Text: SF02329 Text: SF02331 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE FILE 2330 1 2 1 3 AN ACT 1 4 RELATING TO THE FILING OF CIVIL LITIGATION BY PRISONERS AND 1 5 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 1 6 1 7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 1 8 1 9 Section 1. Section 610.1, Code 1997, is amended by adding 1 10 the following new unnumbered paragraph: 1 11 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. Notwithstanding the provisions 1 12 of this section, the court shall deny the application and 1 13 affidavit of an inmate who has had three or more actions 1 14 dismissed pursuant to section 610A.2. Such inmate shall not 1 15 be permitted to proceed without prepayment of fees, cost, or 1 16 security pursuant to this chapter. 1 17 Sec. 2. Section 610A.1, subsection 1, Code 1997, is 1 18 amended by adding the following new paragraphs: 1 19 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. If the inmate has unsuccessfully 1 20 prosecuted three or more frivolous actions in the preceding 1 21 five-year period, the court may stay the proceeding in 1 22 accordance with section 617.16. 1 23 NEW PARAGRAPH. f. If the inmate has had three or more 1 24 actions dismissed pursuant to section 610A.2, the inmate shall 1 25 not be permitted to file an action pursuant to chapter 610. 1 26 Sec. 3. Section 610A.1, Code 1997, is amended by adding 1 27 the following new subsection: 1 28 NEW SUBSECTION. 3. In any civil case filed by a 1 29 petitioner who is an inmate or prisoner, the respondent may 1 30 review the petition and, if applicable, file a pre-answer 1 31 motion asserting, in addition to any other defense that must 1 32 be asserted in such a motion under the rules of civil 1 33 procedure, that the action or any portion of the action should 1 34 be dismissed pursuant to this chapter because the action or 1 35 any portion of the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to 2 1 state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or is 2 2 otherwise subject to dismissal under section 610A.2. 2 3 Sec. 4. Section 610A.2, subsections 1 and 2, Code 1997, 2 4 are amended to read as follows: 2 5 1. In addition to the penalty provided in section 610.5, 2 6 if applicable, or any other applicable penalty under the Code, 2 7 the courtin which an affidavit of inability to pay has been2 8filedmay dismissthean action or appeal that is subject to 2 9 this chapter, in whole or in part, on a finding ofeitherany 2 10 of the following: 2 11 a. The allegation of inability to pay asserted in an 2 12 accompanying affidavit is false. 2 13 b. The action, claim, defense, or appeal is frivolous or 2 14 malicious in whole or in part. 2 15 c. The inmate or prisoner has knowingly presented false 2 16 testimony or evidence, or has attempted to create or present 2 17 false testimony or evidence in support of the action, claim, 2 18 defense, or appeal. 2 19 d. The actions of the inmate or prisoner in pursuing the 2 20 action, claim, defense, or appeal constitute an abuse of the 2 21 discovery process. 2 22 2. In determining whether an action or appeal is frivolous 2 23 or malicious, the court may considerwhether the claimthe 2 24 following: 2 25 a. Whether the action, claim, defense, or appeal is 2 26 without substantial justification, or otherwise has no 2 27 arguable basis in law or fact, including that the action, 2 28 claim, defense, or appeal fails to state a claim upon which 2 29 relief could be granted, or the action, claim, defense, or 2 30 appeal cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for a 2 31 change in existing law. 2 32 b. Whether the action, claim, defense, or appeal is 2 33 substantially similar to a previous action, claim, defense, or 2 34 appeal, that was determined to be frivolous or malicious, 2 35 either in that it is brought against the same party or in that 3 1 the claim arises from the same operative factsas a previous3 2claim which was determined to be frivolous or malicious. 3 3 c. Whether the action, claim, defense, or appeal is 3 4 intended solely or primarily for harassment. 3 5 d. The fact that evidentiary support for the action, 3 6 claim, defense, or appeal is unavailable, or is not likely to 3 7 be discovered after investigation. 3 8 e. Whether the action, claim, defense, or appeal is 3 9 asserted with an improper purpose, including but not limited 3 10 to, causing an unnecessary expansion or delay in proceedings, 3 11 increasing the cost of proceedings, or harassing an opponent. 3 12 f. Whether the defendant is immune from providing the 3 13 relief sought. 3 14 Sec. 5. Section 610A.3, Code 1997, is amended to read as 3 15 follows: 3 16 610A.3LOSS OF GOOD CONDUCT TIMEPENALTIES. 3 17 1. If an action or appeal brought by an inmate or prisoner 3 18 in stateor federalcourt isdetermined to be malicious or3 19filed solely to harass or if the inmate or prisoner testifies3 20falsely or otherwise presents false evidence or information to3 21the court in such an actiondismissed pursuant to section 3 22 610A.2, or, if brought in federal court, is dismissed under 3 23 any of the principles enumerated in section 610A.2, the inmate 3 24 shalllosebe subject to the following penalties: 3 25 a. The loss of some or all of the good conduct time 3 26 credits acquired by the inmate or prisoner. Previous 3 27 dismissals under section 610A.2 may be considered in 3 28 determining the appropriate level of penalty. 3 29 b. If the inmate or prisoner has no good conduct time 3 30 credits to deduct, the order of the court or the disciplinary 3 31 hearing may deduct up to fifty percent of the average balance 3 32 of the inmate account under section 904.702 or of any prisoner 3 33 account. 3 34 2. The court may make an order deducting the credits or 3 35 the credits may be deducted pursuant to a disciplinary hearing 4 1 pursuant to chapter 903A at the facility at which the inmate 4 2 is held. 4 3 Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 4 4 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 4 5 Sec. 7. SEVERABILITY. If this Act, or any portion of this 4 6 Act, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act 4 7 shall remain in effect to the fullest extent possible. 4 8 4 9 4 10 4 11 MARY E. KRAMER 4 12 President of the Senate 4 13 4 14 4 15 4 16 RON J. CORBETT 4 17 Speaker of the House 4 18 4 19 I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and 4 20 is known as Senate File 2330, Seventy-seventh General Assembly. 4 21 4 22 4 23 4 24 MARY PAT GUNDERSON 4 25 Secretary of the Senate 4 26 Approved , 1998 4 27 4 28 4 29 4 30 TERRY E. BRANSTAD 4 31 Governor
Text: SF02329 Text: SF02331 Text: SF02300 - SF02399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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