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Bills › 88th General Assembly

SF 2390Died when the session ended · February 24, 2020

Establishing a cyber crime investigation division in the department of public safety to investigate crimes with a nexus to the internet or computer technology including crimes involving child exploitation and cyber intrusion

Sponsored by the Senate Commerce Committee

Topics:Business & economyTechnology & privacy

Same legislation: SSB 3010, HSB 616, HF 2568

Write your legislators about it

Also covers SSB 3010 and HSB 616 and HF 2568.

Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedFebruary 24, 2020
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2020
  3. Done: Senate committeeFebruary 19, 2020
  4. Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
  5. Skipped: House committeeSkipped
  6. Done: Passes the HouseMarch 10, 2020
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Iowa would create a new division to investigate crimes involving computers and the internet, such as hacking or child exploitation. This group would allow state police to hire specialists who can study digital evidence and help other government agencies solve technology-related crimes. These experts would also provide training to help officials prosecute cyber criminals.1

Read the official explanation

This bill establishes a cyber crime investigation division to investigate crimes with a nexus to the internet or computer technology including crimes involving child exploitation and cyber intrusion. The bill directs the commissioner of public safety to dedicate two or more full-time employees within the division to investigate cyber crime and allows additional staff to be hired. The bill gives the division the authority to conduct investigations and forensic analyses of criminal cases involving computer technology, research and provide training to assist governmental agencies in prosecuting cases related to cyber crime, and provide investigative and prosecutorial assistance to governmental agencies involved with cyber crime.

Full bill text2

Senate subcommittee

Named February 19, 2020 (as SSB 3010). It hasn’t reported yet.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill creates a Cyber Crime Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety to investigate internet-related crimes and provide forensic analysis. The state's General Fund would pay for these new positions and equipment, with estimated costs of $427,500 in fiscal year 2021, $417,500 in fiscal year 2022, and $365,000 in fiscal year 2023.3

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 2568 establishes a Cyber Crime Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Unit is charged with investigating crimes that have a nexus to the Internet or computer technology, including crimes involving child exploitation and cyber intrusion. The Bill grants the Unit the authority to carry out the following tasks:

  • Conduct investigations and forensic analyses of criminal cases involving computer technology.
  • Research and provide training to assist other governmental agencies in prosecuting cases related to cybercrime.
  • Provide investigative and prosecutorial assistance to other governmental agencies involved with cybercrime.

Additionally, HF 2568 directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to dedicate two full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to the Unit, as well as allowing for additional staff to be hired if the need arises.

Background

The Division of Criminal Investigation in the DPS oversees an existing Cyber Crime Unit that focuses primarily on investigations involving online exploitation of children and acts as the lead agency in the State under the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The Unit also responds to both cyber intrusions and other non-child exploitation cyber investigations.

Assumptions

  • Cyber investigations require both investigative and forensic expertise.
  • The skills and training required to conduct online child exploitation investigations differ greatly from those needed to investigate cyber intrusion or other cybercrimes not involving child exploitation. Any additional hires under HF 2568 would need to accommodate these special skills and training.

Fiscal Impact

Due to the complex nature of the investigative and forensic examinations that would be completed by the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit established by HF 2568, the DPS estimates that it would need to hire both a new investigator and a new forensic examiner. These positions would be classified as Special Agent 2 positions. Costs associated with filling these FTE positions and the implementation of HF 2568 are provided in the table below. Cyber Crime Unit: Estimated Personnel and Implementation Costs, FY 2021 – FY 2023 Funding for these FTE positions and related costs for the establishment and implementation of the Cyber Crime Investigation Unit under the DPS would likely be appropriated from the General Fund.

Sources

  • Legislative Services Agency
  • Department of Public Safety

Reading a fiscal note4

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§80.40

Amends§80.4

How the Code works5

Lobbying

2 for · 0 against · 15 undecided · Who →

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Study bill

SSB 3010RenumberedHSB 616Cleared committee

88th General Assembly

SF 2390Cleared committeefrom SSB 3010HF 2568Passed a chamberHouse companion