Iowa Senate votes to ban powdered alcohol

DES MOINES - Sales of powdered or crystalline alcohol would be banned in Iowa under a bill that won lopsided support in the Iowa Senate on Wednesday.

Senate File 123, which passed 48-2, would prohibit holders of state liquor licenses, such as bars or retailers of alcoholic beverages, from selling, offering for sale, or using powdered or crystalline forms of alcohol. Democratic Sens. Dick Dearden of Des Moines and Rich Taylor of Mount Pleasant opposed the bill.

State officials say five states have banned the product, which is not yet available anywhere, and Iowa is among 17 other state's looking to ban the product that is made by freeze-drying and pulverizing liquid alcohol and then packaged in a sealed pouch.

In other action Wednesday, senators on a 26-24 party-line vote approved a measure that would allow Iowans to take unpaid time off from work to attend a presidential precinct caucus.

Under Senate File 437, employees would be able to make written applications with their employer to take up to four hours off beginning one hour before the start of the precinct caucus without incurring any penalty or pay deduction. The bill required a 72-hour advance notice, but backers agreed to consider a proposed change by a business organization that the notice requirement be 30 days ahead of time to avoid disruptions for manufacturers or other employers.

Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, said the legislation was intended to expand participation in Iowa's 'iconic” first-in-the-nation caucuses, but Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, noted the caucuses are political party events - not elections - and often are fundraisers as well. He questioned the appropriateness of putting a requirement on employers so Iowans can participate in a party event.

The provision of S.F. 437 to allow time off would not apply to positions that affect the protection of public health or safety and would not apply to entities that would experience severe economic disruption due to an employee's absence.

Also Wednesday, senators voted 49-0 to create a new serious misdemeanor crime of unauthorized placement of a global positioning device. The crime is defined as placing such a device on another person or object without that person's consent, so as to track the other person without legitimate purpose, and with the intent to intimidate, annoy, or alarm the other person.