HF 491 (LSB 2403YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 491

BY  ANDREWS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the preparation of life impact statements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  2.57  Life impact statement.
   1.  Prior to debate on the floor of a chamber of the general assembly, a life impact statement shall be attached to any bill, joint resolution, or amendment which proposes a change in the law which limits or prohibits abortion. The statement shall include information concerning the estimated number of lives that will be saved by the bill, joint resolution, or amendment and shall include racial demographic information.
   2.  a.  When a committee of the general assembly reports a bill, joint resolution, or amendment to the floor, the committee shall state in the report whether a life impact statement is or is not required.
   b.  The legislative services agency shall review all bills and joint resolutions placed on the calendar of either chamber of the general assembly, as well as amendments filed to bills or joint resolutions on the calendar, to determine whether a life impact statement is required.
   c.  A member of the general assembly may request the preparation of a life impact statement by submitting a request to the legislative services agency.
   3.  The legislative services agency shall cause to be prepared a life impact statement within a reasonable time after receiving a request or determining that a proposal is subject to this section. All life impact statements approved by the legislative services agency shall be transmitted immediately to either the chief clerk of the house or the secretary of the senate, after notifying the sponsor of the legislation that the statement has been prepared for publication. The chief clerk of the house or the secretary of the senate shall attach the statement to the bill, joint resolution, or amendment affected as soon as it is available.
   4.  The legislative services agency may request the cooperation of any state department or agency or political subdivision in preparing a life impact statement.
   5.  A revised life impact statement shall be prepared if the life impact has been changed by the adoption of an amendment, and may be requested by a member of the general assembly or be prepared upon a determination made by the legislative services agency. However, a request for a revised life impact statement shall not delay action on the bill, joint resolution, or amendment unless so ordered by the presiding officer of the chamber.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the preparation of life impact statements. Similar to correctional impact statements, the bill requires that prior to debate on the floor of a chamber of the general assembly, a life impact statement shall be attached to any bill, joint resolution, or amendment which proposes a change in the law which prohibits or limits abortion. The statement shall include information concerning the estimated number of lives that will be saved by the bill, joint resolution, or amendment and shall include racial demographic information.
   The bill also requires that when a committee of the general assembly reports a bill, joint resolution, or amendment to the floor, the committee shall state in the report whether a life impact statement is or is not required. The legislative services agency (LSA) shall review all bills and joint resolutions placed on the calendar of either chamber, as well as amendments filed to bills or joint resolutions on the calendar, to determine whether a life impact statement is required. Additionally, a member of the general assembly may request the preparation of a life impact statement by submitting a request to the LSA. The LSA shall prepare the life impact statement within a reasonable time after receiving a request or determining that a proposal is subject to the bill. The LSA may request the cooperation of any state department or agency or political subdivision in preparing a life impact statement. The bill provides for revised life impact statements if the life impact has been changed by the adoption of an amendment, and a life impact statement may be requested by a member of the general assembly or be prepared upon a determination made by the LSA. However, a request for a revised life impact statement shall not delay action on the bill, joint resolution, or amendment unless so ordered by the presiding officer of the chamber.