American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa - 2006 Legislative Voting Records

EMINENT DOMAIN: House File 2351 by Committee on Judiciary. Makes changes to Iowa’s law regarding condemnation authority and procedures relating to government seizure of private property for public use. ACLU-IA SUPPORTED. Passed the House 89-5, May 3. Passed the Senate 43-6, April 12. Governor vetoed on June 2.

CHURCH/STATE SEPARATION: Senate File 2409 by Committee on Ways and Means. Creates an individual income tax credit for contributions to a School Tuition Organization [backdoor voucher program]. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the Senate 49-1, May 2. Passed the House 75-19, May 2. Signed into law by the governor, June 2.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS: House File 2648 by Committee on Commerce, Regulation & Labor. Broadens the private sector drug testing statute to include the use of hair, sweat, and other body excrements as samples. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 58-41, March 21. No Senate action.

VOTING RIGHTS: House File 2597 by Committee on State Government. Requires government-issued photo when voting absentee or in person. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 51-48, March 22. No Senate action.

EXCESSIVE FINES: House File 2697 by Committee on Public Safety. This is another in the long line of piling costs onto prisoners. It allows a county or municipality to charge a prisoner for medical aid. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 87-10, March 13. Passed the Senate 48-1, April 4. Signed by the governor on May 31.

IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS: House File 2671 by Committee on Commerce, Regulation & Labor. Pertains to illegal immigrants, especially in areas of employment and the servicing of first mortgages. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 69-25, March 16. No Senate action.

DUE PROCESS: House File 2775 by Committee on Appropriations. Relates to the assessment of court fees and court costs. Shifts the costs in certain circumstances from the court to the defendant. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 90-6, April 3. Passed the Senate 50-0, April 18. Signed by the governor, May 30.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION: House File 2571 by Committee on Public Safety. Expands confidentiality and limits release of intelligence assessment or intelligence data. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 95-1, March 16. Passed the Senate 50-0, April 5. Signed by governor, May 31.

JUVENILE JUSTICE: Senate File 2346 by Committee on Transportation. Relates to motor vehicle restrictions and adolescents (i.e. cell phones, curfews, seat belt requirements, etc.). [Nick’s Law] ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the Senate 48-0, March 20. No House action.

PRIVACY: Senate File 2321 by Committee on Government Oversight. Provides for the confidentiality of certain information relating to homeless individuals. ACLU-IA SUPPORTED. Passed the Senate 50-0, April 10. No House action.

DUE PROCESS: House File 2687 by Committee on Judiciary. Allows for the conviction of subsequent criminal offenses, even though earlier charges are pending, and relaxes the standard of obtaining bodily specimens in alleged OWI cases. ACLU-IA OPPOSED. Passed the House 71-28, March 21. No Senate action.

JUVENILE JUSTICE: House File 2676 by Committee on Judiciary. Relates to the sealing and confidentiality of juvenile court records. ACLU-IA SUPPORTED. Passed the House 98-0, March 22. No Senate action.