House File 2112 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY WOLFE and MOMMSEN A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to demolition reserves on fire and casualty 2 claims on real property located within a city and requesting 3 an interim study on such reserves. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 5998HH (2) 87 ko/rj PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 515.139, subsection 1, unnumbered 1 2 paragraph 1, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 An insurer shall reservetentwenty thousand dollars orten 1 4twenty percent, whichever amount is greater, of the payment for 1 5 damages to the property excluding personal property on which 1 6 the insurer has issued a fire and casualty insurance policy as 1 7 demolition cost reserve if the following are applicable: 1 8 Sec. 2. DEMOLITION RESERVE ON FIRE AND CASUALTY CLAIMS 1 9 ON PROPERTY ==== STUDY REQUEST. The legislative council is 1 10 requested to establish an interim study committee for the 1 11 purpose of reviewing section 515.139 to consider whether the 1 12 statute adequately meets the needs of cities of various sizes 1 13 and geographic locations within the state, and reporting its 1 14 findings and recommendations, if any, to the general assembly. 1 15 EXPLANATION 1 16 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 17 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 18 This bill provides that an insurer that has issued a fire 1 19 and casualty insurance policy for the payment of damages to 1 20 real property located in a city must reserve an amount equal to 1 21 $20,000 or 20 percent of the payment for damages, whichever is 1 22 greater, as a demolition cost reserve. Currently, the required 1 23 amount is $10,000 or 10 percent of the payment, whichever is 1 24 greater. 1 25 A city can claim proceeds from the reserve if the city incurs 1 26 costs to demolish a building where the damage to the property 1 27 renders it uninhabitable or unfit for its purpose, without 1 28 repair, and proof of loss indicates that damage to the insured 1 29 structure or building exceeds 75 percent of the face value of 1 30 the policy covering the building or structure. 1 31 The bill also includes a request that the legislative 1 32 council establish an interim study committee for the purpose of 1 33 reviewing the demolition reserve statute to consider whether 1 34 the statute adequately meets the needs of cities of various 1 35 sizes and geographic locations within the state. LSB 5998HH (2) 87 ko/rj