(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad denied seven following application for commutation today:

Leonard Gregory, age 52, committed his crime on January 8, 1981, in Jackson County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Bryan Jasa, age 42, committed his crime on September 21, 1996, in Woodbury County.  He is currently serving a fifty-five year sentence for attempted murder, first-degree robbery, assault while participating in a felony, willful injury, and going armed with intent.

Robert Kern, age 67, committed his crime on April 14, 1979, in Cedar County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Michael Lang, age 60, committed his crime on May 9, 1988, in Woodbury County.  He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree kidnapping.

Fortunato Lira, Jr., age 35, committed his crime on January 14, 1997, in Scott County.   He is currently serving a sixty-five year sentence for first-degree robbery (85%), voluntary manslaughter, willful injury, felon in possession of a firearm, terrorism with intent to injure, and assault while participating in a felony.

Ricardo McGlothin, age 42, committed his crime on May 14, 2002, in Davis County.  He is currently serving a fifty year sentence for Murder - 2nd degree (85%).

Paul Quigley, age 30, committed his crime for over a year beginning in May 2000, in Muscatine County.   He is currently serving a twenty-give year sentence for sexual abuse - 2nd degree (85%).

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will sign Senate File 295 on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at 1 p.m. at Hawkeye Ready-Mix, Inc. in Hiawatha. The historic bill provides property tax relief all classes of Iowa property: agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial.

Once signed into law, Senate File 295 accomplishes the following:

• Historic reduction stimulating job creation, with approximately $4.9 billion in tax relief over ten years.
• Permanent property tax relief

•       10% reduction in taxable value on commercial and industrial property, coupled with a $125 million property tax credit targeted to small businesses

•       Significant property tax relief for telecom property and multiresidential property

• No shift of the tax burden to other classes of property
• Relief for all classes of property

•       Reduces assessment growth limitation from 4% to 3%, saving agricultural and residential property an estimated $500 million annually by year ten

• Extends the Property Assessment Appeal Board
• Provides approximately $90 million in annual income tax savings to Iowa taxpayers

The following event is open to the media:

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

1 p.m. Gov. Branstad signs historic property tax relief bill, Senate File 295

Hawkeye Ready-Mix , Inc.

1340 Hawkeye Drive

Hiawatha, IA

Senate File 295: An act relating to state and local finances by establishing a business property tax credit for commercial, industrial, and railway property, establishing and modifying property assessment limitations, providing for commercial and industrial property tax replacement payments, providing for the classification of multiresidential property, modifying provisions for the taxation of telecommunications company property, providing for the study of the taxation of telecommunications company property, providing a taxpayers trust fund tax credit, modifying provisions relating to the property assessment appeal board, modifying the amount of the earned income tax credit, making appropriations, providing penalties, and including effective date, implementation, retroactive applicability, and other applicability provisions.

Branstad declares six new counties disaster areas

(DES MOINES) - The office of Gov. Terry  E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, along with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) and other state and federal agencies, are working closely with local emergency management agencies to assist communities in preparing for and responding to flooding.

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston has been activated to enable agencies to coordinate response activities. A Joint Information Center has been established at the SEOC.

Governor Branstad issues disaster proclamation for six counties

Today, Governor Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for six additional counties in response to the recent storms and flooding.

The Governor declared a disaster in: Buchanan, Clay, Clayton, Greene, Henry and Story counties. In addition, the Governor activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for Buchanan, Clay, Henry and Story counties.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three.

Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.  Applications must be received within 45 days of the date of proclamation.

Counties that had previously received Governor's proclamations are listed below.

State Response Summary

Governor's Office

o   Disaster Emergency Proclamations

• Benton
• Black Hawk*
• Buchanan*
• Buena Vista*
• Butler*
• Cherokee*
• Clay*
• Clayton
• Delaware*
• Floyd*
• Greene
• Grundy*
• Henry*
• Ida
• Iowa*
• Jasper*
• Johnson*
• Linn*
• Louisa
• Lyon
• Mahaska
• Marshall*
• Mitchell*
• Plymouth*
• Poweshiek*
• Sioux*
• Story*
• Tama*
• Wapello*
• Wright*
  * State Individual Assistance Program

o   The Office of Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today launched www.IowaFloodCentral.tumblr.com in conjunction with HSEMD to give Iowans a resource for up-to-date Iowa flood information. This is the first Tumblr established and utilized by the Iowa governor's office. Press releases regarding flood-affected counties will still be posted on the governor's website (governor.iowa.gov) and information regarding disaster readiness and assistance will still be available through HSEMD's website (homelandsecurity.iowa.gov). The Iowa Flood Central page will act as an information aggregator of flood-related content from Iowa state agencies, news reports and eyewitness accounts from Iowans wishing to submit pictures and videos of local flooding.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

o Deployed pump resources to Benton, Butler, Cherokee, Jasper, Louisa, Mahaska, Marshall and Butler counties. 

o Traffic barricades to Buena Vista, Cherokee and Tama.

