(Radio Iowa) – A plan to create drug-free zones around facilities the provide services to homeless Iowans could be debated in the House Public Safety Committee next week. The idea comes from the Cicero Institute, a conservative think tank based in Texas. Dennis Tibben, an Iowa based lobbyist who represents the group, says it would be similar to drug-free school zones where penalties are enhanced for people caught with drugs in the area.

“Those drug free school zones create a buffer of 1000 feet outside of a school that illicit drug use can’t occur,” Tibben said. “This legislation would create a similar buffer of 300 feet around homeless shelters and other supportive service areas.” People selling or distributing drugs within 300 feet of a facility offering homeless services would have an extra year added to their prison sentence. Homeless service providers that receive government funding could be criminally charged if someone is allowed to have drugs in the facility and the organization would be ineligible for government funding for three years.

Advocates for the facilities that serve homeless Iowans say they already have drug-free policies in place, but their goal is to provide emergency assistance and they may not realize a person is using or possesses drugs when they walk in the facility.