HF 2217 (LSB 5808YH (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2217

BY  FRY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to lobbyist’s client reports, including verification of and the filing location for the reports, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 22.7, Code 2020, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  74.  Documents submitted to the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board to verify the information contained in a lobbyist’s client’s report pursuant to section 68B.38.
    Sec. 2.  Section 68B.38, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   68B.38  Lobbyist’s client reporting.
   1.  On or before July 31 of each year, a lobbyist’s client shall electronically file with the general assembly board a report that contains information on all salaries, fees, retainers, and reimbursement of expenses paid by the lobbyist’s client to the lobbyist for lobbying purposes during the preceding twelve calendar months, concluding on June 30 of each year, as well as all documents necessary to verify the information in the report. The amount reported to the general assembly board shall include the total amount of all salaries, fees, retainers, and reimbursement of expenses paid to a lobbyist for lobbying both the legislative and executive branches.
   2.  The chief clerk of the house and the secretary of the senate board shall establish an internet site for the filing of lobbyist’s client reports in an electronic format.
   2A.  The board shall verify the information submitted in the report filed pursuant to this section. The board may require a lobbyist’s client to provide additional documents necessary to verify the information, which a lobbyist’s client shall provide. The documents provided pursuant to this section and used for verification shall be kept confidential.
   3.  The chief clerk of the house and the secretary of the senate board shall post all lobbyist’s client reports filed pursuant to this section in a searchable database on an internet site. The board general assembly shall establish a link on the internet site of the board general assembly to the lobbyist’s client report information on the general assembly’s board’s internet site.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to lobbyist’s client reports.
   Under current law, a lobbyist’s client is annually required to file with the general assembly a report that contains information on all salaries, fees, retainers, and reimbursement of expenses the lobbyist’s client paid to the lobbyist for lobbying purposes during the preceding year. The bill requires that the reports are instead filed with the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board (board). The bill also requires a lobbyist’s client to submit all documents necessary to verify the information and the board to verify the information. The board may require a lobbyist’s client to provide additional documents, which the client must provide. Verification documents a lobbyist’s client submits to the board are confidential. The first report for which the provisions of the bill will apply is due by July 31, 2020, for the reporting period of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
   A person who knowingly and intentionally violates a provision of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.