HF 2590 (LSB 5047HV (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2590

BY  COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2036)

(COMPANION TO SF 2096 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY)

A BILL FOR

An Act allowing certain emergency medical care providers to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  (1)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons when the person’s employment in a private investigation business or private security business licensed under chapter 80A, or a person’s employment as a peace officer, correctional officer, security guard, bank messenger or other person transporting property of a value requiring security, or in police work, reasonably justifies that person going armed.
   (2)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is an emergency medical care provider who is designated and attached to a law enforcement tactical team by the authorities having jurisdiction. A person issued a permit to carry weapons under this paragraph shall train with the law enforcement tactical team the person is designated and attached to, complete a prescribed firearm safety training course offered pursuant to section 724.9, subsection 1, paragraph “e”, complete any additional training as prescribed by the authorities having jurisdiction, and not be disqualified under section 724.8.
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.6, subsection 2, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, fire fighters, as defined in section 411.1, subsection 10, airport fire fighters included under section 97B.49B, and emergency medical care providers, as defined in section 147A.1 other than emergency medical care providers specified in subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), shall not, as a condition of employment, be required to obtain a permit under this section. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person designated as an arson investigator by the chief fire officer of a political subdivision.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.6, Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3.  For purposes of this section, “emergency medical care provider” means the same as defined in section 147A.1.
EXPLANATION
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 persons eligible to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons.
   Current law restricts persons eligible to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons to certain individuals involved with investigation, security, valuable property transportation, corrections, and other police work if the individual’s occupation reasonably justifies the individual going armed. The bill allows an emergency medical care provider to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons if the emergency medical care provider is designated and attached to a law enforcement tactical team by the authorities having jurisdiction. Additionally, the emergency medical care provider shall train with the law enforcement tactical team, complete a firearm safety training course that qualifies a peace officer to carry a firearm in the normal course of the peace officer’s duties, complete any additional training as prescribed by the authorities having jurisdiction, and not be disqualified from obtaining a professional or nonprofessional permit to carry weapons. Notwithstanding a general prohibition, the bill allows an employer of an emergency medical care provider to require an emergency medical care provider to obtain a professional permit to carry weapons as a condition of employment if the emergency medical care provider accompanies police tactical teams consistent with the bill.
   By operation of law, a professional permit to carry weapons will authorize an emergency medical care provider to go armed anywhere in the state only while engaged in employment and while going to and from the place of employment. An emergency medical care provider shall submit an application and undergo a criminal history background check prior to receiving a professional permit to carry weapons. A professional permit to carry weapons issued to an emergency medical care provider shall expire 12 months after the date of issue.