(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

House File 514: an Act specifying procedures for resolving claims against purchased or pledged good held by pawnbrokers. 

House File 2132: an Act establishing the Gideon fellowship program in the Office of the State Public Defender.

House File 2181: an Act relating to the maximum weight of motor vehicles covered under the lemon law and including applicability provisions. 

House File 2278: an Act restricting disclosures of specified information by regional transit districts, and providing a penalty.

House File 2325: an Act relating to certain corporations organized prior to July 1, 1971, by eliminating requirements relating to publication.

House File 2344: an Act relating to drainage of levee districts by providing for mergers, the liability of trustees, bidding requirements, the annexation of land, and authorizing the imposition of assessments upon affected landowners. 

House File 2435: an Act relating to taxation by updating the code references to the internal revenue code, providing for the repeal of the generation skipping transfer tax and Iowa estate tax, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 220: an Act relating to funding for retirement incentive programs offered by school districts and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 2080: an Act relating to exchanging information contained in the Iowa information program for drug prescribing and dispensing.

Senate File 2091: an Act relating to common forms of co-ownership of real property and including effective date and applicability provisions.

Senate File 2092: an Act relating to the criminal offense of fraudulent practice and making penalties.

Senate File 2121: an Act making changes to the controlled substance schedules, and providing for penalties.

Senate File 2185: an Act concerning the determinations of native horses for purposes of pari-mutuel wagering.

Senate File 2198: an Act providing for the issuance of a paddlefish fishing license and tag and providing penalties.

Senate File 2211: an Act relating to the civil commitment of a sexually violent predator. 

Senate File 2212: an Act relating to land disposal of yard waste and including effective date provisions.

Senate File 2257: an Act relating to programs and accounts administered by the College Student Aid Commission.

Senate File 2259: an Act modifying provisions applicable to personal information security breach notification requirements, and making penalties applicable.

Senate File 2271: an Act relating to the duties and authority of the College Student Aid Commission relating to the registration of certain postsecondary schools, to interstate reciprocity agreements, and to registration fees collected by the commission.

Senate File 2273: an Act allowing the holders of interests in certain entities eligible to hold agricultural land to be elected as trustees of drainage or levee districts.

Senate File 2291: an Act providing an exemption from registration fees for certain new completed motor vehicles purchased by an equipment dealer for modification and resale.

Senate File 2296: an Act relating to mental health treatment costs of certain persons accused of a crime.

Senate File 2315: an Act relating to the scope and nature of use restrictions on land.

Senate File 2320: an Act relating to providers of medical assistance program consumer-directed attendant care and consumer choices option services, including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 2321: an Act relating to jurisdiction over certain offenses committed by members of the state military forces, and establishing certain notification and reporting requirements.

Des Moines, April 2, 2014 ? Today, the Iowa Supreme Court approved amendments to the Iowa Court Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage (ENMC) ?the court rules regulating audio and video recording and photography of courtroom procedures. The amendments broaden the court's definition of news media and allow for live electronic reporting, such as tweeting and blogging, from the courtroom by members of the news media, with advance approval from the presiding judge.

The amendments to Chapter 25 of the Iowa Court Rules and the new forms accompanying chapter 25 are effective May 1, 2014.

The updated rules are the product of a ten-month review by a fifteen-person supreme court advisory committee consisting of Iowa judges, attorneys, and members of the media.

"I am confident the expanded news media coverage rules as amended will continue Iowa's tradition of openness and transparency of court proceedings and move us closer to Chief Justice Cady's goal of being the best court system in the nation," Justice Bruce B. Zager, who chaired the committee, said. "I am confident because of the conscientious way the Expanded News Media Committee approached the challenge of updating our 30-year-old rules in light of the many changes in technology and news gathering techniques reporters use today. The supreme court is very appreciative of the committee's thoughtful and well researched recommendations."

The amendments will allow media coverage of initial appearances in criminal cases with approval of the presiding judge. The rules will allow the request for media coverage to be made either in writing or orally to the magistrate or judge presiding over the initial appearance, subject to an oral objection by the prosecutor, defendant, or defendant's counsel.

The supreme court requested the review because judges and court staff are faced with bloggers, smart phones, and twitter, among other forms of technology that were not specifically addressed in the rules. The EMNC rules were first approved by the supreme court in 1979 and have been only slightly modified since that time.

"These changes in the Expanded News Media Coverage rules usher in a new era in news coverage of Iowa's courtrooms," Iowa Freedom of Information Council Executive Director and committee member Kathleen Richardson said. "It's exciting to see that the state remains on the forefront of embracing technological change to allow Iowans exceptional access to the judicial process."

