House Journal: Page 2245: Tuesday, June 3, 2003
Senate File 354, an Act implementing the federal Indian Child Welfare Act.
Senate File 359, an Act relating to landlords, tenants, and actions for forcible entry
or detention and providing a penalty.
Senate File 417, an Act relating to the purchase of a police service dog by the
Department of Corrections.
Senate File 422, an Act relating to criminal sentencing and procedure by modifying
the penalties for certain offenses related to controlled substances by permitting the
reopening of a sentence that requires a maximum accumulation of earned time credits
of fifteen percent of the total term of confinement and by changing the parole and work
release eligibility of a person serving such a sentence, repealing certain determinate
sentences, and providing a penalty.
Senate File 445, an Act relating to the establishment of a school infrastructure
financing program by providing for the sharing of revenues from local option sales and
services taxes for school infrastructure purposes and providing for the use of the
revenues from the local option tax for school infrastructure or property tax relief
purposes and including an effective date.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE
May 30, 2003
The Honorable Chester Culver
Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
L O C A L
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby transmit House File 206, an Act increasing the child age applicable to
mandatory reporting of suspected child sexual abuse perpetrated by a person other
than the person responsible for the car of the child.
This bill was originally introduced as a single issue bill to broaden the class of
mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse, specifically the clergy. I support the
original intent of the bill. However, during the legislative process another provision
was attached to this bill. This provision raised the age for mandatory reporting of
suspected child sexual abuse perpetrated by a non-caretaker of the child.
I am unable to approve House File 206 because of lines 1-13 that raise the age for
mandatory reporting of non-caretaker abuse from under 12 to under 16. The motives
for such a change are pure-to protect our children. However, the consequences of the
proposed law would be to make criminals out of the children who need our help, love
and attention. This reality will discourage the reporting of abuse and will delay or
deny help to those children most in need. Today, under permissive reporting no child is
made a criminal and no child is left waiting or wanting help. Permissive reporting
allows counselors and other professionals to make informed decisions based on the
specific facts and circumstances of the individual they are assisting.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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Last update: Wed Jul 30 14:40:01 CDT 2003
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