Last week, the Iowa Senate took a step to enhancing penalties for kidnapping minors by passing Senate file 2201 by a 49-0 unanimous yes vote.

District 24 State Senator Jerry Behn says the bill they passed was in response to the tragic kidnapping and murdering of Kathlynn Shepard from Dayton last May.

He states that the offender, Michael Klunder was released from his 41-year prison sentence for time off for good behavior for a previous kidnapping conviction.

The Senate’s bill proposes that anyone who is found guilty of kidnapping a child that’s 17 years-old or younger will be charged with a Class B Felony and the legislation will change a second count of third degree kidnapping to a Class B Felony as well.  Behn adds that the bill also as the offender wearing an electronic bracelet to keep track of them at all times.  By increasing the felony charge, that will take away time off for good behavior to convicted offenders.

He talks about everyone’s support of the bill in the Senate.

“Everybody was in agreement that something needed to be done and that’s part of what we try to do down here (at the capital) is respond when there’s situations like that and I thought everybody took it on a very serious note.  We had good bipartisan work on the bill, everybody understood what they were trying to do and I thought everybody came together very well.”

With the Senate passing its version of the bill, it now goes to the House for consideration before it goes to the governor’s office for final approval.