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Senate File 243 - ReprintedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to public safety including the crimes of
2failure to assist, abuse of a corpse, and interference with
3official acts, and providing penalties.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 708.14, subsection 1, Code 2021, is
2amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 NEW PARAGRAPH. c. Fails to disclose the known location of a
4corpse with the intent to conceal a crime.
5 Sec. 2. Section 719.1, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2021,
6is amended to read as follows:
7a. A person commits interference with official acts when
8the person knowingly resists or obstructs anyone known by
9the person to be a peace officer, jailer, emergency medical
10care provider under chapter 147A, medical examiner, or fire
11fighter, whether paid or volunteer, or a person performing
12bailiff duties pursuant to section 602.1303, subsection 3, in
13the performance of any act which is within the scope of the
14lawful duty or authority of that officer, jailer, emergency
15medical care provider under chapter 147A, medical examiner, or
16fire fighter, whether paid or volunteer, or a person performing
17bailiff duties pursuant to section 602.1303, subsection 3, or
18who knowingly resists or obstructs the service or execution by
19any authorized person of any civil or criminal process or order
20of any court.
21 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 727.12 Failure to assist.
221. A person who witnesses another person suffering from
23imminent danger of death or risk of serious bodily injury, who,
24unreasonably and without lawful cause, fails to immediately
25contact local emergency response authorities or local law
26enforcement, or both, as required by the circumstances, commits
27an aggravated misdemeanor.
282. For the purposes of fulfilling the requirement imposed by
29subsection 1, a promptly placed 911 call shall discharge the
30requirement to assist.
313. a. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
32subsection 1 that the person actually believed that the other
33person was not suffering from imminent danger of death or risk
34of serious bodily injury.
35b. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
-1-1subsection 1 that the person attempted to contact the local
2emergency response authorities or local law enforcement,
3or both, and was unable to contact either or both due to
4circumstances beyond the person’s control.
5c. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
6subsection 1 that the person had a reasonable belief that
7providing assistance or making contact as required by
8subsection 1 would place the person at risk of serious bodily
9injury or death.
104. For purposes of this section, “serious bodily injury”
11means the same as defined in section 455B.146A.
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2failure to assist, abuse of a corpse, and interference with
3official acts, and providing penalties.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 708.14, subsection 1, Code 2021, is
2amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 NEW PARAGRAPH. c. Fails to disclose the known location of a
4corpse with the intent to conceal a crime.
5 Sec. 2. Section 719.1, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2021,
6is amended to read as follows:
7a. A person commits interference with official acts when
8the person knowingly resists or obstructs anyone known by
9the person to be a peace officer, jailer, emergency medical
10care provider under chapter 147A, medical examiner, or fire
11fighter, whether paid or volunteer, or a person performing
12bailiff duties pursuant to section 602.1303, subsection 3, in
13the performance of any act which is within the scope of the
14lawful duty or authority of that officer, jailer, emergency
15medical care provider under chapter 147A, medical examiner, or
16fire fighter, whether paid or volunteer, or a person performing
17bailiff duties pursuant to section 602.1303, subsection 3, or
18who knowingly resists or obstructs the service or execution by
19any authorized person of any civil or criminal process or order
20of any court.
21 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 727.12 Failure to assist.
221. A person who witnesses another person suffering from
23imminent danger of death or risk of serious bodily injury, who,
24unreasonably and without lawful cause, fails to immediately
25contact local emergency response authorities or local law
26enforcement, or both, as required by the circumstances, commits
27an aggravated misdemeanor.
282. For the purposes of fulfilling the requirement imposed by
29subsection 1, a promptly placed 911 call shall discharge the
30requirement to assist.
313. a. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
32subsection 1 that the person actually believed that the other
33person was not suffering from imminent danger of death or risk
34of serious bodily injury.
35b. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
-1-1subsection 1 that the person attempted to contact the local
2emergency response authorities or local law enforcement,
3or both, and was unable to contact either or both due to
4circumstances beyond the person’s control.
5c. It shall be a defense to a prosecution brought under
6subsection 1 that the person had a reasonable belief that
7providing assistance or making contact as required by
8subsection 1 would place the person at risk of serious bodily
9injury or death.
104. For purposes of this section, “serious bodily injury”
11means the same as defined in section 455B.146A.
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