Iowa House of Representatives » Public Safety

Democrats Urge Quick Action on National Guard Tuition Help

deanfiihr — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:11:14 +0000

House Democrats today encouraged Republicans to take quick action on two bills to prevent tuition hikes on national guard members and improve safety at Iowa’s correctional institutions.

“House Democrats are ready to take swift action this week and stop the tuition hike on national guard members. We are ready to work with Republicans and get the bill to the Governor’s desk before we return home for the weekend,” said Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids, who leads Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee. “With most Iowa students already back at college for the spring semester, we need to take quick action to restore their tuition assistance before it’s too late.”

In December, the Iowa National Guard announced it would reduce awards for the Education Assistance Program from 90% to 50% because of high enrollment.

“Over the interim, we’ve heard from many Iowans with concerns about safety at our correctional institutions,” added Olson. “As legislators, we have an obligation to ensure the safety of workers in dangerous situations as well as protecting the general public from criminals.”

Olson said both bills will be filed tomorrow.

Chief Justice Cady Addresses Legislature

rachellethomas — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:54:31 +0000

Today, Chief Justice Mark Cady delivered the annual State of the Judiciary to a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate. Justice Cady is serving as the interim chief justice until new justices are appointed to fill three vacancies currently on the court. The Chief Justice focused on Iowans access to the judicial system and on challenges faced by the judicial branch because of the current political climate.

“Unlike our political institutions, courts serve the law, not the interests of constituents. Courts serve the law, not the demands of special interest groups. Courts serve the law, not the electorate’s reaction to a particular decision. By serving the rule of law, courts protect the civil, political, economic, and social rights of all citizens. Chief Justice William Rehnquist called the independence that allows judges to serve the law “the crown jewel of our system of justice.”

Read full text of Chief Justice Cady’s address here.

Pictured is Representative Dan Kelley of Newton with Chief Justice Cady before the State of Judiciary

Rep Kressig Named Iowa State Reserve Law Officer’s 2010 Legislator of the Year

rachellethomas — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:33:29 +0000

The Iowa State Reserve Law Officers Association honored State Representative Bob Kressig with their 2010 “Legislator of the Year” award on September 8, 2010. The award ceremony was held at the Cedar Falls Police Department.

House District 19 Representative Kressig was instrumental in getting HF426 passed during the 2010 legislative session. This bill provided that state certified reserve peace officers who are involved in an on-duty accident with an emergency vehicle will not have this accident placed on their personal record. This added reserve peace officers to already existing legislation that included fulltime peace officers. Kressig introduced the bill and served as the floor manager for the bill in the House of Representatives.

The ISRLOA has represented the needs of reserve peace officers in the state of Iowa since 1973. Reserve peace officers volunteer the time and are an instrumental part of the law enforcement community, when departments need extra help for community events and other situations that require extra officers. The Cedar Fall Police Department and the Waterloo Police Department both have excellent reserve programs.

New “Curb It-Click It” Campaign for Safe Roads

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:44:05 +0000

Jointly with the Governor’s Office, the Departments of Transportation and Public Safety launched the “Curb It-Click It” campaign in an effort to make Iowa’s roads safer. This campaign comes as a result of two bills passed by the Legislature: banning texting while driving and the youth seatbelt law.
Detailed information about Iowa’s seatbelt and texting laws can be found at www.iowadot.gov/CurbItClickIt
Curb It – Texting Ban
Curb It refers to the texting ban for drivers of all ages and a ban on electrical entertainment devices for youth drivers. The message that the Departments of Transportation and Public Safety want to send is that reading or writing a text can wait until you are at your destination, or until you can pull the car over safely. These bans were passed in House File 2456.
• Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using an electronic mobile device or an electronic entertainment device. Exceptions are if the car is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway, or the electronic entertainment device is permanently installed in the vehicle or is operated through permanently installed equipment. This ban applies to persons with the following licenses and permits: a restricted license for a person between 16 and 18 years who is not enrolled in school, an instruction permit, an intermediate license, and a special minor’s license (also known as school permit).
• Drivers 18 years and over are prohibited from using a hand-held electronic communication device to read, write, or send a text message. They may use the device to make and receive phone calls, and the ban does not apply if the car is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. The following individuals are exempted from the ban: a member of a public safety agency performing official duties, a health care professional in the course of an emergency situation, and a person receiving safety-related information including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts.
While the bans on both age groups became law on July 1, 2010, warnings will be issued until July 1, 2011. At that time citations will be issued, which are $30. Higher fines and possible suspension of license will be issued if the driver violates the ban and gets into an accident that results in a serious injury or death.
Click It – Youth Seat Belt Law
Click It references the youth seatbelt law (Senate File 2381), which requires all kids under the age of 18 to buckle up, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. If the youth is at least 14 years and not wearing a seatbelt, they will get the ticket, not the driver. Violations are a $100 scheduled fine. Previous law said that youth at least 6 years, but under 11 years, must use either a child safety seat or a seat belt.
While Iowa’s seatbelt usage rate is at 93%, it is lower for teenagers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that six out of ten children who died in passenger vehicles were not belted.

