Dear Neighbor,
The bill I authored to strengthen penalties for interfering with the body or scene of a death passed the House without opposition yesterday, 124-0.
"Laura's Law," is directed toward crimes similar those involving 18-year-old victim Laura Schwendemann, of Starbuck. Schwendemann's body was found in a corn field 12 days after she was reported missing last fall.
It is gratifying to see such strong support for this bill. There are still a few more hurdles to clear in the process of enactment and I look forward to continuing our efforts to get this bill enacted.
The bill would make interfering with the body or scene of a death with intent to conceal the body or evidence, or otherwise to mislead the coroner or medical examiner, punishable as a felony. The change would raise the maximum penalty to up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $20,000 or both. The current gross-misdemeanor label limits the maximum penalty for such a crime to 365 days in jail and a fine.
The proposal now is in the hands of a conference committee, which will work to reconcile differences between my House bill and the companion authored by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen.
Click here for a brief video clip of me presenting this bill on the House floor.
A breakthrough on some of this session's top issues remains elusive as we inch closer to the May 23 adjournment date. A conference committee been chosen to negotiate major differences in spending bills passed by the House and Senate.
Supplemental budget legislation was passed in three separate House bills, while the Senate put all its spending into one bill. After spending targets are established so conferees know how much they can spend, negotiations will get serious and hopefully produce agreements that will allow for a transportation bill and also tax relief legislation.
Also, we are still working to bring the omnibus ag. policy bill to the House floor. A key provision in that package is one I authored to extend the state's Farmer-Lender Mediation Act and study appropriate updates for the program.
I will keep you posted on these and other topics as new details emerge.
Sincerely,
Paul