Iowa Politics Today: Restroom camera ban, sobriety monitoring, fender-bender protocol

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Wednesday, April 12, 2017:

BRANSTAD SIGNS 26 BILLS:

State lawmakers will pay a greater share for their state health insurance coverage under one of the 26 bills that Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law Wednesday.

At present, lawmakers pay $20 a month for single health insurance and from $20 to $344 a month for family coverage, according to the Legislative Services Agency.

Non-contract executive branch employees pay $26 to $79 a month for single coverage and from $210 to $335 per month for family coverage.

Senate File 230 says lawmakers will pay the same health insurance premiums as those non-contract executive branch employees.

Other bills that will become law dealt with longer straight truck lengths on Iowa highways, the regulation of bass fishing tournaments and the tagging of deer carcasses.

RESTROOM CAMERAS:

Legislation to ban Iowa government entities from installing video and/or audio monitoring devices in public restrooms, locker rooms or showers in locations such as libraries, schools or other government offices cleared the House Government Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

However, some members pushed back, arguing that the cameras can be helpful in preventing bullying, vandalism and other crime.

SF 499, which has been approved by the full Senate Government Oversight Committee, was drafted in response to a situation at the Iowa City Public Library where video cameras were installed in the library's public restrooms as a theft deterrent.

Pete McRoberts of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa told lawmakers there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a restroom and it is 'very concerning' for a government agency to video of person in state of undress.

Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, agreed people should not be filmed 'while sitting on toilet doing their business,' but questioned whether they should have an expectation of privacy in the 'common area' of a restroom.

The committee approved the bill 7-2, making it eligible for consideration by the full House next week.

SOBRIETY MONITORING:

Iowa senators voted 49-0 Wednesday to approve legislation that would establish programs to require drivers arrested for or convicted of impaired driving to participate in twice-daily sobriety monitoring, as well as require some drivers to install ignition interlocks.

SF 444, which now goes to Gov. Terry Branstad, also says a distracted driver who struck and killed someone could be convicted of a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The bill provides that cellphone use while driving would be evidence of reckless driving 'with willful or wanton disregard' for public safety.

The legislation also creates a 24/7 monitoring program for people convicted of alcohol-related crimes.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS:

The Iowa Senate confirmed 40 of Gov. Terry Branstad's appointments to state posts, boards and commissions. During Wednesday's votes, senators approved Doug Ommen (49-0) as Iowa's insurance commissioner; Howard Hill (37-12), Chad Ingles (37-12) and Bob Sinclair (46-3) to the state Environmental Protection Commission; Nancy Maher to the state Transportation Commission; and Jeff Lamberti (49-0) and Carl Heinrich to the state Racing and Gaming Commission. Maher and Heinrich were among 35 appointees approved by a 47-1 'en bloc' vote, while the other confirmations were handled via individual voters. Gubernatorial nominees are required to receive a two-thirds majority – or at least 34 affirmative votes – to be confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

FENDER-BENDER PROTOCOL:

The Iowa Senate voted 49-0 Wednesday to change the protocol for drivers involved in fender-bender accidents.

House File 313, which goes to the governor, requires Iowa drivers involved in a minor, property- damage traffic accident to first move the vehicle from the travel portion of a roadway if the vehicle was operable and could be removed in a safe manner.

Current law requires the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle to immediately stop the vehicle at the accident scene until the driver has fulfilled the legal requirement relating to the exchange of personal information with the other driver involved in the accident.

However, safety officials say that increasing the possibility for secondary accidents to occur.

VOLUNTARY EXCLUSION:

The Iowa Senate voted 47-2 Wednesday to send the governor legislation allowing Iowans to sign a voluntary exclusion prohibiting them from entering an Iowa-licensed casino.

Under current law, a voluntary exclusion is for life. Senate File 442 would allow a person to choose either a lifetime ban or a five-year exclusion, said Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport. The five-year exclusion could be renewed for another five years or for life.

The bill also would allow someone who banned himself or herself to attend functions at a casino but not be on the gaming floor.

'This bill helps Iowans,' Smith said. This bill supports our goal of helping susceptible Iowans when they need it the most.'