o Sandbags and poly to Benton, Louisa and Mitchell.

o Bottled water was delivered to New Sharon in Mahaska County and Galva in Ida County. The Iowa Disaster Human Resource Council coordinated the delivery of water to Galva with the Convoy of Hope.

o Sioux City Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)/Swift Water Rescue team is being staged in the Waterloo area so they are able to quickly respond to any needs in eastern Iowa. The Cedar Rapids USAR/Swift Water Rescue team is also on standby for quick response if needed.

o   To view actions that are being taken by state agencies in impacted counties, visit the HSEMD website at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

Iowa National Guard

o The Iowa National Guard has sent two liaison officers to the Johnson County EOC. 

o   Incident Awareness Assessment teams are being sent to affected river basins in southeast Iowa to increase situational awareness.

Department of Transportation

o   Numerous road closures on state and local highways and roads.  For more information on road closures, visit www.511ia.org, or call 5-1-1 or 1-800-288-1047.

The Department is transporting flood-fighting resources to various locations in the state.

o   The Department is providing staging locations for resources.

Department of Human Services

o   The Department is administering the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program.  http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Consumers/Assistance_Programs/CashAssistance/DisasterAssistance/StormHelp.html

Department of Natural Resources

o   Information on private wells during times of flooding can be found at http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/PrivateWellProgram.aspx

o   The Department is actively monitoring water treatment and sewage treatment facilities.

o   Field staff is assisting in numerous counties.

Department of Public Health

o   The Department has established a website addressing health issues during flooding at http://www.idph.state.ia.us/EmergencyResponse/Flooding

Department of Corrections

o   The Department has provided inmate sandbagging assistance out of the Iowa Medical Classification Center.

o   Inmates will provide debris removal assistance in the City of Kellogg.

Department of Public Safety

o   The State Fire Marshal is providing building inspectors in Cherokee.

For more information 

www.IowaFloodCentral.tumblr.com

governor.iowa.gov

www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

Senate File 247 an Act providing for the possession of cats classified as bengals and savannahs.

Senate File 386 an Act relating to matters under the purview of the Department of Transportation, including the use of information contained in electronic driver and nonoperator identification records, the form of motor vehicle financial liability coverage cards, motor truck registration periods, regulation of glider kit vehicles, grounds for disqualification of commercial vehicle operators, provisions for the issuance of temporary restricted licenses for persons convicted of operating while intoxicated, county issuance of driver's licenses, and the administration of highway contracts, and including effective date provisions.

House Joint Resolution 13 a joint resolution relating to the location and exhibition of the statue of James Harlan, currently on display in the United States Capitol.

House File 355 an Act relating to driver's licenses, including the renewal of driver's licenses electronically and including effective date and transition provisions.

House File 471 an Act relating to parental rights, including the payment of reasonable attorney fees in juvenile court or appellate proceedings relating to a termination of parental rights petition and the awarding of visitation when a history of crimes against a minor is involved, and including effective, retroactive, and applicability date provisions.

House File 512 an Act providing for the determination of animal units which are part of confinement feeding operations, and making penalties applicable.

House File 527 an Act requiring certain aggravated misdemeanants to submit a DNA sample and including effective date provisions.

House File 566 an Act to establish requirements relating to the transfer of an interest in real estate by or on behalf of certain entities formed or organized on a profit, cooperative, or not-for-profit basis, and including warranties and a limitation on actions.

House File 627 an Act establishing a property tax exemption for fairgrounds owned by a county or a fair and including applicability provisions.

The governor also signed Executive Order 81 today, which states: 

Executive Order Number 81

WHEREAS, the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council has made significant progress toward the  ambitious goal of raising student interest and achievement in STEM; and

WHEREAS, from scale-up programs, to regional hubs, to community involvement, the STEM initiative has expanded to every county in every corner of the state; and

WHEREAS, Iowa has more than 900 educators, club and faith-based leaders, and others   implementing STEM scale-up programs in the 2012-13 school year, which deliver first-rate STEM education  to students all over the state; and

WHEREAS, STEM initiatives and programs existed in Iowa prior to  formation of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council in July 2011, but access depended on where students lived and now the STEM scale-up programs have expanded access across Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the Lieutenant Governor and I are committed to restoring Iowa's education system to best in the nation and this goal cannot be achieved without stronger STEM education; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's STEM Advisory Council's priorities moving forward include establishing STEM-focused schools or classrooms to offer students more STEM opportunities, building an online best practices STEM clearinghouse, and increasing of the number of top STEM teachers; and

WHEREAS, STEM provides an important intersection among K-12 education, higher education, vocational training, job creators, job seekers and communities, and the initiative's growth will continue to foster these important relationships; and

WHEREAS, the STEM initiative is engaging  business and community leaders, educators from early childhood through higher education, and parents as partners in this initiative to create new education and economic opportunities in Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the Iowa Constitution encourages a strong educational foundation by providing that, "[t]he General Assembly shall encourage, by all suitable means, the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral, and agricultural improvement" (Iowa Const. art. IX, 2d, § 3); and

WHEREAS, the rapid rise of awareness and activity of the STEM initiative demonstrates its popularity and the demand for further growth; and

WHEREAS, to that end, I am expanding the Governor's STEM Advisory Council in response to continued rapid growth.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, declare that science, technology, engineering and mathematics education should be strengthened as part of creating world-class schools, encouraging innovation and enhancing economic development. I hereby order the expansion of the Governor's Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ("STEM") Advisory Council.

