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House File 78 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to fees charged to a prisoner in the custody of
2a county sheriff or municipality for administrative costs,
3room and board, and medical aid.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 356.7, subsection 3, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. Upon receipt of a claim for reimbursement, the court
4shall approve the claim in favor of the sheriff or the county,
5or the municipality, for the amount owed by the prisoner as
6identified in the claim and any fees or charges associated
7with the filing or processing of the claim with the court.
8The claim shall be approved without regard to the prisoner’s
9reasonable ability to pay. The sheriff or municipality may
10choose to enforce the claim in the manner provided in chapter
11626. Once approved by the court, the claim for the amount owed
12by the person shall have the force and effect of a judgment
13for purposes of enforcement by the sheriff or municipality.
14However, irrespective of whether the judgment lien for the
15amount of the claim has been perfected, the claim shall
16not have priority over competing claims for child support
17obligations owed by the person.
18EXPLANATION
19The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
20the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
21This bill relates to fees charged to a prisoner in the
22custody of a county sheriff or municipality for administrative
23costs, room and board, and medical aid.
24Current law provides that the county sheriff, or a
25municipality operating a temporary municipal holding facility
26or jail, may charge a prisoner who is 18 years of age or older
27and who has been convicted of a criminal offense or sentenced
28for contempt of court for violation of a domestic abuse order
29for the actual administrative costs relating to the arrest
30and booking of that prisoner, for room and board provided to
31the prisoner while in the custody of the county sheriff or
32municipality and for any medical aid provided to the prisoner.
33The bill adds language which clarifies that a reimbursement
34claim made by a sheriff or the county shall be approved by a
35court without regard to the prisoner’s reasonable ability to
-1-1pay.
-2-as/rh
2a county sheriff or municipality for administrative costs,
3room and board, and medical aid.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 356.7, subsection 3, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
33. Upon receipt of a claim for reimbursement, the court
4shall approve the claim in favor of the sheriff or the county,
5or the municipality, for the amount owed by the prisoner as
6identified in the claim and any fees or charges associated
7with the filing or processing of the claim with the court.
8The claim shall be approved without regard to the prisoner’s
9reasonable ability to pay. The sheriff or municipality may
10choose to enforce the claim in the manner provided in chapter
11626. Once approved by the court, the claim for the amount owed
12by the person shall have the force and effect of a judgment
13for purposes of enforcement by the sheriff or municipality.
14However, irrespective of whether the judgment lien for the
15amount of the claim has been perfected, the claim shall
16not have priority over competing claims for child support
17obligations owed by the person.
18EXPLANATION
19The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
20the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
21This bill relates to fees charged to a prisoner in the
22custody of a county sheriff or municipality for administrative
23costs, room and board, and medical aid.
24Current law provides that the county sheriff, or a
25municipality operating a temporary municipal holding facility
26or jail, may charge a prisoner who is 18 years of age or older
27and who has been convicted of a criminal offense or sentenced
28for contempt of court for violation of a domestic abuse order
29for the actual administrative costs relating to the arrest
30and booking of that prisoner, for room and board provided to
31the prisoner while in the custody of the county sheriff or
32municipality and for any medical aid provided to the prisoner.
33The bill adds language which clarifies that a reimbursement
34claim made by a sheriff or the county shall be approved by a
35court without regard to the prisoner’s reasonable ability to
-1-1pay.
-2-as/rh