Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF513 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 05/03/2023

                            Senate File 513 - Enrolled   Senate File 513   AN ACT   RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT   OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,   PROVIDING TRANSFERS OF MONEYS, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE   PROVISIONS.   BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:    Section 1. Section 80.5, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended    to read as follows:    2. The state patrol is established in the department. The    patrol shall be under the direction of the commissioner. The    number of supervisory officers shall be in proportion to the    membership of the state patrol. The department shall maintain    a vehicle theft unit in the state patrol to investigate    and assist in the examination and identification of stolen,    altered, or forfeited vehicles. In addition to other duties,      powers, and responsibilities prescribed by law, the state      patrol shall conduct enforcement activities that ensure the    safe and lawful movement and operation of commercial motor      vehicles and vehicles transporting loads, including but not    limited to the enforcement of motor vehicle laws relating to      the operating authority, registration, size, weight, and load    of motor vehicles and trailers.      Sec. 2. Section 80.5, Code 2023, is amended by adding the    following new subsections:           

  Senate File 513, p. 2   NEW SUBSECTION   . 10. The department of public safety shall    adopt, after consultation with the department of natural    resources and the department of transportation, rules relating    to enforcement of the rules regarding transportation of    hazardous wastes adopted by the department of natural resources    and the department of transportation. The state patrol shall    carry out the enforcement of the rules, in accordance with    state law.    NEW SUBSECTION   . 11. The department shall submit a report to    the general assembly on or before December 1 of each year that    details the nature and scope of enforcement activities that    ensure the safe and lawful movement and operation of commercial    motor vehicles and vehicles transporting loads conducted by    members of the state patrol assigned to such enforcement    activities in the previous year. The report shall include    a comparison of commercial and noncommercial motor vehicle    enforcement activities conducted by such members of the state    patrol.    Sec. 3. Section 80B.6, subsection 1, paragraph k, Code 2023,    is amended to read as follows:    k. A member of the office of motor vehicle enforcement of      the department of transportation involved with the enforcement      activities set forth in section 321.477 .    Sec. 4. Section 97B.42B, Code 2023, is amended by adding the    following new subsection:    NEW SUBSECTION   . 4A. a. Commencing July 1, 2023, a    person who is a designated peace officer in the department of    transportation under section 321.477, Code 2023, as of June 30,    2023, who has fewer than ten years of membership service, and    who is transferred to the department of public safety pursuant    to this Act, shall be a member of the Iowa department of public    safety peace officers retirement, accident, and disability    system established in chapter 97A.    b. Commencing July 1, 2023, a person who is a designated    peace officer in the department of transportation under section    321.477, Code 2023, as of June 30, 2023, who has ten or more    years of membership service, and who is transferred to the    department of public safety pursuant to this Act, shall remain    a member of the Iowa public employees retirement system.         

  Senate File 513, p. 3   Sec. 5. Section 97B.49B, subsection 1, paragraph e,    subparagraph (5), Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:    (5) (a)   An employee of the state department of    transportation who is designated as a peace officer by    resolution under section 321.477 , but only if the employee    retires on or after July 1, 1990. For purposes of this    subparagraph, service as a traffic weight officer employed    by the highway commission prior to the creation of the state    department of transportation or as a peace officer employed by    the Iowa state commerce commission prior to the creation of    the state department of transportation shall be included in    computing the employees years of membership service.    (b) An employee of the department of public safety described    in section 97B.42B, subsection 4A, paragraph   b .    Sec. 6. Section 152C.5B, subsection 1, paragraph b,    subparagraph (5), Code 2023, is amended by striking the    subparagraph.    Sec. 7. Section 157.4A, subsection 1, paragraph b,    subparagraph (5), Code 2023, is amended by striking the    subparagraph.    Sec. 8. Section 307.12, subsection 1, paragraph n, Code    2023, is amended by striking the paragraph.    Sec. 9. Section 307.48, Code 2023, is amended by adding the    following new subsection:    NEW SUBSECTION   . 3. An employee of the office of motor    vehicle enforcement of the department of transportation on June    30, 2023, who is transferred to the department of public safety    pursuant to this Act, retains all rights to longevity pay.    Sec. 10. Section 321.2, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended    to read as follows:      2. The division of state patrol of the department of public    safety shall enforce the provisions of this chapter relating to    traffic on the public highways of the state, including those    relating to the safe and legal operation of passenger cars,    motorcycles, motor trucks ,   and buses, and other commercial    motor vehicles, and to see that proper safety rules are    observed.    Sec. 11. Section 321.266, subsection 4, Code 2023, is      amended to read as follows:               

