April 17, 2008
Governor Will Sign Minority Impact Statement into Law Today


Des Moines, Iowa – Representative Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines), who authored the Minority Impact Statement bill this session, is honored that Governor Chet Culver will sign the bill into law today at Noon at the John R. Grubb Family YMCA.1611 11th Street in Des Moines.

Governor Chet Culver, Representative Wayne Ford, other legislators and various community leaders will be present. People of he community who will benefit from this legislation will also be in attendance.

HF 2393 combines two bills requiring that state government determine the impact that state grants have on the minority community and the impact that any new criminal legislation has on Iowa’s minorities.

“This is landmark legislation and is a remarkable step in addressing the special circumstances of Iowa’s minority population,’ Ford said.

Marc Mauer, Executive Director of the Sentencing Project has said, “If these series of bills become law, it will be the first of its kind in the nation.” Upon hearing news of the official bill signing tomorrow, Mauer corresponded with Representative Wayne Ford by saying, “Wayne, you are our hero! This is groundbreaking work and will help to fuel this movement around the nation.”

House File 2393 will require that the correctional impact statements currently required by law must also include any impact on minorities in Iowa. Current law requires information on whether new legislation will have an impact on our prisons and correctional institutions. This bill will now determine if there is a unique effect on minorities.

Also, House File 2393 requires that any applicant for a grant from a state of Iowa agency must include a minority impact statement that indicates if there will be any disproportionate or unique impact on minority persons in Iowa. If there is an impact, the applicant must explain the rationale for such an impact. In addition, they must disclose whether representatives of minority persons were consulted about the impact.

The above bill defines minority persons as women, persons with a disability, Blacks, Latinos, Asians or Pacific Islanders, American Indians, or Alaskan Native Americans.


AN EXPERIENCED LEGISLATIVE LEADER

He has 12 years of experience serving House District 65 as an Iowa State Representative

He is Chairman of the Community Outreach Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee

He is Vice Chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee

He serves on both the House Economic Growth and Human Resources Committees

He serves on the Governor's Task Force on Nonprofit Organizations, Small Businesses, and Prison

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY BETTERMENT

He is Founder and Executive Director of Urban Dreams. Urban Dreams is an United Way Agency that has served Des Moines since 1985

He is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the nation's oldest minority presidential debate, the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum

He serves on Drake University's National Diversity Board

He serves as a Board Member for the Evelyn Davis Learning Academy


Paid for by Citizens to Re-elect Wayne Ford