SF 346 – Female genital cutting
HF 391 – Surety bond for issuance of travel trailer dealer’s license
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 346 – Female genital cutting
SF 346 makes “female genital mutilation” of anyone under 18 a crime. Under the bill, a person who performs female genital mutilation of a minor commits a “D” felony. It will not be a violation of the law when a licensed medical professional in Iowa performs the surgical procedure when necessary to protect the health of the minor on whom the procedure is performed; or when the procedure is performed on a minor who is in labor or who has just given birth and the procedure is related to the labor or birth. The bill makes it a “D” felony to knowingly transport a minor inside or outside of Iowa for female genital mutilation. This past November, a U.S. District Judge found that federal law banning female genital cutting was unconstitutional. As a result, a number of states have begun to criminalize it.
The Senate initially passed SF 346 in March. The House sent it back to the Senate with an amendment. The Senate concurred in the House amendment, which requires the Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Attorney General’s office to initiate an education campaign to increase awareness regarding the health risks of, the prohibitions against, and the criminal penalties associated with female genital mutilation. In addition, the amendment requires the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to develop educational programming for physicians to provide safe health care and treatment to women who are victims of female genital mutilation.
[4/16: 49-0 (Absent: Shipley)]
HF 391 – Surety bond for issuance of travel trailer dealer’s license
HF 391 is a bill from the Attorney General that increases the required amount for a surety bond for a travel trailer dealer’s license from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The bond amount is increased from $25,000 to $75,000. This change will apply to applications for licenses submitted on or after July 1, 2019. The cost of travel trailers has risen significantly. This bill is intended to protect consumers who purchase them.
[4/11: 49-0 (Absent: Brown)]