House File 525 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 525 BY HINSON A BILL FOR An Act related to professional licensing, including by 1 modifying provisions related to disciplinary action for 2 certain licensed professions, and establishing inmate 3 eligibility requirements for vocational programs offered by 4 the department of corrections. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2623YH (2) 88 gh/rn

H.F. 525 Section 1. Section 103.35, subsection 5, Code 2019, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 5. Conviction of a violent felony under the laws of the 3 United States, this of any state , any other state, territory, 4 or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, 5 or of any foreign other country. For purposes of this 6 subsection, “violent felony” means any felonious sexual abuse 7 involving compulsion or the use of a weapon or any felonious 8 child endangerment, assault, murder, kidnapping, robbery, 9 human trafficking, arson, or burglary. A copy of the record 10 of conviction or plea of guilty is conclusive evidence of such 11 conviction. 12 Sec. 2. Section 105.22, subsection 4, Code 2019, is amended 13 to read as follows: 14 4. Conviction of a violent felony related to the profession 15 or occupation of the licensee or the conviction of any felony 16 that would affect the licensee’s ability to practice within the 17 profession under the laws of the United States, of any state 18 or possession of the United States, or of any other country . 19 For purposes of this subsection, “violent felony” means any 20 felonious sexual abuse involving compulsion or the use of a 21 weapon or any felonious child endangerment, assault, murder, 22 kidnapping, robbery, human trafficking, arson, or burglary. A 23 copy of the record of conviction or plea of guilty shall be 24 conclusive evidence of such conviction. 25 Sec. 3. Section 904.805, subsection 5, Code 2019, is amended 26 to read as follows: 27 5. Coordinate Iowa state industries, and other 28 opportunities for gainful work available to inmates of adult 29 correctional institutions, with vocational and technical 30 training opportunities and apprenticeship programs, to the 31 greatest extent feasible. The state director shall ensure that 32 any vocational, technical, or apprenticeship program offered to 33 inmates which is related to a profession requiring licensure by 34 a state agency shall be made available only to inmates who will 35 -1- LSB 2623YH (2) 88 gh/rn 1/ 2

H.F. 525 be eligible to obtain such licensure upon release. 1 EXPLANATION 2 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 3 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 4 This bill relates to professional licensing. 5 Current law allows the electrical examining board to suspend 6 or revoke the license of, or reprimand any electrician or 7 electrical contractor licensed under Code chapter 103, if 8 the licensee is convicted of a felony. Current law allows 9 the plumbing and mechanical systems board to suspend or 10 revoke the licensure of, or reprimand any plumber, mechanical 11 professional, or contractor licensed under Code chapter 105 if 12 the licensee is convicted of a felony related to the profession 13 or occupation of the licensee or the conviction of any felony 14 that would affect the licensee’s ability to practice their 15 profession. 16 The bill provides that these boards may instead suspend or 17 revoke the license of, or reprimand, a licensee only if the 18 licensee is convicted of a violent felony, as defined in the 19 bill, under the laws of the United States, of any state or 20 possession of the United States, or of any other country. 21 Current law requires the director of the Iowa department of 22 corrections, with the advice of the state prison industries 23 advisory board, to coordinate opportunities for inmates of 24 adult correctional institutions with vocational and technical 25 training and apprenticeship programs, to the greatest extent 26 feasible. 27 The bill provides that the director shall ensure that 28 any vocational, technical, or apprenticeship program offered 29 to inmates which is related to a profession requiring state 30 licensure shall be made available only to inmates who will be 31 eligible to obtain such licensure upon release. 32 -2- LSB 2623YH (2) 88 gh/rn 2/ 2