Relating to scrap metal transactions including establishing an application and permit system to sell scrap metal, and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to scrap metal transactions including establishing an application and permit system to sell scrap metal. The bill provides that a person who is a resident of Iowa shall not sell scrap metal to a scrap metal dealer in this state unless the person has obtained a permit to sell scrap metal from the sheriff of the county in which the person resides. A person who is not a resident of Iowa shall not sell scrap metal to a scrap metal dealer in this state unless the person has obtained a permit to sell scrap metal from a sheriff located anywhere in the state. The sheriff shall issue a permit to the person if all of the following apply: the person has not been convicted of a violation of the bill more than two times; the person declares on an application provided by the sheriff that the person is informed of and will comply with the provisions of the bill; and the person pays a permit fee of not more than $5. The bill directs the state patrol of the department of public safety to develop the application and permit in consultation with county sheriffs and sheet metal dealers, and requires all sheriffs to use the application and permit developed by the state patrol. A sheriff is required to keep a record of all permits issued containing, at a minimum, the date of issuance, the name and address of the person or entity, a photocopy of the person’s identification or of the entity’s employee’s identification, and a photograph of the person or of the entity’s employee. The bill provides that a permit is valid statewide and expires on the person’s birth date on the second calendar year after the calendar year in which the permit is issued, or, if the permittee is an entity, the permit expires on the date of issuance on the second calendar year after the calendar year in which the permit was issued. A sheriff may investigate a person’s or entity’s background prior to issuing a permit for purposes of determining if the person or entity qualifies to be issued a permit.11. The bill makes conforming changes related to renumbering.