House File 125 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY GASKILL Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act creating a criminal offense for strangulation, and 2 providing a penalty. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1143HH 81 5 jm/gg/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 708.14 STRANGULATION. 1 2 1. A person commits the offense of strangulation if the 1 3 person knowingly or intentionally impedes the normal breathing 1 4 or circulation of blood of another person by applying pressure 1 5 on the throat or neck of the other person. 1 6 2. Except as provided in subsection 3, a person who 1 7 commits strangulation commits a class "D" felony. 1 8 3. A person who commits strangulation commits a class "C" 1 9 felony if the person uses or attempts to use a dangerous 1 10 weapon during the commission of the offense, or if the person 1 11 has been previously convicted of strangulation. 1 12 4. This section does not apply to an act of strangulation 1 13 if the act constitutes a legitimate medical procedure. 1 14 EXPLANATION 1 15 This bill creates the new criminal offense of 1 16 strangulation. 1 17 Under the bill, a person who knowingly or intentionally 1 18 impedes the normal breathing or circulation of blood of 1 19 another person by applying pressure to the throat or neck of 1 20 the other person commits the criminal offense of 1 21 strangulation. 1 22 A person who commits strangulation is guilty of a class "D" 1 23 felony. A person who commits strangulation while using or 1 24 attempting to use a dangerous weapon, or if the person has 1 25 previously been convicted of strangulation, is guilty of a 1 26 class "C" felony. 1 27 The bill does not apply to an act of strangulation if the 1 28 act constitutes a legitimate medical procedure. 1 29 A class "D" felony is punishable by confinement for no more 1 30 than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than 1 31 $7,500. A class "C" felony is punishable by confinement for 1 32 no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,000 but not 1 33 more than $10,000. 1 34 LSB 1143HH 81 1 35 jm:rj/gg/14