IOWA
SF 449

Bill Text

PAG LIN
  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  7A.1A  OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.
  1  2    The official language of the state used for the official
  1  3 reports and publications enumerated in this chapter shall be
  1  4 the English language.
  1  5    Sec. 2.  Section 84A.5, subsection 6, Code 1999, is amended
  1  6 by adding the following new paragraph:
  1  7    NEW PARAGRAPH.  f.  The center for new Iowans established
  1  8 under section 84A.10.
  1  9    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  84A.10  CENTER FOR NEW IOWANS.
  1 10    1.  For the purposes of this section, unless the context
  1 11 otherwise requires, "foreign national" means a person who is
  1 12 not a citizen of the United States, including but not limited
  1 13 to a refugee, asylum seeker, lawful permanent resident, and
  1 14 holder of a temporary visa.
  1 15    2.  The department shall establish a center for new Iowans
  1 16 to provide immigration counseling, technical assistance, and
  1 17 referral services to persons who are legal immigrants or
  1 18 foreign nationals who want to work and reside or temporarily
  1 19 stay in this state.  The center may collaborate with the
  1 20 bureau of refugee services in the department of human services
  1 21 in providing assistance to refugees, but shall not duplicate
  1 22 services to refugees.  The department may contract for
  1 23 administration and operation of the center with a nonprofit
  1 24 agency that is designated by the United States information
  1 25 agency to work with the agency's international visitors
  1 26 program.
  1 27    3.  The center's services and activities to persons who are
  1 28 legal immigrants or foreign nationals shall include but are
  1 29 not limited to all of the following:
  1 30    a.  Providing information and assistance concerning current
  1 31 immigration trends and laws.
  1 32    b.  Acting as a referral center to connect such persons
  1 33 with appropriate support agencies and programs.  Services and
  1 34 programs may include but are not limited to any of the
  1 35 following:
  2  1    (1)  Legal aid.
  2  2    (2)  Client outreach information and referral.
  2  3    (3)  Employment assistance in cooperation with workforce
  2  4 development centers.  This assistance may include training
  2  5 center staff to assist legal immigrants and foreign nationals
  2  6 in understanding social mores, etiquette, business practices,
  2  7 health care services, and other fundamental information for
  2  8 living in Iowa.
  2  9    (4)  Liaison services with the United States immigration
  2 10 and naturalization service and congressional offices.
  2 11    (5)  Language translation of brochures and other
  2 12 information distributed by public and private agencies.
  2 13    c.  Serving as an educational resource to employers and the
  2 14 public regarding concerns and issues connected with employment
  2 15 of foreign nationals.
  2 16    d.  Providing language translation services and working
  2 17 cooperatively with Iowa legal aid societies in dealing with
  2 18 civil cases.
  2 19    4.  Staffing for the center shall include a managing
  2 20 licensed attorney who is knowledgeable regarding immigration
  2 21 law, an education and referral counselor, support staff, and
  2 22 other necessary positions.
  2 23    5.  The center may charge fees for services.
  2 24    6.  This section is repealed on July 1, 2004.