DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of a House legislative committee says he intends to introduce legislation that would strengthen oversight of boarding schools in Iowa that are able to operate with little state regulation.

Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Wilton Republican and chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee, says the bill is in response to abuse allegations at the now-closed Midwest Academy in Keokuk. He spoke Wednesday after officials from some state agencies testified about the issue to the committee.

Several legislative committees are attempting to respond to the abuse allegations with legislation. The Senate passed an oversight bill by the Senate Education Committee, but it died after a legislative deadline. The Senate Government Oversight Committee also has a bill.

Kaufmann says he envisions combining all the legislative efforts into one bill.