1.      Purpose:  The Governor's STEM Advisory Council shall advise the Governor on ways to improve STEM education, STEM innovation and STEM careers in the public and private sectors.

2.      Organization: The Council shall be composed of members appointed by the Governor. Each member will serve at the pleasure of the Governor without compensation and in an advisory capacity.  The Council shall be led by an Executive Committee.  In addition to the Executive Committee, the Governor may appoint to the Council:

2. 1. representatives with STEM qualifications from the following sectors, including but not limited to: advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, biotechnology, clean energy, engineering, healthcare and information technology, higher education, post-secondary training institutions, early childhood, elementary and secondary education, and vocational-technical education.
   2. additional qualifying members, including representatives of national STEM organizations as appropriate.
   3. two members of the Iowa Senate to serve as non-voting, ex-officio members, one majority party member and one minority party member.
   4. two members of the Iowa House of Representatives to serve as non-voting, ex-officio members, one majority party member and one minority party member.

The Governor's STEM Advisory Council shall be co-chaired by the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.  The other co-chair shall be selected by the Governor for a two-year term. After that, the Lieutenant Governor will continue as co-chair with the other co-chair position to be selected by the Governor and to rotate on a biennial basis.

The co-chairs, or the executive director with the approval of the co-chairs, may direct the Council to form subcommittees to address particular issues facing STEM education and other STEM matters in the State of Iowa. The makeup and nature of each committee shall be determined by the co-chairs.

Administrative operations of the Council shall vest with an Executive Director who will serve at the pleasure of the Council. The Executive Director and Staff shall be housed at the University of Northern Iowa, unless otherwise transferred to another location by the Governor. The Department of Education shall provide staff support to the Council, as needed, to enable the Council to fulfill its responsibilities.

3. Executive Committee: Membership for the Governor's Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Advisory Council Executive Committee may include the following members appointed by the Governor, or their respective designees:

a.      Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa

b.     Director of the Iowa Department of Education

c.      Director of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress (Iowa Economic Development Authority)

d.     Director of the Iowa Department of Workforce Development

e.      President of Iowa State University

f.      President of the University of Iowa

g.     President of the University of Northern Iowa

h.     Community college president

i.       Independent college president

j.       Two representatives of preschool, elementary or secondary education

k.     Two representatives of private employers who hire job candidates with STEM skills

l.       Any other individuals that the Governor may appoint.

The Executive Committee shall conduct business on behalf of the full Advisory Council including, but not limited to, launching initiatives, making final recommendations and scheduling meetings.

4.      Goals: The Council shall have the following objectives:

a.      collaborate with participants and parties from the public and private sectors to promote STEM education, innovation and careers statewide; and

b.     work to dramatically increase students' interest and achievement in STEM subjects so they will have a greater opportunity to pursue STEM careers; and

c.      recommend how to better recruit and prepare teachers to teach STEM; and

d.     map STEM education to economic development with an emphasis on fostering innovation in research and entrepreneurship; and

e.      build on the outstanding work of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership and the Iowa STEM Education Roadmap to advise on development and implementation of a statewide STEM plan with clear goals; and

f.      reach other goals and objectives as requested by the office of the Governor.

5.      Activities: The Council shall undertake the following actions:

a.      Continue creating a campaign to generate public support for STEM subjects and careers by reaching out to parents, students and others; and

b.      the Council shall report any findings or recommendations to the Governor, at the request of the Governor, and at such periods as determined by the Co-Chairs; and

c.      commission reports on issues related to STEM education, innovation and careers to promote an important public conversation about STEM issues; and

d.     recommend policy changes that will better position Iowa's young people, educational institutions and business and industry to compete in STEM areas; and

e.      undertake other activities as requested by the office of the Governor.

All agencies, departments and boards of the State of Iowa shall cooperate fully with the Council. The Council may seek the expertise and services of individuals and entities outside its membership for research, advice and other needs, as required to accomplish its mission.  Executive Order Number 74, dated July 26, 2011, issued by Governor Terry E. Branstad, shall be rescinded because this order expands and replaces Executive Order Number 74.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HAVE HERE­UNTO SUBSCRIBED MY NAME AND CAUSED THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO BE AFFIXED.  DONE AT DES MOINES THIS 15^th DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN.

__________________________________

TERRY E. BRANSTAD

GOVERNOR OF IOWA

ATTEST:

_________________________________

MATT SCHULTZ

SECRETARY OF STATE

###