House File 2467 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY KAUFMANN and SCHUELLER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the holding of a parent in contempt regarding 2 the denial of child visitation and making a penalty 3 applicable. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5548HH 82 6 pf/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 598.23, subsection 1, Code Supplement 1 2 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 1. If a person against whom a temporary order or final 1 4 decree has been entered willfully disobeys the order or 1 5 decree, the person may be cited and punished by the court for 1 6 contempt and be committed to the county jail for a period of 1 7 time not to exceed thirty days for each offense. The court 1 8 may find that a person willfully disobeyed the order or decree 1 9 and hold the person in contempt if the person is found to have 1 10 unilaterally decided to deny visitation, as prescribed by the 1 11 order or decree, in response to a non=life=threatening 1 12 emergency. 1 13 EXPLANATION 1 14 This bill provides that one basis for a finding of contempt 1 15 under the dissolution of marriage and domestic relations Code 1 16 chapter is that a person willfully disobeyed an order or 1 17 decree by unilaterally deciding to deny visitation, as 1 18 prescribed by the order or decree, in response to a 1 19 non=life=threatening emergency. The punishment for contempt 1 20 is commitment to the county jail for a period not to exceed 30 1 21 days for each offense, or an alternative penalty specified in 1 22 the section. 1 23 LSB 5548HH 82 1 24 pf/nh/8