Clean Air Act Compliance Advisory Panel
Interstate Midwest Energy Commission
Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board
Advisory Council for Public Outdoor Recreation and Resources
Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision State Council
Criminal Detainers Compact
Prison Industries Advisory Board
Community College Faculty Advisory Committee
Commission on Educator Leadership and Compensation
Midwestern Higher Education Compact
Postsecondary Course Audit Committee
Quality Faculty Plan Professional Development Committee
Telecommunications Advisory Committee
Streamlined Sales Tax Advisory Council
Commercial Air Service Retention and Expansion Committee
Horizontal Infrastructure Advisory Subcommittee
Mid-America Port Commission
Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission
Vertical Infrastructure Advisory Subcommittee
Iowa Drug Policy Advisory Council
Advisory Committee for Perinatal Guidelines
Child Care Advisory Committee
Leadership Council for Child Care Training and Development
Child Support Services Task Force on Liens and Motor Vehicle Registrations
Commission on Community Action Agencies
Dependent Adult Protective Advisory Council
Early Childhood Stakeholders Alliance
Interagency Coordinating Council
Mental Health and Disability Services Standards Advisory Committee, Community Mental Health Centers
Mental Health and Disability Services Standards Advisory Committee, County Care Facilities
Propane Education and Research Council
Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service
911 Communications Council
Iowa Cultural Trust Board of Trustees
Iowa Great Places Board
Iowa Innovation Corporation Board
Iowa Council on Homelessness
Consumer Advisory Panel
Commercial Pesticide Applicator Peer Review Panel
Farm Deer Council
Grain Industry Peer Review Panel
Local Food and Farm Program Council
Organic Advisory Council
Private Pesticide Applicator Peer Review Panel
Watershed Planning Advisory Council
Well Contractors' Council
Public Funds Interest Rates Committee
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board
Public Policy Research Foundation
Commission on Uniform State Laws
Board of Examiners of Shorthand Reporters
Area Education Agency Advisory Group
Street Construction Fund Distribution Advisory Committee
Interstate Cooperation Commission
Boards and commissions that would be consolidated
State Historical Records Advisory Board
Board of Behavioral Science
State Building Code Board of Review
Board of Chiropractic
Electrical Examining Board
Landscape Architectural Examining Board
Board of Massage Therapy
Board of Medicine (alternate members)
Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy
Board of Physician Assistants
Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board
Board of Podiatry
Board of Psychology
Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography
Board of Social Work
Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Farmer Advisory Committee
State Advisory Board for Preserves
Community College Council
Nonpublic School Advisory Committee
Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee
Secondary Road Fund Distribution Committee
Tourist Signing Committee
Commission on the Status of African Americans
Commission on Aging
Commission of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
Advisory Council on Brain Injuries
Iowa Child Death Review Team
Child Fatality Review Committee
Children's Behavioral Health System State Board
Congenital and Inherited Disorders Advisory Committee
Commission of Deaf Services
Commission of Persons With Disabilities
Iowa Domestic Abuse Death Review Team
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Council
Healthy and Well Kids In Iowa (HAWK-I) Advisory Committee
Healthy and Well Kids In Iowa (HAWK-I) Board
Justice Advisory Board
Latino Affairs Commission
Mental Health and Disability Services Commission
Commission of Native American Affairs
Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Advisory Council
Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
Trauma System Advisory Council
Commission on the Status of Women
State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council
Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development Council
Enhance Iowa Board
Local Workforce Development Boards
Employment Appeal Board
Public Employment Relations Board
Boards and commissions that would be reorganized or see other changes
State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees
Accountancy Examining Board
Architectural Examining Board
Iowa State Civil Rights Commission
Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact Commission
Board of Dentistry
Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board
Board of Medicine
Board of Mortuary Science
Board of Nursing
Board of Optometry
Board of Pharmacy
Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council
Real Estate Appraiser Examining Board
Real Estate Commission
Board of Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators
Environmental Protection Commission
Natural Resource Commission
Board of Corrections
Advisory Council for Agricultural Education
Iowa Autism Council
Child Development Coordinating Council
College Student Aid Commission
State Board of Education
Commission of Libraries
Iowa Public Broadcasting Board
City Finance Committee
County Finance Committee
Alcoholic Beverages Commission
Iowa Lottery Authority Board of Directors
Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board
State Fire Service and Emergency Response Council
Commission of Veterans Affairs
Council on Health and Human Services
Human Rights Board
Economic Development Authority Board
Iowa Innovation Council
Technology Commercialization Committee
Iowa Workforce Development Board
Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission
Benefits Advisory Committee
Utilities Board
Crime Victim Assistance Board
State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee
Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine
Higher Education Loan Authority
Dual Party Relay Council
Boards and commissions that would continue unchanged
State Records Commission
Terrace Hill Commission
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators
State Racing and Gaming Commission
State Banking Council
Credit Union Review Board
Iowa Comprehensive Health Insurance Association Board
Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision
Department of Corrections Judicial District Advisory Board
Ad Hoc Accreditation Quality Faculty Plan Protocol Committee
State Board for Career and Technical Education
Iowa Dyslexia Board
Education Commissions of the States
State Board of Educational Examiners
Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
School Budget Review Committee
State Appeal Board
Customer Council for Services
Revenue Estimating Conference
Utility Replacement Tax Task Force
Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement Governing Board
Farm to Market Advisory Board
Transportation Commission
Armory Board
Board of Trustees of the Iowa Department of Public Safety Peace Officers' Retirement, Accident, and Disability System
Child Advocacy Board
Early Childhood Iowa State Board
State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision
Interstate Commission for Juveniles
Medical Assistance Advisory Council
Iowa Medical Assistance Drug Utilization Review Commission
Medical Assistance Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee
Medical Cannabidiol Board
Physical Therapy Compact Commission
Flood Mitigation Board
Iowa Arts Council
Bioscience Development Corporation Board
Brownfield Redevelopment Advisory Council
Iowa Capital Investment Board
City Development Board
Iowa Energy Center Governing Board
Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board
Agricultural Development Board
Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors
Iowa Title Guaranty Board
Iowa Apprenticeship Council
Commission for the Blind
Board of Parole
Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council
Investment Board of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System
Iowa Public Information Board
Property Assessment Appeal Board
Prosecuting Attorneys Training Coordination Council
Iowa Beef Cattle Producers Association Executive Committee
Iowa Corn Promotion Board
Iowa Crop Improvement Association Board
Iowa State Dairy Association
Iowa Dairy Industry Commission
Iowa Egg Council
Iowa Grain Indemnity Fund Board
State Horticultural Society
Livestock Health Advisory Council
Pesticide Advisory Committee
Iowa Pork Producers Council
Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Board
Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board
Iowa Soybean Association Board
Iowa Turkey Marketing Council
Water Resources Coordinating Council
Voter Registration Commission
Board of Examiners for Voting Systems
State Board of Regents
Executive Council
Iowa State Fair Board
Tobacco Settlement Authority Board
State Judicial Nominating Commission
District Judicial Nominating Commissions
Commission on Judicial Qualifications
Board of Law Examiners
Magistrate Appointing Commission
Statewide Fire and Police Retirement System Board of Trustees
Statewide Independent Living Council
Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa could eliminate 100-plus state boards and commissions, panel says