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The Legislative Services Agency prepares drafts of bills based on requests from lawmakers, state agencies and Gov. Chet Culver’s office. Already, the agency has received hundreds of bill requests before the new session has even gaveled in.
Approximate number of requests LSA receives in a year: 2,500
Approximate number of requests already for the upcoming session: 700
Approximate number of initial drafts completed: 400
Approximate number of drafts approved by sponsors and ready for legislative action: 75
Source: Richard Johnson, LSA legal services division director
Approximate number of requests LSA receives in a year: 2,500
Approximate number of requests already for the upcoming session: 700
Approximate number of initial drafts completed: 400
Approximate number of drafts approved by sponsors and ready for legislative action: 75
Source: Richard Johnson, LSA legal services division director
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Smoking ban, other bills ready for legislative action
By FRED LOVE, Courier Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES – Bills aiming to tweak the state public smoking ban, eliminate open burning of residential waste in cities and adjust the state’s indecent exposure law are among dozens of measures ready to go for the new session of the Iowa Legislature set to open on Monday.
Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, is pushing a bill to close an exemption in Iowa’s public smoking ban that allows smoking on the gaming floors of casinos despite indications from legislative leaders that such a bill is unlikely to pass.
Smith said he’s sponsoring the smoking legislation to uphold public health in all Iowa workplaces, one of the major justifications for passage of the ban during contentious debates last legislative session.
“Our goal was to assist with workers having to work long hours in smoke-filled environments, so I just felt that should be extended to casino workers as well,” he said.
The final bill signed by Gov. Chet Culver banned smoking in nearly all public workplaces but exempted the gaming floors of casinos and a few other locations.
Smith said he’s pursuing the legislation despite reluctance among leaders in his own party to reopen debate on the smoking ban this session.
Democratic leaders, who control both houses of the Legislature, have said they don’t expect lawmakers to strike an agreement on changes to the ban.
“I’m not hopeful that it’s going to go very far in the Legislature,” Smith said.
Burn ban sought
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is pushing another completed bill that would outlaw open burning of residential waste, including leaves, in and near cities.
The bill would ban burning in cities with populations of 2,500 or larger beginning Jan. 1 of next year and in smaller cities in subsequent years.
The bill aims to cut down on particulate matter in the air that can complicate asthma and respiratory problems in children, the elderly or others who have trouble breathing, said Mindy Kralicek, an air quality spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Indecent exposure law
Another bill requested by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office would change the state’s indecent exposure laws to encompass acts of public masturbation in cases where genitals or pubic hair may not be visible.
The bill also would allow indecent exposure charges to be brought against individuals who expose themselves with the intent to offend or cause alarm, even if the act isn’t directed toward another person or the intended victim doesn’t see the act, said Assistant Attorney General Mary Tabor.
The current law has allowed some defendants to avoid indecent exposure charges because the intended victim failed to notice the exposure, Tabor said.
Contact Fred Love at (515) 422-9048 or fred.love@lee.net.
Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, is pushing a bill to close an exemption in Iowa’s public smoking ban that allows smoking on the gaming floors of casinos despite indications from legislative leaders that such a bill is unlikely to pass.
Smith said he’s sponsoring the smoking legislation to uphold public health in all Iowa workplaces, one of the major justifications for passage of the ban during contentious debates last legislative session.
“Our goal was to assist with workers having to work long hours in smoke-filled environments, so I just felt that should be extended to casino workers as well,” he said.
The final bill signed by Gov. Chet Culver banned smoking in nearly all public workplaces but exempted the gaming floors of casinos and a few other locations.
Smith said he’s pursuing the legislation despite reluctance among leaders in his own party to reopen debate on the smoking ban this session.
Democratic leaders, who control both houses of the Legislature, have said they don’t expect lawmakers to strike an agreement on changes to the ban.
“I’m not hopeful that it’s going to go very far in the Legislature,” Smith said.
Burn ban sought
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is pushing another completed bill that would outlaw open burning of residential waste, including leaves, in and near cities.
The bill would ban burning in cities with populations of 2,500 or larger beginning Jan. 1 of next year and in smaller cities in subsequent years.
The bill aims to cut down on particulate matter in the air that can complicate asthma and respiratory problems in children, the elderly or others who have trouble breathing, said Mindy Kralicek, an air quality spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Indecent exposure law
Another bill requested by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office would change the state’s indecent exposure laws to encompass acts of public masturbation in cases where genitals or pubic hair may not be visible.
The bill also would allow indecent exposure charges to be brought against individuals who expose themselves with the intent to offend or cause alarm, even if the act isn’t directed toward another person or the intended victim doesn’t see the act, said Assistant Attorney General Mary Tabor.
The current law has allowed some defendants to avoid indecent exposure charges because the intended victim failed to notice the exposure, Tabor said.
Contact Fred Love at (515) 422-9048 or fred.love@lee.net.
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JonL wrote on Jan 7, 2009 10:15 AM:
" The smoking ban is unfair so long as it does not include casinos. At the very least people who want to go to The Isle should be able to enjoy a section of some kind where smoke doesn't cause their eyes to burn, clothes to reek, and throats to catch, but if the law were truly fair, it'd be all or nothing. "
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IowaHawk1969 wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:23 AM: