This bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code related to the duties and powers of the director of the Department of Corrections, the Board of Corrections, superintendents, and district directors. Key changes include the shift from requiring the "approval" of the board to seeking the "advice and recommendations" of the board for several actions, such as preparing budgets, adopting rules, and establishing furlough programs for inmates. Additionally, the bill allows the director to appoint superintendents and district directors with the same advisory relationship to the board, rather than requiring board approval.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the removal process for superintendents by eliminating the requirement for a hearing before the board and the director, streamlining the process for the director to manage personnel. It also grants the director the authority to secure options for purchasing and selling real estate for institutional use, again under the advisory framework of the board rather than requiring its approval. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the operational efficiency of the Department of Corrections by granting the director greater autonomy while still maintaining a consultative relationship with the board.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 904.108, 902.3, 904.114, 904.207, 906.1, 904.301A, 904.317, 8.33