Passing smarter, tougher, safer laws to protect our communities

One of the most important functions of state government is providing for public safety.

During the 2009 session, we made Iowa’s anti-sex offender laws smarter, tougher and safer (SF 340). Legislators worked side by side with law enforcement in crafting a law that will better protect Iowa’s children from sexual predators.

Our reforms include the creation of “exclusion zones” where sex offenders are not allowed. This means sex offenders:

** Cannot be on school or childcare property or loiter within 300 feet of these places.
** Cannot be in public libraries or loiter around them.
** Cannot be on property or loiter around places where children gather, such as parks and playgrounds.

The new law also prohibits sex offenders from working or volunteering at schools, childcare centers, fairs and places where children congregate.

In addition, we made it easier for law enforcement to know where sex offenders are, what they’re doing and how to find them. Offenders must supply more information to the sheriff, such as vehicle license and registration numbers, passport and immigration documents, and Internet usernames. Offenders must report in person to the sheriff more often. And they’ll stay on the Sex Offender Registry for 10 years or life.

Other smarter, tougher public safety efforts passed this year will:** Strengthen Iowa’s successful anti-meth laws by establishing a statewide database to track purchases of pseudoephedrine, a primary ingredient in meth (SF 237).

** Provide additional protections for dependent adults by changing the definition of “sexual exploitation” to include inappropriate electronic images of dependent adults by caretakers (SF 438).

** Protect more victims of human trafficking by expanding the definition of “commercial sexual activity” (SF 27).