House File 34HOUSE FILE BY RAECKER Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the improper influence of executive branch 2 officials, executive branch employees, members of the general 3 assembly, and legislative employees, and making penalties 4 applicable. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1310YH 82 7 tm/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 68B.22A IMPROPER INFLUENCE. 1 2 1. An official or state employee shall not solicit or 1 3 accept anything of value for the benefit of any state agency 1 4 given pursuant to an understanding or arrangement that the 1 5 thing of value will influence the act, vote, opinion, 1 6 judgment, decision, or exercise of discretion of the person 1 7 with respect to the person's services provided as an official 1 8 or state employee. 1 9 2. A member of the general assembly or legislative 1 10 employee shall not solicit or accept anything of value for the 1 11 benefit of the general assembly given pursuant to an 1 12 understanding or arrangement that the thing of value will 1 13 influence the act, vote, opinion, judgment, decision, or 1 14 exercise of discretion of the person with respect to the 1 15 person's services provided as a member of the general assembly 1 16 or legislative employee. 1 17 3. This section shall not apply to the application for or 1 18 receipt of a grant obtained through a bona fide written grant 1 19 application process. This section shall not apply to 1 20 institutions under the control of the state board of regents 1 21 or the state historical society of Iowa foundation. 1 22 1 23 EXPLANATION 1 24 This bill relates to the improper influence of executive 1 25 branch officials, executive branch employees, members of the 1 26 general assembly, and legislative employees. 1 27 The bill prohibits an executive branch official, executive 1 28 branch employee, member of the general assembly, or 1 29 legislative employee from soliciting or accepting anything of 1 30 value for the benefit of any state agency or the general 1 31 assembly, respectively, given pursuant to an understanding or 1 32 arrangement that the thing of value will influence the act, 1 33 vote, opinion, judgment, decision, or exercise of discretion 1 34 of the person with respect to the person's services as an 1 35 executive branch official, executive branch employee, member 2 1 of the general assembly, or legislative employee. 2 2 The bill provides an exception for the application for or 2 3 receipt of a grant obtained through a bona fide written grant 2 4 application process and for institutions under the control of 2 5 the state board of regents or the state historical society of 2 6 Iowa foundation. 2 7 Pursuant to Code section 68B.25, a person who knowingly and 2 8 intentionally violates a provision of the bill relating to 2 9 improper influence is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may 2 10 be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person's 2 11 position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is 2 12 punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine 2 13 of at least $315 but not more than $1,875. 2 14 LSB 1310YH 82 2 15 tm:rj/sh/8