New Program to Help Domestic Violence Victims

deanfiihr — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:06:51 +0000

In a continued effort to protect victims of domestic violence, The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been chosen to participate in a ground-breaking two-year violence prevention initiative. Project Connect: A Coordinated Public Health Initiative to Prevent Violence against Women. The program is designed to improve the safety of women and children. It is funded by the Office on Women’s Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to identify, respond to and prevent domestic and sexual violence, and promote an improved public health response to abuse.

The Iowa House also approved a bill during the 2010 session to prevent persons who are the subject of a protective order or convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun. Senate File 2357, which was requested by Iowa judges and law enforcement officials, puts federal law into the Iowa code wince most domestic violence cases are settled in the Iowa court system.

Visit the Project Connect website for more information: www.endabuse.org/content/news/detail/1485/.

Governor Culver Signs Bill Standardizing Weopon Permit Process

deanfiihr — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:37:54 +0000

Governor Chet Culver today signed into law Senate File 2379, legislation that standardizes the weapon permit process across Iowa.

Iowa has historically been a “may issue” state, meaning that decisions on whether to issue an individual a permit to carry a weapon were made at the local level at the sheriff’s discretion, with inconsistencies among counties. Senate File 2379 makes Iowa a “shall issue” state in which individuals will be granted weapon permits unless they meet certain criteria for denial.

The law does not grant automatic approval of application for permits for people who are likely to be a danger to themselves or their communities, but it provides that Iowans start with an assumption that an application will be approved, with reasonable safeguards for public safety.

Sheriffs will be required to deny permits based upon applicants’ previous illegal acts, age restrictions (applicants must be over 21), and to applicants who are likely to commit a violent act with the firearm. People denied a permit under these limitations may appeal their case to an administrative law judge. Applicants for a carry permit must be knowledgeable and trained in firearm safety, and continue to show proficiency in control of the firearm.

Governor Signs Texting While Driving Ban

deanfiihr — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:06:13 +0000

Iowa Governor Chet Culver Thursday signed a ban on text messaging while driving that was co-authored by State Representative Curt Hanson of Fairfield.

“After teaching students about responsibility and respect on our roadways for over 40 years, I’m proud that our plan to save lives and prevent accidents was signed by the Governor today,” said Hanson, who won approval of the bill in the Iowa House. “The bi-partisan effort in the Legislature to craft this sensible compromise will protect young drivers and improve safety for everyone on Iowa’s roadways.”

House File 2456 prohibits the use of all electronic and mobile devices while driving for those under the age of 18. Persons over 18 may not use a hand-held electronic device to read, write, or send a text message while driving. Violators will be charged with a simple misdemeanor and a $30 fine. If texting is the cause of an accident that results in serious injury or death, penalties increase up to a $1000 fine and 180 day license suspension.

Law enforcement cannot stop or detain a person only for suspected violations of texting and local governments are not allowed to adopt their own ordinances. When the new law takes effect on July 1, law enforcement will begin an education campaign and will only write warning citations for the first year before the enhanced penalties and fines begin to apply.

Iowa House passes bill to protect victims of domestic violence

deanfiihr — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:04:28 +0000

In an effort to protect victims of domestic violence, the Iowa House today approved a bill to prevent persons who are the subject of a protective order or convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun.

“It’s essential that we do all we can to support and protect victims of domestic violence. Keeping guns out of the hands of violent abusers is one reasonable step we can take to improve public safety and slow the cycle of domestic violence,” said State Representative Deb Berry of Waterloo, who won approval of the bill.

Senate File 2357, which was requested by Iowa judges and law enforcement officials, puts federal law into the Iowa code wince most domestic violence cases are settled in the Iowa court system. Currently, Iowa courts cannot enforce the fedral law prohibiting persons who are subject of a protective order or convicted of domestic abuse from owning guns.

The bill now heads to the Governor.

HOUSE APPROVES TEXT MESSAGING BAN

deanfiihr — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:37:23 +0000

Des Moines, Iowa - On a bi-partisan 64-31 vote, the Iowa House today approved a

ban on text messaging while driving.

"After teaching students about responsibility on our roadways for 30 years, I

understand the dangers of distracted driving and I'm gald we were able to work

together to ban texting while driving. The commone sense bill we approved

today will prevent accidents and save lives," said State Representative Curt

Hanson of Fairfield, who co-managed and won approval of the bill in the House.

House File 2456 prohibits text messaging, instant messaging and e-mailing while

driving a motor vehicle. Violators will be charged with a simple misdemeanor and

a $30 fine. If texting is the cause of an accident that results in serious injury or

death, penalties increase up to a $1,000 fine and 180 day license suspension.

The bill now goes to Senate.

###

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING BAN CLEARS KEY COMMITTEE

deanfiihr — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:48:20 +0000

The House Transportation Committee today approved a ban on texting while driving.”After teaching students to drive for 30 years, I understand the dangers of distracted driving and know the importance of responsibility on our roadways. The common sense, bi-partisan bill we approved today will prevent accidents and save lives,” said State Representative Curt Hanson of Fairfield, who helped craft the bill.

House File 2021, which was approved on a 20-1 vote, prohibits text messaging while driving a motor vehicle. Violators will be charged with a simple misdemeanor and a $30 fine. If texting is the cause of an accident that results in serious injury or death, penalties increase up to a $1,000 fine and 180 day license suspension.

The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.