About the IOWAccess Advisory Council

History of the IOWAccess Advisory Council

The IOWAccess Advisory Council was established within the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) in 1998. The purpose of the Council is to provide a gateway for one-stop electronic access to government information and transactions, whether state, county, or local.

The IOWAccess Advisory Council is a state-funded service providing access to government information and transactions.

Who can request support from IOWAccess?

The IOWAccess Advisory Council has set the following guidelines for reviewing requests:

• The request must be made by a State of Iowa, county, or local government agency
• The request must meet the mission of the government agency
• The request must provide a service to the citizens of Iowa
• The website/application must provide electronic access to government information or transactions whether federal, state or local.
• The government agency can outsource management of the website to a non-profit organization, but the agency is ultimately responsible for the information contained therein.

Duties of the IOWAccess Advisory Council

• Recommend to the Technology Governance Board rates to be charged for value-added services performed through IOWAccess-funded projects.
• Recommend to the DAS Director the priority of projects accepted for IOWAccess funding.
• Recommend to the DAS Director expected outcomes of IOWAccess-funded projects and determine the manner in which such outcomes are to be measured and evaluated.
• Review and recommend to the DAS Director the IOWAccess total budget request and ensure that such request reflects the priorities and goals of IOWAccess as established by the Advisory Council.
• Review and recommend to the DAS Director all rules to be adopted by the department that are related to IOWAccess programs and services.
• Advocate for access to government information and services through IOWAccess and for data privacy protection, information ethics, accuracy, and security in IOWAccess programs and services.
• Receive status and operations reports associated with IOWAccess programs and services.
• Advise the DAS Director with respect to the operation of IOWAccess.
• Encourage and implement access to government and its public records by the citizens of this state.
• Serve as a link between the users of public records, the lawful custodians of the records, and the citizens of this state who are the owners of the records in projects funded by IOWAccess.
• Ensure that IOWAccess programs and services give priority to serving the needs of the citizens of Iowa.

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The IOWAccess Revolving Fund

The IOWAccess Revolving Fund was established for the purpose of maintaining, developing, operating, and expanding the IOWAccess initiative to enhance citizen access to government services or information at the state, county, or local level through technology.

• Funded by sales of driver's license records and online services
• Used to support e-government initiatives
• Provides technology project development and startup funds

Legislation Establishing the IOWAccess Advisory Council

The IOWAccess Advisory Council was established by the Code of Iowa, §8A.221.

69.15 Board members - nonattendance - vacancy. Any person who has been appointed by the governor to any board under the laws of this state shall be deemed to have submitted a resignation from such office if either of the following events occurs:

1. The person does not attend three or more consecutive regular meetings of such board. This paragraph does not apply unless the first and last of the consecutive meetings counted for this purpose are at least thirty days apart.
2. The person attends less than one-half of the regular meetings of such board within any period of twelve calendar months beginning on July 1 or January 1. This paragraph does not apply unless such board holds at least four regular meetings during such period. This paragraph applies only to such a period beginning on or after the date when the person takes office as a member of such board.

If such person received no notice and had no knowledge of a regular meeting and gives the governor a sworn statement to that effect within ten days after the person learns of the meeting, such meeting shall not be counted for the purposes of this section.

The governor in the governor's discretion may accept or reject such resignation. If the governor accepts it, the governor shall notify such person, in writing, that the resignation is accepted pursuant to this section. The governor shall then make another appointment to such office. Such appointment shall be made in the same manner and for the same term as in the case of other vacancies caused by resignation from such office.

As used in this section, "board" includes any commission, committee, agency, or governmental body which has three or more members.