Relating to and making appropriations to the justice system, and including effective date provisions

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to and makes appropriations to the justice system. The bill is organized in divisions. FY 2024-2025 APPROPRIATIONS. The bill makes appropriations for FY 2024-2025 from the general fund of the state 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, and board of parole. The bill appropriates moneys from the commerce revolving fund to the office of consumer advocate of the department of justice; from the gaming enforcement revolving fund to the department of public safety; from the 911 emergency communications fund to the department of homeland security and emergency management; and from the consumer education and litigation fund to the department of justice for farm mediation services and for criminal prosecutions, criminal appeals, and performing certain duties. IOWA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY. For a basic training course provided to a candidate sponsored by a political subdivision and hired by the political subdivision, current law requires the Iowa law enforcement academy to charge one-third of the cost to the political subdivision, one-third to the candidate, and the remainder to the state. The bill provides that the state will be charged the cost previously charged to the candidate. The bill provides that each fiscal year the academy shall pay the tuition cost for one law enforcement officer candidate from every sponsoring law enforcement agency including tribal government candidates. This provision does not apply to candidates of a state department. INDIGENT DEFENSE. The bill increases the hourly rates for court-appointed counsel by $5 per hour and provides that for appointments made on or after July 1, 2024, compensation is calculated on the basis of $88 per hour for class “A” felonies, $83 per hour for class “B” felonies, and $78 per hour for all other cases.