House File 2542 amends existing laws regarding habitual offenders in Iowa, specifically addressing the minimum sentencing requirements and parole eligibility. The bill defines a habitual offender as a person convicted of a class C or D felony who has previously been convicted of any felony twice. It establishes that a person convicted of a third qualifying felony must be sentenced as a habitual offender, serving a minimum of seven years without the possibility of parole until this minimum sentence is completed. Additionally, any earned time accrued will not reduce this minimum sentence.

The bill also modifies the maximum confinement period for habitual offenders from fifteen years to twenty years. It introduces new provisions requiring probation officers to report violations to the appropriate authorities and includes a new subparagraph that identifies offenses qualifying a defendant as a habitual offender. Furthermore, it adds a new paragraph to specify that sentences imposed under the habitual offender statute must be documented.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 902.8, 708.2A
Reprinted: 902.8, 708.2A
Enrolled: 902.8, 902.9, 907.2, 907.3