Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa House have forged what they believe is a compromise that will let nursing home residents and their families know when registered sex offenders move into the home. It would also keep the state’s most violent sex offenders who’ve been kept in a special prison unit after their sentences have been served from being transferred to nursing homes. Representative Bruce Hunter, a Democrat from Des Moines, says it’s a good approach. “This issue does require kind of a fine, tight-roping act to make sure that we take care of some of our most vulnerable citizens of our state,” he says, “but yet make sure that we don’t trample over the rights of innocent people here.” The compromise plan passed the House Monday afternoon on a 97 to zero vote. Last week Democrats and Republicans in the Senate had a severe disagreement over this issue last week and it’s unclear whether the Democratically-led Senate will accept this latest plan developed in the House.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)