DES MOINES – The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Thursday with bipartisan support to move a bill to the Senate floor for a vote that would reform and modernize Iowa’s HIV law 709c.
According to One Iowa – the current law in 709c is “based on outdated science and beliefs that actually discourages testing and disclosure because of the severe penalties associated with simply knowing one’s status”.
If passed, the new law would no longer be HIV specific and would rely on a tiered sentencing system rather than the “one size fits all” approach in the current 709c law. This is the first time a proposed bill to reform Iowa’s HIV law has passed out of committee. One Iowa said that Iowa has one of the harshest laws in the country that targets people living with HIV and AIDS.
“We are so grateful for Senator Rob Hogg’s leadership on getting this bill through committee,” says Tami Haught, an organizer with Community HIV/Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network (CHAIN). “To have this bill pass through committee with bipartisan support is a testament that Iowa is ready to move away from its current draconian law.”
“It’s time for Iowans to stop living in fear because of Iowa’s discriminatory law,” says One Iowa Executive Director Donna Red Wing. “Moving this bill forward was the right thing to do. We cannot thank Senators Rob Hogg, Matt McCoy, Charles Schneider and Steve Sodders enough for bringing public attention to this important issue. We congratulate CHAIN’s efforts and we commend Community Organizer Tami Haught for her tireless efforts. We will continue to work together to dispel the stigma and misinformation that surrounds HIV and those living with it each and every day. This bill is a step in the right direction.”