  Senate File 513, p. 4   4. Notwithstanding section 455B.386 , a carrier transporting    hazardous material upon a public highway in this state, in    the case of an accident involving the transportation of the    hazardous material, shall immediately notify the police radio    broadcasting system established pursuant to section 693.1 or    shall notify a peace officer of the county or city in which    the accident occurs. When a local law enforcement agency is    informed of the accident, the agency shall notify the state    patrol and the state department of transportation office of      motor vehicle enforcement . A person who violates a provision    of this subsection is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.    Sec. 12. Section 321.449, subsection 1, paragraphs a and b,    Code 2023, are amended to read as follows:    a. A person shall not operate a commercial vehicle on the    highways of this state except in compliance with rules adopted    by the department of public safety, in consultation with the      department of transportation, under chapter 17A . The rules    shall be consistent with the federal motor carrier safety    regulations promulgated under United States Code, Tit. 49,    and found in 49 C.F.R. pts. 385, 390  399 and adopted under    chapter 17A .    b. The department of public safety, in consultation with the      department of transportation, shall also adopt rules concerning    hours of service for drivers of vehicles operated for hire    and designed to transport seven or more persons, including    the driver. The rules shall not apply to vehicles offered to    the public for hire that are used principally in intracity    operation and that are regulated by local authorities pursuant    to section 321.236 .    Sec. 13. Section 321.449, subsection 4, paragraph c, Code    2023, is amended to read as follows:    c. A driver or a driver-salesperson for a private carrier,    who is not for hire and who is engaged exclusively in    intrastate commerce, may drive twelve hours, be on duty sixteen    hours in a twenty-four-hour period, and be on duty seventy    hours in seven consecutive days or eighty hours in eight    consecutive days. A driver-salesperson means as defined in 49    C.F.R. 395.2, as adopted by the department of public safety      by rule.          

  Senate File 513, p. 5   Sec. 14. Section 321.449, subsection 8, Code 2023, is    amended to read as follows:    8. In the course of enforcing the motor carrier safety    rules adopted by the department of public safety   under chapter    17A , the departments department of public safetys peace    officers are authorized, at reasonable times and places and    with reasonable notice, to enter a motor carriers place of    business for the purpose of performing a motor carrier safety    audit or compliance review. Nothing in this subsection by    itself permits the seizure of the property of a motor carrier.    Any audit or review shall be conducted in compliance with the    federal motor carrier safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. pts. 105     185, 382, 383, 385, and 390  399. A peace officer of the    department of public safety   is authorized to inspect and copy    motor carrier records required by 49 C.F.R. pts. 105  185,    382, 383, 385, and 390  399.    Sec. 15. Section 321.449B, subsection 1, Code 2023, is    amended to read as follows:    1. a. A person subject to rules adopted by the department    of public safety   pursuant to section 321.449 shall not    operate a commercial motor vehicle while engaged in texting as    prohibited by 49 C.F.R. 392.80 , except in an emergency or as    otherwise permitted under 49 C.F.R. 392.80 .    b. A person subject to rules adopted by the department of      public safety pursuant to section 321.449 shall not operate    a commercial motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile    telephone as prohibited by 49 C.F.R. 392.82 , except in an    emergency or as otherwise permitted under 49 C.F.R. 392.82 .    Sec. 16. Section 321.450, subsection 1, Code 2023, is    amended to read as follows:    1. A person shall not transport or have transported or    shipped within this state any hazardous material except in    compliance with rules adopted by the department of public      safety under chapter 17A . The rules shall be consistent with    the federal hazardous materials regulations adopted under    United States Code, Tit. 49, and found in 49 C.F.R. pts. 107,    171 to 173, 177, 178, and 180.    Sec. 17. Section 321.463, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code    2023, is amended to read as follows:            

  Senate File 513, p. 6   b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,    a motor vehicle described in paragraph a equipped with an    auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit that reduces    fuel use and emissions during engine idling may exceed any    applicable maximum gross weight limit under this chapter by    five hundred fifty pounds or the weight of the auxiliary power    or idle reduction technology unit, whichever is less. This    paragraph b shall   does not apply unless the operator of    the vehicle provides to the department of public safety   a    written certification of the weight of the auxiliary power    or idle reduction technology unit, demonstrates or certifies    to the department of public safety   that the idle reduction    technology unit is fully functional at all times, and carries    with the operator the written certification of the weight of    the auxiliary power or idle reduction technology unit in the    vehicle at all times to present to law enforcement in the event    the vehicle is suspected of violating any applicable weight    restrictions.    Sec. 18. Section 321.476, subsection 1, Code 2023, is    amended to read as follows:    1. a.   Authority is hereby given to the A member of the    state patrol of the   department to stop of public safety is    authorized to do any of the following:    a.   Stop any motor vehicle or trailer on the highways for the    purposes of weighing and inspection, to weigh and inspect the    same and to enforce the provisions of the motor vehicle laws    relating to the registration, size, weight, and load of motor    vehicles and trailers.    b. Authority is also hereby granted to subject to weighing      and inspection, Weigh and inspect vehicles which have moved    from a highway onto private property under circumstances which    indicate that the load of the vehicle, if any, is substantially    the same as the load which the vehicle carried before moving    onto the private property.    Sec. 19. Section 321.477, Code 2023, is amended to read as    follows:      321.477 Employees as peace officers  maximum age.    1. The department may designate by resolution certain of its    employees upon each of whom there is conferred the authority                     