The amendments to the Iowa Court Rules for Expanded News Media Coverage and the new forms are located at

http://www.iowacourts.gov/Court_Rules__Forms/Recent_Amendments__New_Iowa_Court_Rules/

Summary of Changes

With the advent of new technology and newsgathering practices members of the news media use, the amendments to chapter 25 of the Iowa Court Rules will allow a more consistent use of expanded news media coverage statewide and continue to allow for judicial discretion in individual cases. The amendments further transparency of the legal process while not disrupting court proceedings or interfering with individual rights. The rules strictly prohibit expanded news media coverage without prior express authorization from the presiding judicial officer.

New Terms and Definitions

25.1(1) "Expanded news media coverage" includes broadcasting, recording, photographing, and live electronic reporting of judicial proceedings by the news media for gathering and disseminating news in any medium.  Expanded news media coverage is limited to the news media unless the judicial officer orders otherwise.

25.1(5) "News media" includes any person who regularly gathers, prepares, photographs, records, writes, edits, reports, or publishes news or information about matters of public interest in any medium, and who successfully applies to participate in expanded news media coverage and agrees to comply with all court rules.

"Electronic devices" is broadly defined to include, but not be limited to, laptop computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, smart phones, and tablet computers. Electronic devices not used for recording audio, video, or still images may be used in the courtroom by members of the news media for live electronic reporting with advance approval from the judicial officer, provided the equipment does not make any disruptive noise or interfere with court equipment.  Electronic devices may not be used by anyone in the courtroom for telephone calls. Electronic devices may not be used by anyone in the courtroom for photography, video recording, audio recording, or streaming video unless approved by the judicial officer in advance of the proceeding. The rule applies to news media only. Use of such electronic devices by others is prohibited.

"Live electronic reporting" covers tweeting, blogging, and future methods of real time electronic reporting by text. It does not include photography or video. Members of the news media using electronic devises for live reporting also require prior expressed authorization from the judicial officer and must be located in an area the judicial officer designates.

News Media Identification in the Courtroom

25.2(12) Identification. All news media personnel authorized to use electronic devices in the courtroom must wear identification, which is clearly visible to the judicial officer and members of the jury and which states the person's name and media affiliation.

Initial Appearances in Criminal Proceedings

The amendments allow an expanded news media coverage request for an initial appearance to be made the day of the hearing either in writing or orally to the judicial officer presiding over the initial appearance, subject to an oral objection by the prosecutor, defendant, or defendant's counsel. Authorization for expanded news media coverage of proceedings subsequent to the initial appearance must be requested separately.

25.2(4) Initial appearances in criminal proceedings.

• a. Oral or written requests for expanded news media coverage of initial appearances in criminal proceedings must be made to the judicial officer presiding over the proceeding. Such expanded news media coverage, if authorized by the judicial officer, is subject to objection by the prosecutor, defendant, or defendant's attorney.
• b. The defendant shall be advised by the judicial officer of defendant's right to orally object to expanded news media coverage prior to the commencement of the proceeding, and any such objection will be heard and determined by the judicial officer prior to the commencement of the proceeding. The judicial officer may rule on the basis of the oral objection alone.
• c. A judicial officer's authorization of expanded news media coverage of an initial appearance applies only to the particular initial appearance. Authorization for expanded news media coverage of proceedings subsequent to the initial appearance must be requested separately.

New Forms

The new forms the supreme court adopted with the amended rules are compatible with the Iowa Judicial Branch Electronic Document Management System (EDMS or eFiling) and available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website in a fillable and savable format. The new forms are:

• Form 1 is the notice form for the news media coordinator to use to inform the attorneys for all parties and the judicial officer of a request for expanded news media coverage of the proceeding.This form allows the news media coordinator to list the number of news media members in the courtroom using electronic devices and the type of electronic devices those members of the news media will be using.
• Form 2 is the form for parties to use to object to expanded news media coverage of the proceeding.
• Form 3 is the form for witnesses to use to object to expanded news media coverage of the proceeding.

Electronic Filing

To prepare for the statewide use of EDMS and provide consistency during its implementation, the new amendments allow notice to be filed electronically or by paper copy. This will allow the media coordinator to mail, hand deliver, email, fax, or, with EDMS, electronically file the notice with all parties, the judicial officer expected to preside at the proceedings, and the appropriate clerk of court and court administrator.

Filing Period

With electronic filing, the amendments shorten the time for filing a request for expanded news media coverage from fourteen days to seven days for all proceedings except initial appearances in criminal cases. The time of notice for a party to object to expanded news media coverage remains unchanged at three days.

Number of People Allowed to Record Video and Audio and to Photograph

Because of the number of different electronic devices the media uses today, the amended rules increase the number of members of the news media allowed in the courtroom to record video and audio and to photograph proceedings. The amended rules do not limit the number of any particular electronic device, but allow for not more than five total members of the news media using still cameras, television cameras, audio recorders, and electronic devices, or any combination of the four for photography or video and audio recording. This amendment will give members of the news media flexibility and the judicial officer the ability to control the courtroom by designating where the news media is located in the courtroom and which proceedings can be recorded and photographed.

