Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homeless Services Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House creates 300-foot drug-free zones around publicly funded homeless service facilities
Summary
House File 2584 establishes 300-foot drug-free zones around publicly funded homeless service facilities and raises penalties for those who sell drugs to clients or operators who knowingly allow drug use; floor amendments added signage and limited exemptions for children's shelters, and the bill passed 70-21.
Representative from Polk said House File 2584 enhances safety at homeless service facilities by creating 300-foot drug-free service zones and adding penalties for those who sell drugs to clients or for operators who knowingly allow drug possession or use on the premises. The sponsor and secondary amendment sponsor agreed signage rules were patterned after school-zone signage and a secondary amendment added a children's-shelter signage exemption.
Representative Levin noted concerns from homeless-service providers and the Iowa Catholic Conference about the potential for service closures if state funding is conditioned on convictions; the sponsor responded that mens rea (knowledge or intent) is required and that only state funding—not all funding—would be affected. The House passed the bill with 70 yeas, 21 nays and 9 absent.
