Bills › 89th General Assembly
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of a crime victim
Topics:Crime & corrections
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2021
- Stopped: Approved in committeeDid not pass
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Passes again next General AssemblyThe same wording, after an election
- Next: Voters decideOn the next general election ballot
Did not pass It didn’t pass both chambers before the General Assembly ended. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary This resolution would add new rights to the Iowa Constitution for people who have been harmed by a crime. If passed, victims and their families would have the right to be treated with dignity, receive notice about court proceedings, and be heard during sentencing or parole hearings. It also ensures they can be informed if a defendant escapes or is released from custody.1
Read the official explanation
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of a crime victim. to be treated with fairness and dignity, with respect for the victim’s safety and privacy, and to be informed of all rights in this section. The joint resolution provides that upon request, a victim shall have the right to reasonable notice of all proceedings involving the criminal offense; to be present and to be heard in any proceeding involving a release, plea, sentencing, disposition, parole, and any right of the victim; to release conditions which protect the victim; to notice of any release or escape of the defendant; to restitution; and to confer with the attorney for the government. A victim may assert the rights enumerated in the joint resolution. The joint resolution defines a victim to mean a person who has suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm as a direct result of a public offense or a delinquent act, other than a simple misdemeanor, committed in this state. Under the joint resolution, a victim includes the immediate family members of a victim who died or was rendered incompetent as a result of the offense or who was under years of age at the time of the offense. The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly (90th) for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 17, 2021. On February 24, 2021 it recommended passage.
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
Lobbying
3 for · 5 against · 4 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Tried before
89th General Assembly
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 became law, though one got through a chamber.
- HJR 11 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of …88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · same titleCleared committee
- HJR 2 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of …88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
- SJR 2005 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of …88th General Assembly · Passed Senate · same titlePassed a chamber
- SJR 8 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the rights of …88th General Assembly · Renumbered as SJR 2005 · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- HSB 525 HSB 52589th General Assembly · In committeeVery similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.