Relating to peace officers, reserve peace officers, and federal officers going armed with, carrying, or transporting a firearm on school grounds

Description

Senate File 2184 relates to peace officers, reserve peace officers, and federal officers going armed with, carrying, or transporting a firearm on school grounds. The Bill allows a peace officer or reserve peace officer, including a peace officer or reserve peace officer who has not been certified, and a federal officer when the officer’s employment requires that individual to be armed with, carry, or transport a firearm on school grounds, whether or not the officer is acting in the performance of official duties.

Background

Senate File 2184 establishes an exception to Iowa Code section 724.4B, which establishes a penalty for carrying firearms on school grounds. Under current law, a person who goes armed with, carries, or transports a firearm of any kind, concealed or not, on the grounds of a school commits a Class D felony. A Class D felony is punishable by confinement of no more than five years and a fine of at least $750, but not more than $7,500.

In FY 2019, there were a total of four convictions for carrying a firearm on school grounds.

Assumptions

• It is assumed insurance companies, in conjunction with an individual school or school district, will evaluate the need to update existing individual school or school district insurance policies for any potential increase in claims related to the exception for being armed with, carrying, or transporting firearms on specific areas of school grounds.
• Providing an exception for carrying firearms on limited school grounds is assumed to increase liability and risk coverage for individual school or school district insurance policies.

Correctional Impact

The correctional impact of SF 2184 cannot be determined. The Bill creates an exception to an existing offense, and sufficient information is not available to estimate the number of convictions that will specifically be affected by this exception.

Fiscal Impact

The fiscal impact of SF 2184 cannot be determined. Although the State is not expected to incur a fiscal impact, local schools and school districts may incur an increase in insurance coverage costs. Any insurance rate increases are expected to be paid out of the School District Management Fund, which is solely funded by local property taxes. An increase in insurance rates will likely result in an increase in property taxes, but any potential fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time.

Additionally, individual schools and school districts may experience an increase in operational costs to accommodate changes in school safety and associated local school board policies, but this increase is expected to be minimal.

Sources

• Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Human Rights
• Legislative Services Agency
• Department of Education
• Iowa Association of School Boards