Iowa law sets gambling rules for unlicensed offers and repeat bettors

The law gives gambling commissions enforcement tools against some unlicensed gambling offers and bars people for life from certain venues after specified offenses. The enforcement provisions cover unlicensed offers named in the law. The lifetime bar applies after two convictions for unlawful betting. The commission may issue stop orders and seek court orders against unlicensed pari-mutuel or advance deposit wagering, fantasy sports contests, and certain other gambling offers. Two convictions for unlawful betting result in a lifetime bar from sports wagering, advance deposit sports wagering, excursion gambling boats, and gambling structures under the commission's jurisdiction.

The law requires state income tax withholding from certain gambling winnings above stated amounts or when federal withholding applies. These rules cover the gambling winnings identified by the applicable chapter and withholding threshold. Withholding applies to winnings over $600 from activities under chapters 99B or 99G, over $1,000 from chapter 99D activities when an information return is required, and over $1,200 from chapter 99F slot machines when an information return is required. Sports wagering winnings are subject to state withholding whenever federal income tax must be withheld from those winnings.

The law directs the building code commissioner to set safety standards for safe rooms and storm shelters and specifies where collected fees go. These provisions cover safe rooms and storm shelters in building projects and fees collected by the commissioner. The commissioner must consult with and receive recommendations from the departments named in the text, and consider nationally recognized standards. The code does not require a project to include a safe room or shelter unless another state or federal law requires it. If a project includes one, it must meet the standards when its design development phase starts on or after January 1, 2011. Collected commissioner fees go to the state licensing and regulation fund. A project that includes a safe room or storm shelter must meet the standards if its design development phase begins on or after January 1, 2011.

The law directs the department to establish a special residential care facility category for facilities serving pediatric palliative care patients. The category covers residential care facilities meeting the stated service requirements. A facility must primarily serve pediatric palliative care patients and provide only respite care and hospice program services. Facilities in the category are exempt from section 135.62 and may serve any number of people, including none. The department must adopt rules.