This bill amends Section 704.6 of the Iowa Code to clarify the circumstances under which the defenses of justification and diminished capacity are not available for certain violent crimes. It specifies that these defenses cannot be claimed by individuals who are the subject of a nonviolent sexual advance when they commit a violent crime or assault as a result of that advance. Additionally, the bill outlines that these defenses are also unavailable if the violent act is committed due to the person's discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The bill makes several changes to the existing legal language, including replacing the singular term "defense" with the plural "defenses" and modifying the language to clarify that it applies to "a person" rather than "one." It also introduces specific conditions under which the defenses of justification and diminished capacity are not applicable, particularly in relation to nonviolent sexual advances and the victim's identity. This legislative change aims to address the legal implications surrounding violent crimes and the context in which they occur, ensuring that certain defenses are not misapplied.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 704.6