The House passed a bill (HF 2410) that involves several areas dealing with sexually violent predators and the sex offender registry. This bill reconvenes a work group to address issues concerning the definition of a sexually violent predator under state law and potential changes to provisions of the sex offender registry. If this legislation passes and is signed by the governor, I hope to be a part of this work group to create a solution for the void in current law dealing with sexual assaults by those found incompetent to stand trial.
I had drafted legislation in an attempt to address this, but after conversations with the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Safety, they believed this legislation may fall short of our desired outcome. They offered to work with me through the work group to find an appropriate solution for drafting legislation. In addition, this work group will focus on updating current sex offender registry criteria. There were multiple bills going through several different committees this year that created potential conflicts that the work group will address.
A bill concerning dyslexia passed out of the House Education committee last week. SF 2360 would direct the State Department of Education to establish a dyslexia tax force made up of several experts. The purpose of the task force is to study the issue of dyslexia and make recommendations to help prepare Iowa teachers to assist students who have this condition.
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that makes it very difficult to read, write and spell. It’s a leading cause of reading failure, but it can be remediated with appropriate teaching methods. Currently, Iowa teachers have limited training opportunities available to support dyslexic students, and without intervention, students are likely to suffer academically and often emotionally. Additionally, families are financially burdened by having to take on the costs of tutoring and evaluation to ensure that their child doesn’t fall behind academically. SF 2360 passed unanimously in the Senate this week and is out of committee in the House.
In the Justice Systems Appropriations budget subcommittee, we still have not received budget targets from the Chair and Vice Chair. It’s getting late in the session to be without these numbers; I envision we will have to do serious work to decide how to allocate very limited resources. We need to make sure our public safety, corrections, court systems, and other groups who fall under Justice Systems Appropriations are adequately funded to provide necessary services.
Also, the House Majority has not decided if they will still pass a de-appropriations bill after learning the March REC (Revenue Estimating Conference) numbers show a smaller shortfall than earlier reported. With the smaller shortfall, it is my hope we make adjustments and not take much-needed funds away from these core services. Between the many policy and budget bills that are still pending, we face many hours of deliberation and floor action.
Contact Breckenridge at 515-281-3221 or wes.breckenridge@legis.iowa.gov