Iowa House Bill HF2018

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/24
• Refer: 1/10/24

Caption

A bill for an act requiring the department of health and human services to reimburse a county for the temporary holding of, or confinement of, a sexually violent predator who commits a public offense while subject to an order of civil commitment.

Impact

The implementation of HF2018 will have direct financial implications for the state's handling of sexually violent predators, potentially alleviating some financial burdens from counties that have to accommodate the containment and management of these individuals. By standardizing the reimbursement to counties, the bill aims to create a more predictable fiscal landscape for local jurisdictions, ensuring that budgets can be better managed without unexpected expenditures from SVP related incarcerations and management.

Summary

House File 2018 mandates that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reimburse counties for the costs incurred when sexually violent predators (SVPs) are held or confined in county jails after committing public offenses while under a civil commitment order. The reimbursement is set at a rate of $50 per day for the duration of the SVP's holding or confinement in the jail. This measure is designed to compensate counties for the financial implications of housing SVPs, especially when they engage in criminal activities while civilly committed.

Contention

Debate around HF2018 may center on the state’s obligations to fund local jails adequately when housing individuals under civil commitment who are also charged with criminal offenses. Critics could argue whether $50 per day is sufficient to cover the actual costs incurred by counties, which might vary widely based on housing conditions and additional care required for SVPs. Furthermore, there could be discussions on the appropriateness of civil commitment orders being associated with criminal behavior and the implications this has for community safety and state funding priorities.