Week 2 – Committee Reports

January 21, 2009

 

 

ETHICS

JUDICIARY

NATURAL RESOURCES

 

 

 

STAFF CONTACT:    Eric Bakker

 

SSS 1018 – Senate Code of Ethics

 

 

COMMITTEE ACTION: 

 

SSB 1018 – This resolution updates the Senate’s Code of Ethics.  This resolution is exactly the same as the one approved two years ago except for changing which General Assembly this resolution governs.  [1/20: short form]

 

 

 

 

STAFF CONTACT:    Cathy Engel

 

SF 27/SSB 1023 – Relating to Human Trafficking

 

COMMITTEE ACTION:

 

As amended in Committee, SF 27 amends the definition of “commercial sexual activity” in the Human Trafficking Chapter (710A) of the Iowa Code to change it from any “sex act” to “‘any sex act or sexually explicit performance’ on behalf of which anything of value is given.”   The intent is to make it easier to bring prosecutions under the Human Trafficking Chapter relating to commercial sexual activity when minors are being exploited through nude dancing at strip clubs.  Because the previous definition was limited to any “sex act,” it was felt that nude dancing by minors could not be prosecuted under this Chapter.  In addition, SF 27 adds children who are victims of human trafficking to the Victims Rights law (Chapter 915).  This change would allow these children to have access to victim services, protection of the child victim’s privacy and the appointment of a guardian ad litem for a child victim/witness. [1/20:  short form]

 

 

 

 

STAFF CONTACT:    Jace Mikels

 

SJR 1 – Constitutional amendment on sustainable funding for natural resources

SF 3 – .08 blood alcohol content limit for operating motorboat or sailboat

 

COMMITTEE ACTION:

 

SJR 1 is a bill for a proposed constitutional amendment to provide for sustainable funding for natural resources, water quality and outdoor recreation in Iowa.  As amended in committee, the proposed amendment would allow voters to establish a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, which would be funded by an amount equal to a sales tax of 3/8ths of one cent (this currently equals approximately $150 million).  If the proposed amendment is adopted, money would not be deposited into the fund until the sales tax is raised by the Legislature.  The amendment would not raise taxes or divert money from current programs.  The amendment must pass both the Senate and the House for a second time during this General Assembly before it would be submitted to Iowa voters for approval in the 2010 General Election.  [1/20: short form]

 

SF 49 changes the blood alcohol content limit for the offense of operating a motorboat or sailboat while intoxicated from .10 to .08.  This mirrors current state law for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.  [1/20: short form (Bartz “no”)]