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The following reports have been researched by University of Iowa students in order to inform and assist the Iowa State Legislature in debating current and upcoming legislation. If you are a legislator and would like to request a report on a specific topic please visit the Our Services page. Reports are viewable as .pdf files using standard Adobe products. They are organized by topic heading and the notes should give a general idea of the report content. Note that all research is only as current as its publication. Note that because of our organizations name change in 2008 all reports from 2006 and 2007 will reference or previous title: I-CAN (Iowa Civic Analysis Network). Sort Reports: Alphabetical, By Year, By Topic
Reports by Topic: Education Credit Cards on College Campuses : 2007, 7 pgs. Describes prevalence of credit cards on college campuses. Examines solicitation policies of the three public Iowa universities. Education Benefits for Veterans : 2007, 7 pgs. Federal and State level programs are examined. A comparitive table of 50 states' programs is provided. High School Life-Skills Courses : 2007, 3 pgs. Compares life-skills curriculum requirements to graduate from high school in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Homeschooling : 2007, 5 pgs. Informs on the number of homeschoolers in the U.S. and current growth trends. Examines how states regulate homeschooling. Iowa and four other states are case studied. Tuition for University Employees and Dependents : 2007, 3 pgs. Examines tuition breaks and maximum credit hours per semester for full-time university employees, their spouses, and their children. University Tuition Reciprocity : 2007, 3 pgs. Reports on higher education tuition reciprocity agreements between states, counties, and schools. Summary of the three most expansive programs is provided. Energy and Environment Distillers Dried Grains : 2007, 4 pgs. Provides an overview of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and discusses the use of DDGS in feeding livestock, including the nutritional value and economic benefit for different animals. Incentives and Laws for E85 Use : 2007, 5 pgs. Reports on prevalence of gas stations stocked with E85 fuel. Overviews state level incentive programs designed to promote E85 use. Oil Filter Recycling : 2007, 4 pgs. Examines used oil filter recycling. Overviews environmental impact, EPA regulations, Iowa law, and various state recycling incentive programs. Small Motor Pollution : 2007, 3 pgs. Short overview of pollution caused by small engines such as weed and lawn equipment followed by an explanation of federal prohibits on state regulation of such engines. Wind Power: 2006, 4 pgs. Reports on explosive growth in wind power production. Compares several states that employ incentives (including Iowa) to encourage construction of wind power plants. Governmental Procedure Eminent Domain: 2006, 5 pgs. Overviews Iowa and U.S. eminent domain legislation. Examines court rulings in Ohio and Oklahoma. Brief case studies for Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Colorado. Open Government: Enforcement : 2007, 7 pgs. Presents an overview of Iowa's public meeting and record laws including consequences of violating the laws. Examines enforcement procedures in several other states and compares each states penalties for violating the laws. Tribal Courts and Jurisdiction: 2006, 5 pgs. Reviews Federal Code, Iowa Law, and Supreme Court cases involving Tribal Law and Jurisdiction. Voting Rights for Minors: 2006, 2 pgs. Brief comments on voting rights for those under 18 and how other states approach the subject. Township Governments in Iowa: 2006, 3 pgs. Explains townships, their functions, and the controversy surrounding them. Compiles data from nearby states for comparison. Health Care Mental Health: 2006, 7 pgs. Funding and quality analysis of Iowa's decentralized mental health care system. Graphically displays national spending comparison. Miscellaneous and Special Projects Big Box Stores : 2007, 5 pgs. Reports on recent efforts in some states to regulate large, 'Big Box', stores. Details the type of impact studies some states require before construction of such stores. Brain Drain: 2006, 5 pgs. Comments on human migration by age group and education level, focusing on Iowa's high loss of young, education adults. Brain Drain Incentives : 2007, 3 pgs. Brief, non-scientific survey of state initiatives to counteract brain drain of high school graduates. Bullying Legislation: 2006, 3 pgs. Trends in Federal and Iowan legislation and law related to school bullying. Compares various states with anti-bullying legislation. Direct Shipping of Wine : 2007, 4 pgs. Examines restrictions on the direct shipping of wine. Federal and state regulations are examined. A summary table of all 50 states' laws is provided. Divestment from Sudan: 2006, 5 pgs. Explains current interest in divesting from the Republic of Sudan. Funds researched: State Treasury, Public University Endowments, and IPERS. Provides list of multinational corporations doing business in Sudan. Internet in Public Libraries : 2007, 4 pgs. Looks at availibility and quality of the internet in public libraries. Iowa statistics are compared to other states and national data. Open Burning Laws : 2007, 5 pgs. This report provides an overview of the impact of open burning on human health and the environment. It also compares Iowa’s open-burning law to its neighboring states and discusses how these laws are enforced. Predatory Lending: 2006, 5 pgs. Overview of three types of 'predatory' lending: Car Title, Payday, and Refund Anticipation. Characterizes the groups most affected, and summarizes pending legislation in the U.S. Sex Offender Residency Restrictions : 2007, 5 pgs. Summarizes the current residency restrictions for sexual offenders in the U.S. with an emphasis on Iowa. The effectiveness of and alternative proposals to these laws are examined. Tax Issues Cigarette Tax: 2006, 5 pgs. Compares country wide average cigarette tax rates to Iowa's. Comments on revenue considerations, tax fairness issues, and boarder purchasing. (Pre-2007 Tax Increase) Film Production Tax Breaks: 2006, 3 pgs. Comments on incentives used to attract film production groups to work in a given state. Notes some important variations. Overviews Iowa's pending legislation on the issue. Golf Course Tax Breaks: 2006, 2 pgs. Brief overview of golf course zoning and assessment methods. Sales Tax for Clothing: 2006, 3 pgs. Relates prevalence of temporary and permanent tax free periods for clothing items in the U.S. Transportation Automated Enforcement of Red Light Running : 2007, 5 pgs. Federal, state, and local action regarding the use of red light cameras is examined. Also reports on the effectiveness of these systems. Cell Phone Use While Driving: 2006, 3 pgs. Examines the effects of cell phone use on drivers and various state laws regulating cell phone use. Jet Ski Legislation: 2006, 3 pgs. Brief overview of issues surrounding jet ski legislation including safety issues, inter-state standardization, and environmental concerns. Motorcycle Helmets: 2006, 4 pgs. Current (2006) state of helmet laws in the country. Compliance over time and death rate reductions due to existing laws. Road Funding: 2006, 8 pgs. Breaks down by percentage where states get money for road funds: Fuel Taxes, Vehicle Registration Fees, Bonds, Other Taxes/Tolls Seat Belts in School Buses : 2007, 5 pgs. Examines effectiveness of installing seat belts in school buses. Safety statistics, federal law, state law, and cost estimates are presented. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want More? If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or want to request a new report please contact us. |
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