Iowa Senate Bill SF450

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/23
• Refer: 3/2/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the collection of delinquent judgments owed to a county or city, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SF 293.)

Impact

The introduction of SF450 is expected to significantly impact state laws concerning the management of local government finances. By allowing counties greater authority to collect debts, the bill aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens local jurisdictions face due to uncollected fines and penalties. This change is particularly significant as cities will now have the option to engage private collection agents if necessary, which may expedite the collection process further and ensure that local resources are better utilized. The bill also introduces the possibility of establishing debt collection setoff procedures for cities and counties.

Summary

Senate File 450 focuses on streamlining the collection of delinquent judgments owed to counties and cities in Iowa. The bill outlines that any judgment debt resulting from city or county infractions is deemed delinquent if not paid within thirty days of assessment. If the debt remains unpaid after sixty days, the county attorney or their designee may step in to collect the amounts owed. This provision aims to enhance the efficiency of debt recovery processes for local governments, ensuring that they can collect funds owed to them in a timely manner.

Contention

Despite its intended benefits, SF450 has sparked discussions among local government officials and advocacy groups regarding its implications. Some stakeholders have raised concerns about the potential overreach of local government collection efforts, fearing that aggressive collection tactics could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who may struggle to pay fines. Additionally, opponents have expressed worry that the bill may not adequately consider the methods of collection and the fairness with which judgments will be enforced, particularly in relation to low-income individuals and families.