Capitol Digest -- Tuesday, March 31

CLOSED-DOOR SEX OFFENDER DISCUSSION - Lawmakers hashed out possible changes to the state's sex offender laws behind closed doors Tuesday, refusing to let a reporter or the public inside.  Rep. David Tjepkes, R-Gowrie, said the meeting of a "work group" was closed while they tried to reach a bipartisan consensus. Lawmakers have talked about making changes to the state's law prohibiting some sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or daycare. "We have now what we think are some pretty good proposals," Tjepkes said. He said they'll have a joint subcommittee meeting on the issue next week if they can find consensus, and that the meeting would be open to the public." While the public was shut out, a lobbyist for the Iowa Department of Public Safety was allowed into the meeting to answer questions for lawmakers. Tjepkes said the issue is both politically sensitive and sensitive from a public safety standpoint. "When you talk about aspects of the bill, sometimes you refer to a case that happened" and lawmakers needed to be careful to protect victims' rights, Tjepkes said.

MENTAL HEALTH: NAMI Iowa, the state chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, met with legislators Tuesday to share personal stories of families and individuals dealing with mental health issues. The group, which has 20 support groups across the state, is pushing for expansion of mental health and substance abuse insurance coverage in health policies and of payment for evidence-based practice treatments. Members visited with lawmakers about which services they've found helpful and which services, currently unavailable in Iowa, would be beneficial.

IT TAKES A WALL: Iowa's first lady Mari Culver will kick off the Habitat for Humanity's "Capitol Build" project Wednesday by raising the

first wall of a house for a central Iowa family in need. Mrs. Culver plans to use the occasion to issue a call to Iowans to volunteer in their local communities. Each year, Habitat for Humanity builds a house on the Capitol Grounds and moves it to a final location in Des Moines.

VICTIM ASSISTANCE: Federal stimulus funds are available to agencies that provide services to victims of crime in Iowa, the Iowa Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday. The funds cannot be used to replace existing funding. They can be used to provide direct services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and child abuse, and to previously-underserved crime victims or by victim service providers, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and other programs that provide services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Applications must be submitted to the Crime Victim Assistance Division, Lucas State Office Building, 321 East 12

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Street, ground floor, Des Moines, Iowa  50319 by April 15.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS: The Iowa Senate voted 50-0 Tuesday to confirm 16 of Gov. Chet Culver's appointments to various state posts, boards and commissions. The list included Thomas Gronstal's reappointment as state banking superintendent, Toni Urban to the state Racing and Gaming Commission, David Petty to the state Environmental Protection Commission, and Robert Yoder to the Iowa

Council on Human Services.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "This is my first time on this committee, my first year here. What a way to begin." - Freshman Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, on approving a Health and Human Services budget that despite a $25 million increase in Medicaid made $13 million in cuts throughout the remainder of the budget and called for up to 400 layoffs

Compiled by Des Moines Bureau