SSB 1144 (LSB 1130XC (2) 90)

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY RESOLUTION BY CHAIRPERSON ZAUN)

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa eliminating involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  The following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is proposed:
   Section 23 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   Sec. 23.  Slavery —— involuntary servitude.  There shall be no slavery in this state, nor shall there be involuntary servitude. Upon conviction of a crime, an Iowa court or an Iowa probation or parole agency may order the convicted person to engage in community service or other alternative to incarceration as part of sentencing for the crime in accordance with programs that have been in place historically or that may be developed in the future to provide accountability, reformation, protection of society, or rehabilitation.
    Sec. 2.
  REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.
  The foregoing proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general election for members of the general assembly, and shall be published as provided by law for three months previous to the date of that election.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa eliminating involuntary servitude as a legal punishment for crime.
   The resolution provides that an Iowa court or an Iowa probation or parole agency may order community service or other alternative to incarceration.
   The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then referred to the next general assembly for adoption, before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.