Rep. Chris Hagenow Reports: Strengthening Iowa’s Laws on Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

By Rep. Chris Hagenow

A recent report from the non-partisan Protected Innocence Initiative reviewed the laws of all 50 states with regard to sex trafficking, particularly of children. The Protected Innocence Initiative report gave Iowa a grade of “D.” Since looking at this report, I have been looking at ways to strengthen Iowa law to better protect women and children from these heinous crimes.

What steps should Iowa lawmakers take to protect children from sex trafficking? Tell us in comments.

This is not just a problem half-way around the world; this terrible crime is happening right here in Iowa. We are no longer safe to sit by and watch these things take place in third world countries - we have to take action to better protect this from happening here at home.  
   
I have sponsored a bill along with my friend Rep. Walt Rogers from Cedar Falls that would make several changes to our criminal laws on sex trafficking. Rep. Rogers has also placed this language as an amendment to another bill being worked on regarding possession and distribution of obscene material. Between these two vehicles, I am hope that we can move this legislation forward.

This bill broadens the scope of what falls under sex trafficking, especially where children are involved. It states that if the child is under eighteen, the crime need not have involved fraud, force or coercion to be prosecutable. It also strengthens the old law to say that “a person’s ignorance of the age of the victim or a belief that the victim was older is no defense.” This law also provides sex trafficking victims with the opportunity to receive victim compensation.

I believe that one of the most fundamental functions of government is to protect citizens, especially our most vulnerable. We will keep working on this bill for the safety of women and children in Iowa.

House Approves SF 2071 - Prison Supplemental Bill
Tuesday night, the House approved Senate file 2071, the fiscal year 2012 supplemental appropriations bill. This funding is needed to ensure prison staffing levels are maintained. After an agreement was reached between the House and Senate, $7.5 million was appropriated to the Department of Corrections.

It is important to note that this supplemental appropriation is revenue neutral. Because of cost savings identified in this bill, the budget for the current fiscal year still does not spend any more than the state collects in revenue.    

I applaud the Department of Corrections for operating efficiently enough for the current fiscal year, making their request one that we can accommodate.  The Department has done a good job of reducing internal spending as much as possible in order to come in at the $7.5 million figure.

The cost savings for this bill come primarily from Medicaid expenditures, which for FY 2012 are coming in at least $6.5 million under budget.

Moving forward, the state will be forced to make additional resources available for corrections.  The prison population in Iowa continues to grow, and incarcerating and rehabilitating prisoners is one the most critical responsibilities of government.  

Funnel Week
With the exception of Appropriations, Ways and Means and Government Oversight Committees, bills that originate in the House need to pass out of committee by the end of this week in order to still be eligible for consideration. Beginning next week, our focus will shift toward debate in the full House and ongoing budget negotiations.

Two bills that I have been assigned this week are on the issue of tort reform. On Tuesday, I managedHSB 614 out of Judiciary committee on trespasser responsibility. The bill protects land owners and lessees if a trespasser is inured on their land, except in the case of gross negligence.

The other tort reform bill, scheduled for Thursday, is HSB 612, which protects Iowans from frivolous lawsuits by providing them with potential to collect costs and attorney’s fees if the case is dismissed because it is not based in law or fact. This bill’s protections will be also valuable to small businesses that can be tremendously burdened by defending frivolous actions.

Clive Chamber of Commerce Forum
The Clive Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the next legislative forum in our area.  The Chamber has invited everyone to attend their “Legislators Coffee” event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walnut Ridge Senior Campus, second floor theatre room, located at 1701 Campus Drive, Clive, Iowa.

Along with myself, invited legislators include Sen. Jerry Behn, Sen. Pat Ward, Rep. Ralph Watts and Rep. Peter Cownie.

The Chamber is expecting another big crowd.  If you have any questions, please let me know, or contact Kristy Greening at kgreening@clivechamber.org .  Hope to see you there!

Contact Me
As always, I look forward to hearing your comments and ideas.  Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Representative Chris Hagenow
State Capitol
East 9th and Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3221
www.chrishagenow.com
chris.hagenow@legis.state.ia.us