1. a. There is created within the department of human services a council on human services which shall act in a policymaking and advisory capacity on matters within the jurisdiction of the department. The council shall consist of seven voting members appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate. Appointments shall be made on the basis of interest in public affairs, good judgment, and knowledge and ability in the field of human services. Appointments shall be made to provide a diversity of interest and point of view in the membership and without regard to religious opinions or affiliations. The voting members of the council shall serve for six-year staggered terms.

 b. Each term of a voting member shall commence and end as provided by section 69.19.
 c. All voting members of the council shall be electors of the state of Iowa. No more than four members shall belong to the same political party and no more than two members shall, at the time of appointment, reside in the same congressional district. At least one member of the council shall be a member of a county board of supervisors at the time of appointment to the council. Vacancies occurring during a term of office shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term subject to confirmation by the senate.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 217.2

  • Department: means the department of human services. See Iowa Code 249L.2
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Majority leader: see Floor Leaders
  • Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
  • Party: means a petitioner, a respondent, or a person who intervenes in a proceeding instituted under this chapter. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. In addition to the voting members described in subsection 1, the membership of the council shall include four legislators as ex officio, nonvoting members. The four legislators shall be appointed one each by the majority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the minority leader of the house of representatives for terms as provided in section 69.16B.