Legislation

Iowa State Police Association Legislative Initiatives 

The below five (5) Legislative Initiatives were submitted by the Iowa State Police Association Board of Directors:

1. Anti-law enforcement attitudes, calls to defund the police, and increasing violence carried out against law enforcement within our state has made recruiting and retaining a sufficient number of quality law enforcement officers a challenge for agencies across the state of Iowa.  The Iowa State Police Association will engage in discussions with the Iowa General Assembly to enact and enhance programs to recruit and retain law enforcement officers by utilizing programs such as SLIP (Sick Leave Incentive Program), Tax Credits/Incentives, Secondary Education Funding Programs, and Health Insurance Financial Support programs and insure retired members benefits stay current as the economy changes to bolster the recruitment and retention within law enforcement agencies.

2. As the cost of goods and services continues to skyrocket, the damage threshold amount for reporting vehicular accidents has fallen far below the intent of the law. The current threshold for requiring a vehicular accident report is $1,500 and has not been updated since 2010. Within the current threshold, nearly every motor vehicle collision in the State of Iowa would fall under the reporting requirements. A simple fender bender, with the average cost of a bumper far exceeding $1,500, triggers this reporting requirement. Many of these minor collisions likely go unreported, causing citizens to unknowingly violate Iowa Code 321.266 and creates unnecessary time and resources spent by police officers. The Iowa State Police Association is asking that Iowa Code Chapter 321.266, and all other applicable sections of the Iowa Code, be amended to increase the damage threshold for a reportable accident to $5,000.

3. Law enforcement is an inherently dangerous profession, and some police offices are called upon to pay the ultimate price.  Section 425.15 of the Iowa Code provides for an additional Homestead Credit for Iowa military veterans or spouses of veterans who are severely injured or killed in the performance of their duties.  The Iowa State Police Association will work with the Iowa General Assembly to provide the same credit to Iowa Peace Officers and Fire Fighters or their spouses who are severely injured or killed in the performance of their duties.

4. Police officers and fire fighters regularly risk their lives in service of their communities which can result in severe injury and/or permanent disability ending their career; however, most of these public servants go on to find employment in other professional fields.  The current pension laws and administrative rules penalize and reduce their pensions if they earn more than 1.5x the salary of their previous position prior to injury -which is essentially freezing their income indefinitely.  The Iowa State Police Association will work to increase the amount of money an officer who is retired on a disability pension can earn before being penalized from 1½ times the salary to 2½ times that salary.

5. In 2017, Chapter 20 was rendered mostly ineffective for public employees, to allow reasonable and fair bargaining rights.  Chapter 20 had been in force for over 40 years and helped achieve a level playing field for both employees and employers.  The Iowa State Police Association will continue to petition the Iowa General Assembly to reverse the damage done in 2017 and restore reasonable bargaining rights for all public safety officers and employees.

Bill Enockson, Local 7, made a motion to approve all five (5) Resolutions/Legislative Initiatives as submitted. Zach Lewis, Local 7, seconded the motion.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.  Attested to by David McFarland Secretary/Treasurer.