House Joint Resolution 9 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 9 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 35) HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 1 of the State of Iowa relating to the right of an accused to 2 confront children and other witnesses. 3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1198HV (1) 91 as/js
H.J.R. 9 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 the State of Iowa is proposed: 2 Article I of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended 3 by adding the following new section: 4 Sec. 10A. Protection of children and other witnesses. To 5 protect children under the age of eighteen and any witness 6 with a mental illness, intellectual disability, or other 7 developmental disability, the right of an accused to confront 8 such witnesses may be limited by law. 9 Sec. 2. REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing proposed 10 amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred 11 to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general 12 election for members of the general assembly, and shall be 13 published as provided by law for three months previous to the 14 date of that election. 15 EXPLANATION 16 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 17 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 18 This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the 19 Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right of an 20 accused to confront children and other witnesses. 21 The resolution provides that in order to protect children 22 under the age of 18 and any witness with a mental illness, 23 intellectual disability, or other developmental disability, the 24 right of an accused to confront such witnesses may be limited 25 by law. 26 The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then 27 referred to the next general assembly (92nd) for adoption, 28 before being submitted to the electorate for ratification. 29 -1- LSB 1198HV (1) 91 as/js 1/ 1