IOWA COMMISSION OF LATINO AFFAIRS
Like all statewide boards and commissions, the Latino Affairs Commission is balanced for gender and political affiliation and it’s made up of seven Governor-appointed community members who volunteer their time to represent the Latino community in Iowa.
According to Iowa Section Code Section 216A.15, the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs has the following duties:
- Study the opportunities for and changing needs of the Latino population of this state.
- Serve as liaison between the office and the public, sharing information and gathering constituency input.
- Recommend to the board for adoption rules pursuant to chapter 17A as it deems necessary for the commission and office.
- Recommend to the department director policies and programs for the office.
- Establish advisory committees, work groups, or other coalitions as appropriate.
Current Initiatives & Projects
Other Information
If you are interested in serving on the commission, click here to learn more about the application process or contact us.
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History of the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs
Originally established as the governor’s Spanish-speaking task force through legislative action on April 1974. At the time its primary mission was to study the issues facing Spanish-speaking persons. The Task Force produced a report titled “Conóceme en Iowa”.
Two years later on July 1, 1976, the Sixty-sixth General Assembly approved and Governor Robert Ray signed into law the Spanish-Speaking People’s Commission. Ten years later, in 1986 , during an overall reorganization of state government the Iowa Department of Human Rights was formed, under which was placed the Spanish-Speaking People’s Commission.
In 1990, the Commission and the Division were renamed Latino Affairs. During the 2011 reorganization the Division of Latino Affairs was renamed again as the Office of Latino affairs.