Bill

Bill > HF949


IA HF949

IA HF949
A bill for an act concerning the duties of county commissioners and county auditors.(Formerly HSB 250.)


summary

Introduced
03/12/2025
In Committee
03/31/2025
Crossed Over
03/27/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

This bill relates to the duties of county commissioners and county auditors. Under current law, the county commissioner must take bids for goods and services when the cost of the goods or services to be purchased will exceed $1,000. The bill raises the threshold to an amount exceeding $50,000 and, if the anticipated cost is equal to or less than $50,000, the commissioner may use an informal bid process to solicit written bids from at least three qualified contractors that either sell the needed goods or provide the needed services. The secretary of state, each county auditor, district court clerk, and each auditor or clerk of a city must keep a book known as the “Record of Official Bonds”. The bill eliminates the requirement that the bonds be indexed in the book by the name of the principal and the date the bond is filed. The bill eliminates a variety of duties assigned to county auditors including: attesting to anticipatory warrants issued by the board for the operation of a county limestone quarry; carrying out duties relating to the determination of residency, collection of funds due the county, and support of persons with intellectual disabilities; collecting the costs relating to the treatment and care of private patients at the state psychiatric hospital; carrying out duties relating to the hospitalization and support of persons with mental illness; issuing warrants and maintaining a permanent record of persons receiving veteran assistance; ordering the county treasurer to transfer tuition payments from the account of the debtor school corporation to the creditor school corporation; ordering the county treasurer to transfer transportation service fees from the account of the debtor school corporation to the creditor school corporation; apportioning school taxes, rents, and other money dedicated for public school purposes; carrying out duties relating to school lands and funds; carrying out duties relating to the establishment, alteration, and vacation of public highways; carrying out duties relating to the establishment and maintenance of secondary roads; notifying the state department of transportation of claims filed for improvements on public roads payable from the primary road fund; acknowledging satisfaction of the mortgage by execution of a written instrument referring to the mortgage for payment of a permanent school fund mortgage; and receiving moneys recovered from a person willfully committing waste or trespass on real estate and recording in a book kept for that purpose. The bill eliminates certain books and records kept by county auditors including an account book and index of persons receiving mental health treatment and a permanent record of the names and addresses of persons receiving veteran assistance.

AI Summary

This bill modifies several aspects of county administrative procedures and responsibilities. First, it increases the threshold for bidding requirements for county commissioners from $1,000 to $50,000, allowing an informal bid process for purchases at or below $50,000 where written bids are solicited from at least three qualified contractors. The bill also eliminates the requirement for county officials to maintain an indexed "Record of Official Bonds" book, though they must still record official bonds. Additionally, the bill removes numerous specific duties previously assigned to county auditors, including tasks related to managing county services, school finances, road maintenance, veteran assistance, mental health services, and record-keeping. These changes effectively streamline and reduce the administrative responsibilities of county auditors, potentially simplifying their workflow and reducing bureaucratic requirements. The modifications appear aimed at modernizing county administrative processes and reducing redundant or outdated record-keeping obligations.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Local Government (House)

Last Action

Amendment S-3182 filed. S.J. 1047. (on 05/14/2025)

bill text


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