216A.139 Sex offender research council.

1. The division shall establish and maintain a council to study and make recommendations for treating and supervising adult and juvenile sex offenders in institutions, community-based programs, and in the community.

2. The voting members of the council shall include one representative of each of the following:

a. The department of corrections.

b. The department of human services.

c. The department of public safety.

d. The state public defender.

e. The department of public health.

f. The juvenile court appointed by the judicial branch.

g. A judicial district department of correctional services.

h. The board of parole.

i. The department of justice.

j. The Iowa county attorneys association.

k. The American civil liberties union of Iowa.

l. The Iowa state sheriffs’ and deputies’ association.

m. The Iowa coalition against sexual assault.

3. In addition to the voting members, the council membership shall include four members of the general assembly with one member designated by each of the following: the majority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the minority leader of the house of representatives. A legislative member serves for a term as provided in section 69.16B in an ex officio, nonvoting capacity.

4. The council shall study the following:

a. The effectiveness of electronically monitoring sex offenders.

b. The cost and effectiveness of special sentences pursuant to chapter 903B.

c. Risk assessment models created for sex offenders.

d. Determining the best treatment programs available for sex offenders and the efforts of Iowa and other states to implement treatment programs.

e. The efforts of Iowa and other states to prevent sex abuse-related crimes including child sex abuse.

f. Any other issues the council deems necessary, including but not limited to computer and internet sex-related crimes, sex offender case management, best practices for sex offender supervision, the sex offender registry, and the effectiveness of safety zones.

5. The council shall submit a report, beginning January 15, 2009, and every year thereafter by January 15, to the governor and general assembly regarding actions taken, issues studied, and council recommendations.

6. Members of the council shall receive actual and necessary expenses incurred while attending any meeting of the council and may also be eligible to receive compensation as provided in section 7E.6. All expense moneys paid to the nonlegislative members shall be paid from funds appropriated to the division. Legislative members shall receive compensation as provided in sections 2.10 and 2.12.

7. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority in the manner of the original appointments.

2008 Acts, ch 1085, §5; 2009 Acts, ch 106, §5, 6, 14

Referred to in §216A.131A