  Senate File 513, p. 7   of a peace officer to enforce all laws of the state including      but not limited to the rules and regulations of the department    investigate and enforce all of the following:      a.   Laws relating to motor vehicle records, documents,    credentials, procedures, and revenues, including but not    limited to crimes and abuse of authority associated with      fraud, identity theft, vehicle titles and registration, dealer      licenses, and authorized vehicle recycler licenses .    b.   Laws relating to motor vehicle fraud including but not    limited to the state and federal odometer laws, including as    provided in sections 307.37 and 321.71.      2. Employees designated as peace officers pursuant to this    section shall have the same powers conferred by law on peace    officers for the enforcement of all laws of this state   use    of force in emergent circumstances and the apprehension of    violators.    2.   Employees designated as peace officers pursuant to this    section who are assigned to the supervision of the highways    of this state shall spend the preponderance of their time      conducting enforcement activities that assure the safe and    lawful movement and operation of commercial motor vehicles and    vehicles transporting loads, including but not limited to the      enforcement of motor vehicle laws relating to the operating    authority, registration, size, weight, and load of motor      vehicles and trailers, and registration of a motor carriers    interstate transportation service with the department.    3. Employees designated as peace officers pursuant to    this section shall not exercise the general powers of a peace    officer set forth in this section   within the limits of any    city, except as follows:    a. When so ordered by the direction of the governor.    b. When request is made by the mayor of any city, with the    approval of the director.    c. When request is made by the sheriff or county attorney of    any county, with the approval of the director.    d. While in the pursuit of law violators or in investigating    law violations.    e. While making any inspection provided by this chapter , or    any additional inspection ordered by the director.                                      

  Senate File 513, p. 8   f.   When engaged in the investigation and enforcement of laws    relating to narcotic, counterfeit, stimulant, and depressant    drugs.      4. The limitations specified in subsection 3 shall in no way    be construed as a limitation on the power   ability of employees    designated as peace officers pursuant to this section when a      public offense is being committed in their presence   to use    force in defense of life or property .    5.   The department shall submit a report to the general    assembly on or before December 1 of each year that details the    nature and scope of enforcement activities conducted in the      previous fiscal year by employees designated as peace officers    pursuant to this section who are assigned to the supervision    of the highways of this state. The report shall include a      comparison of commercial and noncommercial motor vehicle    enforcement activities conducted by such employees.      6. 5. The maximum age for a person employed as a peace    officer pursuant to this section is sixty-five years of age.    Sec. 20. Section 321.481, Code 2023, is amended to read as    follows:    321.481 No impairment of other authority.    Nothing in sections 321.476 through 321.480   321.479 shall be    so construed as to limit or impair the authority or duties of    other peace officers in the enforcement of the motor vehicle    laws or any portion thereof.    Sec. 21. Section 325A.10, Code 2023, is amended to read as    follows:    325A.10 Rules for operation.    The department of public safety, in consultation with the      department of transportation, shall adopt rules pursuant to    chapter 17A as necessary to govern and control the operation,    maintenance, and inspection of vehicles covered by this chapter    upon the highways.    Sec. 22. Section 602.8108, subsection 8, Code 2023, is      amended to read as follows:    8. The state court administrator shall allocate all of the      fines and fees attributable to commercial vehicle violation      citations issued by motor vehicle division   personnel of    the state department of transportation public safety to the                                    

  Senate File 513, p. 9   treasurer of state for deposit in the road use tax fund.    Sec. 23. REPEAL. 2017 Iowa Acts, chapter 149, section 4, as    amended by 2018 Iowa Acts, chapter 1170, section 3, 2019 Iowa    Acts, chapter 7, section 1, and 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1082,    section 1, is repealed.    Sec. 24. REPEAL. Sections 321.480 and 327B.2, Code 2023,    are repealed.    Sec. 25. TRANSFERS.    1. There is transferred from the department of    transportations asset forfeiture fund to the department    of public safetys asset forfeiture fund the amount of    unencumbered or unobligated moneys remaining in the department    of transportations asset forfeiture fund.    2. a. The Iowa public employees retirement system    shall perform a trustee-to-trustee lump sum transfer to the    Iowa department of public safety peace officers retirement,    accident, and disability system. The transfer shall include an    amount consisting of the accumulated contributions by members    transferred to the peace officers retirement, accident, and    disability system pursuant to this Act and every transferred    members share of the accumulated employer contributions as    defined in section 97B.53. The transfer shall not be deemed    to be a termination of a members plan and an affected member    shall not be entitled to a distribution of the moneys as a    result of the members transfer.    b. Upon completion of the transfer, the Iowa department    of public safety peace officers retirement, accident, and    disability system shall engage an actuary to determine the    actuarial cost of the remaining transfer. For purposes of this    paragraph, the actuarial cost of the remaining transfer is an    amount determined by the peace officers retirement, accident,    and disability system in accordance with actuarial tables which    reflects the actuarial cost necessary to fund the increased    retirement allowances less the amount transferred by the Iowa    public employees retirement system.    c. Once the transfer is completed, the transferred members    shall forfeit all rights, including service credit and    benefits, under chapter 97B; shall be treated as members under    chapter 97A; and shall be vested in a benefit under chapter 97A   

  Senate File 513, p. 10   that shall not be less than the benefit to which the member was    entitled under chapter 97B at the time of the transfer.    Sec. 26. TRANSITION  RULES.    1. a. Effective July 1, 2023, peace officers of the    department of public safety shall assume the duties, powers,    and responsibilities of peace officers designated by the    department of transportation under section 321.477, Code    2023, who are assigned to the supervision of the highways    of this state. On or before July 1, 2023, the department    of transportation and the department of public safety, in    consultation with the department of administrative services,    shall identify and transfer affected positions and incumbent    peace officer and civilian employees from the department of    transportation to the department of public safety. Former    peace officer employees of the department of transportation    who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and who    are reassigned shall be placed in an existing department of    public safety peace officer classification within the state    police officers council bargaining unit, without loss of    seniority or loss of pay accrued while serving as a peace    officer. Any peace officer so reassigned shall be entitled to    all rights, privileges, and benefits of the peace officers new    classification, including longevity pay pursuant to section    80.6 as calculated based upon years of service in a peace    officer position, within the state police officers council    bargaining unit as of the effective date of the employees    reassignment.    b. The department of public safety shall honor a final    offer of employment made by the department of transportation    to a person who has not accepted the offer by July 1, 2023,    if the employment offer is to fill a position that will be    transitioned to the department of public safety under this    Act. Such persons shall be assigned to the state patrol upon    completion of the department of public safety academy training,    and are entitled to all rights, privileges, and benefits of    similarly reassigned positions and transitioned incumbent peace    officer employees from the department of transportation.    2. On or before July 1, 2023, the department of    transportation shall provide all appropriate documentation   

  Senate File 513, p. 11   and data required for motor carrier safety assistance program    activities, including but not limited to those relating to    the reimbursement of expenses, for reporting purposes to the    department of public safety, and any other documentation and    data required by the department of public safety to comply with    federal law or for purposes of the transition provided for in    this Act.    3. On or before July 1, 2023, the department of    transportation shall cooperate with the department of public    safety to ensure the department of public safety is aware of    the rules the department of transportation adopted relating    to administering and enforcing commercial motor vehicle    violations. The department of public safety shall inform the    administrative code editor of the applicable rules that need    to be transferred. Any such rule adopted by the department of    transportation shall continue in full force and effect until    the rule is transferred to the department of public safety.    Sec. 27. REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The department    of public safety, in consultation with the department of    transportation, shall submit a report to the general assembly    on or before December 1, 2023, regarding the transfer of    peace officers from the department of transportation to the    department of public safety in accordance with this Act.    The report shall include but is not limited to the actual    expenditures already made and the anticipated remaining    expenditures to be made by both departments to complete the    transition, the moneys transferred from the department of    transportations asset forfeiture fund to the department of    public safetys asset forfeiture fund, the moneys transferred    from the Iowa public employees retirement system to the    Iowa department of public safety peace officers retirement,    accident, and disability system, and any equipment costs    incurred by either department prior to the reporting date.    Sec. 28. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of    immediate importance, take effect upon enactment:    1. The section of this Act repealing 2017 Iowa Acts, chapter    149, section 4.   

  Senate File 513, p. 12   2. The section of this Act setting forth transition    provisions.    ______________________________   AMY SINCLAIR   President of the Senate   ______________________________   PAT GRASSLEY   Speaker of the House   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and   is known as Senate File 513, Ninetieth General Assembly.   ______________________________   W. CHARLES SMITHSON   Secretary of the Senate   Approved _______________, 2023 ______________________________   KIM REYNOLDS   Governor