State Representative Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines) authored two bills this year that were combined and passed the Iowa House of Representatives today. The bills require that state government determine the impact that state grants and some criminal legislation has on Iowa’s minorities.
“This is landmark legislation and is a remarkable step in addressing the special circumstances of Iowa’s minority population,’ Ford said. (more…)
The State Prison System Planning Committee, which is Co-chaired by State Representative Todd Taylor of Cedar Rapids, wrapped up their work yesterday and recommended a series of upgrades to Iowa’s prison system. The committee was formed to study Iowa’s prison system, which has a design capacity of 7,364 but currently houses 8,894 offenders.
The recommendations will be considered by the 2008 Iowa Legislature, which opens up on January 14. The scoop from today’s Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Legislative panel supports proposal to build 2 prisons
By Rod Boshart, The Gazette
rod.boshart@gazettecommunications.comDES MOINES — A legislative study panel on Wednesday recommended lawmakers proceed next session with nearly $240 million in upgrades to Iowa’s prisons, including replacing the women’s prison in Mitchellville and the Fort Madison penitentiary. (more…)
A new board created to keep Iowans safe through improved emergency communications met for the first time on Tuesday. State Representative Bob Kressig of Cedar Falls, who has worked on the issue for several years, sponored and managed the bill (House File 353) that created the board during the 2007 legislative session.
The goal of the board is plan and implement an intergrated emergency communications network (called interoperability) that will allow all police, state troopers, fireman, and other first responders to communicate with each other in real time.