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Bill > SF337
IA SF337
A bill for an act relating to a hope card program for plaintiffs granted certain orders in a domestic abuse proceeding, and providing penalties.
summary
Introduced
02/17/2025
02/17/2025
In Committee
02/17/2025
02/17/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to a hope card program for plaintiffs granted certain orders in a domestic abuse proceeding. The bill requires the attorney general, in consultation with the district clerks of court, to develop and implement a hope card program to provide for the issuance of a hope card to each person who has been granted an order in a domestic abuse proceeding that is meant to protect a plaintiff from domestic abuse prior to a hearing or requires a defendant to cease domestic abuse of a plaintiff (order). The bill allows a plaintiff who is granted an order to request a hope card from the clerk of court of the county in which the order is granted. The plaintiff may request a hope card in an application requesting an order to protect the plaintiff from domestic abuse prior to a hearing, at a hearing to prove an allegation of domestic abuse, or at any other time before the order granted to the plaintiff expires. A clerk of court must create and provide a hope card to the plaintiff within three business days of the date an order is entered or the date a plaintiff requests a hope card, whichever is earlier. The bill prohibits the clerk of court from assessing a fee for the issuance of a hope card. The bill makes a petitioner’s hope card valid until the plaintiff’s order expires, or two years from the date the order was entered for the plaintiff, whichever is earlier. A hope card may be digital, or a durable wallet-sized card. The bill details the information that must be contained on a hope card. The bill makes it a simple misdemeanor for a person to present a hope card, or other document purporting to be a hope card, as a valid hope card when the person knows or should have known the hope card or other document is not a valid hope card. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. The bill makes a conforming change to Code section 903.1 (maximum sentence for misdemeanants).
AI Summary
This bill establishes a hope card program for plaintiffs who have been granted protective orders in domestic abuse proceedings. Under the program, the attorney general will develop a system where plaintiffs can obtain a hope card from their county clerk of court, either when applying for an order, during a hearing, or before their protective order expires. The hope card, which can be digital or a wallet-sized card, will contain key information about the protective order, including the names and dates of birth of the plaintiff and defendant, case number, order issuance and expiration dates, and hope card validity period. The card will be provided free of charge within three business days of the order being entered, and will remain valid for either two years or until the protective order expires, whichever comes first. The bill also establishes a simple misdemeanor penalty for anyone who knowingly presents a fraudulent hope card, which can result in up to 30 days of confinement and a fine between $105 and $855. Additionally, the bill makes a technical amendment to existing law to include hope card-related offenses in the list of misdemeanors that can be addressed through fines or community service for individuals under 18 years old.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Schultz, Bousselot, and Petersen. S.J. 327. (on 02/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF337 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF337.html |
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