Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of public safety
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 10, 2023
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 17, 2023
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 21, 2023
- 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 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, 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 would create a new team within the Department of Public Safety to investigate old, unsolved crimes. This unit would focus on cases involving murders and people who have gone missing. At least two full-time officers would be assigned to work on these investigations.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. investigation unit and the department of public safety shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of the bill. The rules shall include but are not limited to provisions which ensure proper training and resources for peace officers of the department assigned to a cold case investigation unit.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 11, 2024. It hasn’t reported yet.
- Sen. J. Taylor
- Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach DEmail
- Sen. Jeff Reichman REmail
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
Fiscal note
AI summary Senate File 40 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 $295,000 in fiscal year 2024 and by $199,000 in fiscal year 2025.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 40 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 required to focus on investigations involving unsolved murders, missing children, and missing adults presumed to be dead.
The Commissioner of Public Safety must appoint at least two full-time peace officers to the Cold Case Investigation Unit. The DPS is required to adopt administrative rules and must ensure proper training and resources for peace officers of the DPS assigned to the Cold Case Investigation Unit.
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 23, 2023, the MCU had approximately 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.
- One-time equipment costs are the standard costs associated with outfitting of a new Special Agent 2, including a vehicle, radios, weapons, ammunition, IT equipment, and other equipment.
- One-time training costs include the costs to train someone on a particular specialty.
- Recurring annual costs include costs associated with vehicle depreciation payments, vehicle fuel and maintenance, and communication costs.
Fiscal Impact
The costs of 2.0 Special Agent FTE positions for the Cold Case Investigation Unit are shown in Table 1. Senate File 40 is estimated to increase costs to the DPS by $295,000 in FY 2024 and by $199,000 in FY 2025. The DPS is funded through General Fund appropriations. Table 1 — Cost of 2.0 Special Agent FTE Positions, FY 2024 to FY 2025 Expense FY 2024 FY 2025 Salary and Benefits $191,000 $191,000 Recurring Annual Costs 8,000 8,000 One-Time Equipment Costs 91,000 0 One-Time Training Costs 5,000 0 Total $295,000 $199,000
Sources
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Management
- LSA calculations
- Cold Case Unit · March 10, 2023
Family tree
Tried before
90th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None became law, though one got through a chamber.
- SF 151 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 561 · same titleCleared committee
- SF 2234 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 561 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Passed Senate · same titlePassed a chamber
- HF 63 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Approved by committee · very similarCleared committee
- SF 2103 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2234 · very similarCleared committee
- HF 2430 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…88th General Assembly · In committee · very similarCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.