SF 446 (LSB 2418XS (4) 89)

SENATE FILE 446

BY  QUIRMBACH, LYKAM, RAGAN, WAHLS, GIDDENS, J. SMITH, MATHIS, PETERSEN, BOLKCOM, T. TAYLOR, DOTZLER, and KINNEY

A BILL FOR

An Act creating the community law enforcement enhancement fund and providing an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  80.48  Community law enforcement enhancement fund.
   1.  A community law enforcement enhancement fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund for the purposes specified in subsection 2.
   2.  Moneys appropriated to the fund shall be used for grants to municipal police departments and county sheriff departments. Grants may be awarded for the following purposes:
   a.  Peace officer body cameras.  For the purchase of equipment, training, the establishment of information storage and retrieval procedures and facilities, and other expenses properly related to initiating a program for peace officers to wear and operate body cameras while on duty in the community.
   b.  Community mental health advocate.  For recruiting, training, and paying a portion of the first-year salary and benefits of a community mental health advocate position within a municipal police department or county sheriff department. The duties of a community mental health advocate shall include but are not limited to the following:
   (1)  Provide access to mental health services that may be necessary after a person’s contact with law enforcement.
   (2)  Act as a liaison between a local law enforcement agency and mental health services providers and agencies.
   (3)  Review departmental calls for mental health services to identify the mental health needs of consumers.
   (4)  Assist mental health consumers with identifying and obtaining services.
   (5)  Assist mental health services providers in understanding consumer needs in the community.
   (6)  Coordinate and assist with law enforcement actions requiring possible mental health services.
   (7)  Assist in developing, coordinating, and implementing mental health training.
   3.  A municipal police department or county sheriff department may make separate applications for each of the purposes specified in subsection 2.
   4.  Grant awards may be made for up to fifty thousand dollars per grant awarded.
   5.  The department shall allocate at least thirty percent of available funds for grants for each of the purposes specified in subsection 2, provided that adequate qualified applications are received in each category. The department shall distribute funds as equitably as possible to achieve a balanced distribution of funds geographically within the state and among large and small communities.
   6.  Notwithstanding section 8.33, any balance in the fund on June 30 of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated for subsequent fiscal years.
   7.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A necessary for the administration of this section.
   8.  This section is repealed January 1, 2028.
    Sec. 2.  COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT FUND —— APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of public safety for deposit into the community law enforcement enhancement fund established in section 80.48 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be used for the purposes of the fund:
   ...................................................................... $  5,000,000
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates the community law enforcement enhancement fund (fund) established in the state treasury under the control of the department of public safety and provides an appropriation.
   The bill provides that moneys appropriated to the fund shall be used for grants to municipal police departments and county sheriff departments for the following purposes: for the purchase of equipment, training, the establishment of information storage and retrieval procedures and facilities, and other expenses properly related to initiating a program for peace officers to wear and operate body cameras while on duty in the community; and for recruiting, training, and paying a portion of the first-year salary and benefits of a community mental health advocate position within a municipal police department or a county sheriff department. The bill specifies the duties of a community mental health advocate which include but are not limited to the following: providing access to mental health services that may be necessary after a person’s contact with law enforcement; acting as a liaison between a local law enforcement agency and mental health services providers and agencies; reviewing departmental calls for mental health services to identify the mental health needs of consumers; assisting mental health consumers with identifying and obtaining services; assisting mental health services providers in understanding consumer needs in the community; coordinating and assisting with law enforcement actions requiring possible mental health services; and assisting in developing, coordinating, and implementing mental health training.
   The bill provides that grant awards may be made for up to $50,000 per grant awarded, and a municipal police department or county sheriff department may make separate applications for each of the purposes of the fund. The department of public safety shall allocate at least 30 percent of available funds to grants for each of the purposes of the fund, and shall distribute funds as equitably as possible to achieve a balanced distribution of funds geographically within the state and among large and small communities. Any balance in the fund on June 30 of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state.
   The department is directed to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A necessary for the administration of the bill.
   The bill is repealed on January 1, 2028.
   The bill makes an appropriation of $5 million from the general fund of the state to the department of public safety for deposit into the fund established in the bill for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022.