Senate File 331 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1016) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act to establish an automated victim notification system in 2 the department of justice. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1164SV 81 5 kk/cf/24 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 915.10, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2005, 1 2 are amended to read as follows: 1 3 1. "Notification" means mailing by regular mail or 1 4 providing for hand delivery of appropriate information or 1 5 papers. However, this notification procedure does not 1 6 prohibit an office, agency, or department from also providing 1 7 appropriate information to a registered victim by telephone, 1 8 electronic mail, or other means. 1 9 2. "Registered" means having provided the county attorney 1 10 with the victim's written request for registration and current 1 11 mailing address and telephone number. If an automated victim 1 12 notification system is implemented pursuant to section 1 13 915.10A, "registered" also means having filed a request for 1 14 registration with the system pursuant to the rules adopted by 1 15 the attorney general. 1 16 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 915.10A AUTOMATED VICTIM 1 17 NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. 1 18 1. The department of justice may establish under the 1 19 direction of the attorney general an automated victim 1 20 notification system to assist public officials in informing 1 21 crime victims or other interested persons as provided in this 1 22 subchapter and where otherwise specifically provided. The 1 23 system shall receive necessary information from participating 1 24 officials and agencies and disseminate the information to 1 25 registered victims and witnesses through telephonic, 1 26 electronic, or other means of access. The attorney general 1 27 may enter into necessary contracts and arrangements to 1 28 implement and operate the system. 1 29 2. The department of corrections, department of human 1 30 services, board of parole, clerks of the district court, 1 31 county attorneys, and local correctional facilities shall 1 32 provide access to information as necessary for the effective 1 33 operation of the system. 1 34 3. An office, agency, or department may satisfy a 1 35 notification obligation to registered victims required by this 2 1 subchapter through participation in the system to the extent 2 2 information is available for dissemination through the system. 2 3 Nothing in this section shall relieve a notification 2 4 obligation under this subchapter due to the unavailability of 2 5 information for dissemination through the system. 2 6 4. The attorney general may adopt rules necessary to 2 7 implement and operate the automated victim notification 2 8 system. 2 9 5. Notwithstanding section 232.147, information concerning 2 10 juveniles charged with a felony offense shall be released to 2 11 the extent necessary to comply with this section. 2 12 6. The attorney general may apply for federal funds 2 13 available to assist in the establishment of an automated 2 14 victim notification system. 2 15 Sec. 3. Section 915.11, Code 2005, is amended to read as 2 16 follows: 2 17 915.11 INITIAL NOTIFICATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. 2 18 A local police department or county sheriff's department 2 19 shall advise a victim of the right to register with the county 2 20 attorney, and shall provide a request=for=registration form to 2 21 each victim. If an automated victim notification system is 2 22 implemented pursuant to section 915.10A, a local police 2 23 department or county sheriff's department shall provide a 2 24 telephone number and website to each victim to register with 2 25 the system. 2 26 Sec. 4. Section 915.12, Code 2005, is amended to read as 2 27 follows: 2 28 915.12 REGISTRATION. 2 291. The county attorney shall be the sole registrar of 2 30 victims under this subchapter.2 312.1. A victim may register by filing a written request= 2 32 for=registration form with the county attorney. The county 2 33 attorney shall notify the victims in writing and advise them 2 34 of their registration and rights under this subchapter. 2 353.The county attorney shall provide a registered victim 3 1 list to the offices, agencies, and departments required to 3 2 provide information under this subchapter for notification 3 3 purposes. 3 4 2. If an automated victim notification system is 3 5 implemented pursuant to section 915.10A, a victim or other 3 6 interested person may register with the system pursuant to the 3 7 rules adopted by the attorney general by filing a request for 3 8 registration through written, telephonic, or electronic means. 3 9 The registrants shall be notified of their registration and 3 10 rights under this subchapter pursuant to rules adopted by the 3 11 attorney general. 3 124.3. Notwithstanding chapter 22 or any other contrary 3 13 provision of law, a victim's or other interested person's 3 14 registration shall be strictly maintained in a separate 3 15 confidential file or other confidential medium, and shall be 3 16 available only to the offices, agencies, and departments 3 17 required to provide information under this subchapter. 3 18 Sec. 5. Section 915.29, Code 2005, is amended by adding 3 19 the following new unnumbered paragraph: 3 20 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. The notification required 3 21 pursuant to this section may occur through the automated 3 22 victim notification system established in section 915.10A to 3 23 the extent such information is available for dissemination 3 24 through the system. 3 25 Sec. 6. Section 915.45, Code 2005, is amended by adding 3 26 the following new unnumbered paragraph: 3 27 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. The notification required 3 28 pursuant to this section may occur through the automated 3 29 victim notification system established in section 915.10A to 3 30 the extent such information is available for dissemination 3 31 through the system. 3 32 Sec. 7. Section 915.82, Code 2005, is amended by adding 3 33 the following new subsection: 3 34 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. The board shall advise the attorney 3 35 general on matters pertaining to the implementation and 4 1 operation of an automated victim notification system 4 2 implemented pursuant to section 915.10A. 4 3 EXPLANATION 4 4 This bill relates to the establishment of an automated 4 5 victim notification system in the department of justice under 4 6 the direction of the attorney general. The attorney general 4 7 may establish the system to assist public officials in 4 8 informing crime victims of information required to be provided 4 9 to the victim which may include a schedule of court 4 10 proceedings or parole hearings, and the release, escape, 4 11 transfer, or pardon of an offender. Notifications required to 4 12 victims of juvenile and sexual offenders are also permitted 4 13 through the system. The attorney general may permit other 4 14 interested persons access to the system by rule and may enter 4 15 into necessary contracts to implement and operate the system. 4 16 The department of corrections, the department of human 4 17 services, the board of parole, clerks of the district court, 4 18 county attorneys, and local corrections institutions are 4 19 required to provide access to information as necessary to 4 20 implement the system. The attorney general may adopt rules to 4 21 implement and operate the system and may apply for federal 4 22 funds to assist in the establishment of the system. The crime 4 23 victim assistance board shall advise the attorney general 4 24 regarding the implementation and operation of the system. 4 25 LSB 1164SV 81 4 26 kk:nh/cf/24