Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
HF 2429 – Permissive Veterinary Reporting, Liability Immunity (LSB5956HV)
Staff Contact: Aaron Gerdts (515.281.6764) aaron.gerdts@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
House File 2429 grants immunity from administrative, civil, and criminal liability to veterinarians
when they are cooperating in criminal investigations of misdemeanors or felonies under Iowa
Code chapter 717B, Iowa Code chapter 717C, or Iowa Code chapter 717D. Veterinarians who
knowingly provide false information in investigations are guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Background
Iowa Code chapter 717B, Iowa Code chapter 717C, and Iowa Code chapter 717D all outline
crimes involving animals. Iowa Code chapter 717B prohibits various forms of animal
mistreatment including abuse, neglect, torture, and injuring or interfering with a police service
dog. Iowa Code chapter 717B only applies to companion animals. Iowa Code chapter 717C
prohibits bestiality, and Iowa Code chapter 717D prohibits animal contest events. Animal
contest events involve events where an animal is injured, tormented, or killed for entertainment
or profit, including but not limited to bullfighting or bull baiting, bear baiting, cock fighting, and
dog fighting. Both Iowa Code chapter 717C and Iowa Code chapter 717D apply to all animals.
Iowa Code chapter 169 (Veterinary Practice) outlines the acts and offenses that could result in
disciplinary action for veterinarians.
A simple misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855,
confinement for no more than 30 days, or both.
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.
• The law will become effective July 1, 2022. A lag effect of six months is assumed from the
law’s effective date to the date of first entry of affected offenders into the correctional system
(to allow for court case processing time).
Correctional Impact
House File 2429 gives immunity to veterinarians assisting in investigations involving animal
mistreatment. According to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Division (CJJP) of the
Department of Human Rights, no convictions have been filed under Iowa Code chapter 169,
and the correctional impact is expected to be minimal. The Bill also creates a new simple
misdemeanor offense. The correctional impact cannot be determined due to lack of conviction
data. Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General
Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 18, 2022,
for information related to the correctional system.
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Minority Impact
The CJJP cannot estimate a minority impact due to lack of conviction data. Refer to the LSA
memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statement, dated January 18, 2022,
for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.
Fiscal Impact
House File 2429 establishes a new offense. The fiscal impact of this offense cannot be
estimated due to a lack of existing conviction data. Table 1 shows average State cost for one
simple misdemeanor. The cost estimate includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial
Branch, the State Public Defender, and the Department of Corrections for one conviction.
Table 1 — Average State Cost Per Conviction
Total Cost
Offense Class Minimum Maximum
Simple Misdemeanor $ 40 $ 370
Sources
CJJP, Department of Human Rights
Department of Corrections
/s/ Holly M. Lyons
February 18, 2022
Doc ID 1287508
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