Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 316 – Permissive Reporting, Veterinarians (LSB1696SV)
Staff Contact: Austin Brinks (515.725.2200) austin.brinks@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 316 provides immunity to administrative, civil, and criminal liability to licensed
veterinarians engaged in the following activities:
• Cooperate with a peace officer in a matter relating to the alleged conduct of a client that
would result in a misdemeanor or felony under Iowa Code chapter 717B, 717C, or 717D,
which pertain to the mistreatment of animals.
• Cooperate with a local authority or law enforcement to rescue a threatened animal.
• Participate in a dispositional proceeding.
• Provide competent and truthful evidence in an administrative, civil, or criminal case that
would result in a misdemeanor or felony under Iowa Code chapter 717B, 717C, or 717D.
A licensed veterinarian who knowingly provides false information regarding a client’s alleged
conduct is subject to disciplinary action, civilly liable for damages caused by the false
information, and guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Background
A licensed veterinarian is a person who has a valid license to practice veterinary medicine as
defined in Iowa Code chapter 169.
Iowa Code chapters 717B, 717C, and 717D regulate the mistreatment of animals, bestiality, and
animal contest events, respectively.
A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for up to 30 days and a fine of between
$105 and $855.
Assumptions
• The following will not change over the projection period: charge, conviction, and sentencing
patterns and trends; prisoner length of stay (LOS); revocation rates; plea bargaining; and
other criminal justice system policies and practices.
• A lag effect of six months is assumed from the effective date of this Bill to the date of first
entry of affected offenders into the correctional system.
• Marginal costs for county jails cannot be estimated due to a lack of data. For purposes of
this analysis, the marginal cost for county jails is assumed to be $50 per day.
Correctional Impact
Senate File 316 establishes a new simple misdemeanor. As a result, the correctional impact
cannot be estimated due to a lack of existing data. A conviction for a simple misdemeanor does
not result in a prison sentence, but does carry the possibility of confinement in jail for up to 30
days. Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General
Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 20,
2023, for information related to the correctional system.
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Minority Impact
Senate File 316 creates a new offense and the minority impact cannot be determined due to a
lack of conviction data. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority
Impact Statement, dated January 20, 2023, for information related to minorities in the criminal
justice system.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact related to the creation of a new criminal offense cannot be estimated due to a
lack of existing data. The average State cost for one simple misdemeanor conviction ranges
from $35 to $375.
Sources
Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Department of Human Rights
Legislative Services Agency
/s/ Jennifer Acton
February 23, 2023
Doc ID 1369382
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 169.3, 169.13, 169.18A