• 25.4(3)(a) Video recording, audio recording, and still photography. Not more than five total members of the news media using still cameras, television cameras, audio recorders, and electronic devices, or any combination of the four, to photograph, video, or record audio are permitted in the courtroom during a judicial proceeding. Each still photographer may use two camera bodies each with a fixed lens or one camera body and two lenses. Where possible, all recording and broadcasting equipment that is not a component part of a camera or an electronic device and any operating personnel shall be located outside of the courtroom. Audio pickup for broadcast coverage must be accomplished from any existing audio system present in the courtroom, if such pickup would be technically suitable for broadcast.

Pooling

Representatives of news media are responsible for contributing to electronic pool coverage of judicial proceedings when necessary. If a news organization is incapable of contributing to pool coverage, the news media coordinator may allow the news organization to share the pool coverage or may restrict the news organization's coverage.

Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

A separate request for expanded news media coverage must be made for Iowa Supreme Court and Iowa Court of Appeals oral arguments.

Procedure for Requesting Expanded News Media Coverage

Requests for permission to use cameras, recording equipment, or other electronic devices in court proceedings must be submitted to the media coordinator at least seven days in advance of the time the proceeding is scheduled to occur. Or, if the proceeding is not scheduled at least seven days in advance, the request must be made as soon as practicable. The request shall proceed as follows:

·         Media representative submits request to media coordinator;

·         Media coordinator files written notice with clerk of court and sends notice to all counsel of record, parties appearing without counsel, district court administrator, and presiding judge using Rule 25.10-Form 1: News Media Coordinator's Notice of Request for Expanded Media Coverage of Trial or Proceeding;

·         A party to, or witness in, the proceeding may object using Rule 25.10?Form 2: Objection of Party to Expanded News Media Coverage of Trial or Proceeding or Rule 25.10?Form 3: Objection of Witness to Expanded News Media Coverage of Testimony;

·         If there are objections, the judge shall rule on the written objections or hold a hearing.

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April 2, 2014 - (Rock Island, IL) - Royal Neighbors of America has announced its new sponsorship of Soroptimist International of the Americas and its online volunteer portal, LiveYourDream.org. The organizations are combining resources to empower women with financial education to build more secure futures. Royal Neighbors will provide Soroptimist members appropriate insurance solutions and products to protect their lives and those of their families.

From the founding of the first club in 1921 to the present day with about 1,400 clubs and 33,000 members, Soroptimist works to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The organization focuses on providing women and girls access to education as a way to achieve their full potential. Soroptimist also powers LiveYourDream.org, a burgeoning online community that encourages offline action on behalf of women and girls.  

"Tremendous synergy exists between Royal Neighbors and Soroptimist. We share values and a calling ingrained in us as women, particularly as it involves empowering women to pursue their best lives," said Elizabeth M. Lucas, CAE, MBA, executive director and CEO of Soroptimist.  "We are proud to join with Royal Neighbors to accomplish joint goals and look forward to a long and successful relationship."  

Royal Neighbors of America has protected women financially and empowered them to improve their lives, families, and communities since 1895. It offers life insurance and financial protection solutions for women and their families throughout their lives. As a not-for-profit life insurer, its philanthropic programs also provide opportunities for women and families to give back, connect, and empower others in their communities.  Royal Neighbors was one of the first to insure women and children. Today, it remains one of the nation's first and largest women-led insurers providing financial products, member benefits, and volunteer programs to its more than 200,000 members.   

"It is estimated that 35 percent of women today feel some measure of anxiety about their financial 

future," said Cynthia Tidwell, Royal Neighbors President/CEO. "With our knowledge of the women's financial market and Soroptimist's history of providing women educational opportunities, together we will empower women to build on their strengths and enjoy a secure financial future."

More about Royal Neighbors:

Royal Neighbors of America, one of the nation's largest women-led life insurance organizations, exists for the benefit of its members. It offers insurance products to fulfill financial needs of growth, savings, and protection. Members receive valuable benefits and can participate in volunteer activities through the organization's local chapters to help make a difference in their communities. The organization's philanthropic efforts are dedicated to changing women's lives through a variety of national programs, including the Nation of Neighbors^SM Program and through the Royal Neighbors Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, with a branch office in Mesa, AZ, Royal Neighbors serves more than 200,000 members and is licensed to do business in 42 states and the District of Columbia. To learn more about Royal Neighbors, visit www.royalneighbors.org or call (855) 243-4823.

More about Soroptimist:

Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Soroptimist (Soroptimist.org) improves the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. Its major program, the Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards, provides cash grants for women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Since 1972, the award-winning program has disbursed more than $25 million to tens of thousands of women, helping them to achieve their educational goals and build better lives for their families. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also powers LiveYourDream.org?an online community offering offline volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.

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