HF 2137 (LSB 5500HH (5) 85)

HOUSE FILE 2137

BY  PETTENGILL

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning state employee discipline regarding false allegations concerning employment and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  8A.417A  False allegations —— discipline —— civil penalty.

   A state employee who makes an allegation concerning another state employee that results in an investigation of the other state employee for possible discipline or discharge shall be subject to discipline or discharge if the allegation is determined to be false and the state employee making the allegation knew, or should have known, that the allegation was false and without merit. A state employee who makes a false allegation as described in this section and who is subject to discipline or discharge under this section shall, as part of that discipline or discharge, be subject to a civil penalty of five thousand dollars.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides that a state employee who makes a false allegation that results in an investigation of another state employee for possible discipline or discharge shall be subject to possible discipline or discharge for the false allegation if the state employee making the allegation knew, or should have known, that the allegation was false and without merit. In addition, the bill provides that such a state employee making a false allegation and subject to discipline or discharge shall also be subject to a penalty of $5,000.