Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of public safety
Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Topics:Crime & correctionsPublic safety & emergencies
Same legislation: SF 2103
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 25, 2022
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 31, 2022
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 9, 2022
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, 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 will create a new unit within the Department of Public Safety to look into old, unsolved crimes. This team will focus on investigating murders and cases involving missing children or adults who are believed to be dead. They will take over these investigations after the original law enforcement agency has finished its first attempt at the case.1
Read the official explanation
This bill establishes a cold case investigation unit within the department of public safety. The bill provides that the commissioner of public safety may assign the cold case investigation unit to a division or bureau within the department. Under the bill, the cold case investigation unit shall, within the capabilities of the unit, conduct criminal investigations after an initial criminal investigation has been completed by the law enforcement agency conducting the initial criminal investigation. The bill specifies that the unit shall focus on investigations related to unsolved murders, missing children, and missing adults presumed to be deceased. The bill provides that the department of public safety shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal note
AI summary Senate File 2234 creates a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety to investigate unsolved murders and missing persons cases. This bill is estimated to increase costs to the Department of Public Safety's General Fund by $292,000 in fiscal year 2023 and by $196,000 in fiscal year 2024.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 2234 establishes a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Unit is tasked, within its capabilities, with conducting criminal investigations after an initial criminal investigation has been completed by law enforcement. The Unit is to focus on investigations involving unsolved murders, missing children, and missing adults presumed to be dead.
Background
Currently, no specific unit within the DPS is assigned to handle cold cases. The Major Crime Unit (MCU) of the Division of Criminal Investigation takes responsibility for investigating cold cases as time and resources allow. As of February 10, 2022, the MCU had 160 open cold cases.
Assumptions
- Due to the complex nature of cold cases, staffing the Cold Case Investigation Unit will require 2.0 Special Agent full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
- The Department will adopt administrative rules for the Unit.
Fiscal Impact
The costs of 2.0 Special Agent FTE positions for the Cold Case Investigation Unit are shown in Table 1. Senate File 2234 is estimated to increase costs to the DPS by $292,000 in FY 2023 and by $196,000 in FY 2024. The DPS is funded through General Fund appropriations. Table 1 — Cost of 2.0 Special Agent FTE Positions, FY 2023 to FY 2024Expense FY 2023 FY 2024 Salary and Benefits 188,000$ 188,000$ Recurring Annual Costs 8,000 8,000 One-Time Equipment Costs 91,000 0 One-Time Training Costs 5,000 0 Total 292,000$ 196,000$
Source
- Department of Public Safety
- Cold Case Unit · March 4, 2022
- Cold Case Unit · February 14, 2022
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Tried before
89th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2430 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…88th General Assembly · In committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HF 63 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Approved by committeeNearly identical
- SF 40 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…90th General Assembly · Approved by committeeVery similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.