Relating to appropriations to the justice system, gambling regulatory fees, and creating a bureau of cyber-crime, establishing a department of corrections survivor benefits fund, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the justice system. The bill makes appropriations from the general fund of the state for FY 2021-2022 to the departments of justice, corrections, public defense, public safety, and homeland security and emergency management, and the Iowa law enforcement academy, office of the state public defender, board of parole, Iowa state civil rights commission, and the criminal and juvenile justice planning division of the department of human rights. The bill appropriates moneys from the department of commerce revolving fund for FY 2021-2022 to the office of consumer advocate of the department of justice. The bill appropriates moneys from the gaming enforcement revolving fund for FY 2021-2022 to the department of public safety. The bill appropriates moneys from the 911 emergency communications fund for FY 2021-2022 to the department of homeland security and emergency management. The bill appropriates moneys from the consumer education and litigation fund for FY 2021-2022 to the department of justice for farm mediation services and salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous purposes for criminal prosecutions, criminal appeals, and performing certain duties. MISCELLANEOUS APPROPRIATIONS. The bill appropriates moneys to the department of homeland security and emergency management for the fiscal year 2021-2022 to be used to conduct a governance and funding of levee districts study. ATTORNEY GENERAL. The attorney general shall appoint a staff member to represent the treasurer of state and the workers’ compensation fund in all proceedings and matters arising under the second injury compensation Act. The bill provides that the attorney general shall be reimbursed up to $450,000 annually from the fund for services provided related to the fund. CONSUMER EDUCATION AND LITIGATION FUND.16C, are increased from $1,125,000 to $1,875,000, and $75,000 to $125,000, respectively. INDIGENT DEFENSE. The bill increases the hourly rates for court-appointed counsel by $3 per hour and provides that for appointments made on or after July 1, 2021, the reasonable compensation shall be calculated on the basis of $76 per hour for class “A” felonies, $71 per hour for class “B” felonies, and $66 per hour for all other cases.