HF 530 (LSB 2612HV (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 530

BY  COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 166)

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing a judicial officer to be issued a professional permit to carry weapons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (1)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons when the person’s employment in a private investigation business or private security business licensed under chapter 80A, or a person’s employment as a peace officer, correctional officer, judicial officer, county attorney, assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, assistant attorney general, security guard, bank messenger or other person transporting property of a value requiring security, or in police work, reasonably justifies that person going armed.
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (4), Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   (4)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a judicial officer, county attorney, or an assistant county attorney. An application for a permit by an assistant county attorney must be approved by the county attorney of each county in which the applicant serves prior to a permit to carry weapons being issued. The sheriff of the issuing county may require the applicant to complete a proficiency examination prior to issuing the permit to carry weapons. The standards for a proficiency examination for a judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney shall not exceed the standards required of a peace officer. The applicant shall pay the reasonable costs associated with completing a proficiency examination.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraphs b, c, and d, Code 2025, are amended to read as follows:
   b.  The permit shall be on a form prescribed and published by the commissioner of public safety, shall identify the holder, and shall state the nature of the employment requiring the holder to go armed. A permit so issued, other than to a peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general, shall authorize the person to whom it is issued to go armed anywhere in the state, only while engaged in the employment, and while going to and from the place of the employment.
   c.  A permit issued to a certified peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general shall authorize that peace officer, judicial officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general to go armed anywhere in the state at all times, including on the grounds of a school. 
   d.  Permits shall expire twelve months after the date when issued except that permits issued to peace officers, judicial officers, county attorneys, assistant county attorneys, the attorney general, deputy attorneys general, assistant attorneys general, and correctional officers are valid through the holder of the permit’s period of employment unless otherwise canceled. When the employment is terminated, the holder of the permit shall surrender it the permit to the issuing officer for cancellation.
    Sec. 4.  Section 724.6, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  For purposes of this section, “emergency medical care provider”: 
   a.  “Emergency medical care provider” means the same as defined in section 147A.1.
   b.  “Judicial officer” means the same as defined in section 602.1101.
    Sec. 5.  Section 724.6, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  The supreme court may by rule impose additional training or other requirements on judicial officers who hold a permit issued under this section.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill authorizes a judicial officer, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general to be issued a professional permit to carry weapons under the provisions of Code section 724.6. For judicial officers, the sheriff of the issuing county may require the applicant, at the applicant’s expense, to complete a proficiency examination prior to the permit to carry weapons being issued.
   The bill provides that a permit issued to a judicial officer, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general grants authorization to go armed anywhere in the state at all times, including on the grounds of a school.
   The bill provides that a permit issued to a judicial officer, attorney general, deputy attorney general, or assistant attorney general is valid through the holder of the permit’s period of employment unless otherwise canceled. When the employment is terminated, the holder of the permit is required to surrender the permit to the issuing officer for cancellation.
   The bill defines a judicial officer as a supreme court justice, a judge of the court of appeals, a district judge, a district associate judge, an associate juvenile judge, an associate probate judge, or a magistrate. The term also includes a person who is temporarily serving as a justice, judge, or magistrate as permitted by law.
   The bill allows the supreme court to impose additional training or other requirements on judicial officers who hold a permit issued under the bill.