SF 2153 (LSB 5991XS (2) 91)

SENATE FILE 2153

BY  WEBSTER

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing a member of the general assembly 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, subparagraphs (1) and (4), Code 2026, are 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 member of the general assembly, peace officer, correctional officer, county attorney, assistant county attorney, security guard, bank messenger or other person transporting property of a value requiring security, or in police work, reasonably justifies that person going armed.
   (4)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a member of the general assembly, 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.  An application for a permit by a member of the general assembly shall be submitted to the sheriff for the county in which the applicant resides. 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 member of the general assembly, 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. 2.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraphs b, c, and d, Code 2026, 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 member of the general assembly, peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, 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 member of the general assembly, certified peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney shall authorize that member of the general assembly, peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney 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 members of the general assembly, peace officers, county attorneys, assistant county attorneys, 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.
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 member of the general assembly to be issued a professional permit to carry weapons under the provisions of Code section 724.6. The bill directs an application for a permit by an applicant to be submitted to the sheriff for the county in which the applicant resides. 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 member of the general assembly 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 member of the general assembly 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.