Bill allowing juvenile records to be kept secret sent to Gov. Branstad

DES MOINES — The Iowa House joined the Senate in approving legislation to make the proceedings of most juvenile delinquency proceedings non-public records.

The House voted 96-1 Tuesday to send Senate File 2288 to the governor for his signature. The Senate approved the same bill 48-0 in February.

Floor manager Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, called the SF 2288 'a good bill for minors in our state' and Rep. David Dawson, D-Sioux City, said it will prevent youthful violations from following Iowans all of their lives. A juvenile record can complicate obtaining housing, education and employment, he said.

Proponents say the bill, which would make all juvenile delinquency proceedings except those involving felony charges confidential, balances the best interests of juveniles and the public's right to know. However, media organizations opposed the bill and said it goes too far in making juvenile criminal proceedings secret records.

Currently, court records alleging juvenile delinquency are available to the public unless a judge grants a request to make them confidential or have them sealed. The Senate bill would allow judicial requests to have confidential records made public.

Representatives were not so agreeable when it came to waiving hunter education requirements for military veterans.

As a veteran, Rep. Jerry Kearns, D-Keokuk, said, he's 'appreciative of those actions that recognize my service.' HF 2365 isn't in the best interest on veterans or Iowans in general, he said, because hunter education courses cover hunter regulations and wildlife conservation, not only firearms. And, Kearns said, not all veterans have spent a great deal of time with firearms, he added.

Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, said he could assemble and disassemble an M-16 when he left the military, but because he's not a hunter the hunter safety course would be beneficial if he decided to get a hunting license.

For the safety and education of both hunters and public, 'exemptions for any group of citizens is not in the best interest of the people of Iowa,' added Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa.

Floor manager Rep. Bobby Kaufmann pointed out that Iowa didn't have a hunter safety class requirement until 1982 – about 75,249 days after statehood – 'And I haven't found any example of a pandemic of hunters going wild and randomly shooting things.'

HF 2365 was approved 72-26 with most of the 'no' votes coming from Democrats in urban areas including Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, the Quad Cities and Waterloo.