UNI Legislative Update
The Office of Governmental Relations provides legislative updates to the campus community through online communication and bimonthly campus presentations. These updates will inform faculty, staff and students of hot topics facing the legislature and legislative actions affecting UNI and the Regents institutions.
April 26, 2008
Legislature adjournes; UNI comes out a winner
Both chambers of the Iowa Legislature have adjourned until next year just after 2:30am. The House and the Senate have agreed on the salary bill which will include $41.9 million for the Regent universities. It's up to the Department of Management, the budget arm of the executive branch, to actually divvy up the $88 million, but we are secure in our thinking that we will receive what we've been promised.
The salary bill, along with the education appropriations bill, now goes to the Governor where he has 30 days to sign it.
It was a very good year for UNI in the Legislature this year...
* $41.9 million of the salary needs were appropriated
* The Math & Science Initiative came back from the dead and was appropriated $4 million
* Research Development Demonstration Dissemination School to be centered at Price Lab
* $160,000 for the budget operating needs of the Real Estate program in the Business School
Thank you all for your hard work this legislative session! It goes to show you that you CAN and DO make a difference when it comes to grassroots advocacy. Please spread the word to your other friends and coworkers who have connections to UNI and tell them about UNITE! Better yet, you can invite them personally through Recruit a Friend.