House Study Bill 624 - Introduced SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE BOARD BILL) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the placement of campaign signs and making 1 penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5366DP (3) 88 ss/jh
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 68A.103, Code 2020, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 68A.103 Applicability to federal candidates. 3 1. The requirements of this chapter relative to disclosure 4 of contributions shall apply to candidates and political 5 committees for federal office only in the event such candidates 6 are not subject to a federal law requiring the disclosure of 7 campaign financing. Any such federal law shall supersede the 8 provisions of this chapter . 9 2. The provisions of section 68A.406 shall apply to 10 candidates and political committees for federal office. 11 Sec. 2. Section 68A.406, Code 2020, is amended by adding the 12 following new subsection: 13 NEW SUBSECTION . 4. For the purposes of this section: 14 a. “Campaign sign” means a sign that expressly advocates in 15 favor of or against one or more clearly identified candidates 16 or ballot issues. 17 b. “Candidate” means an individual who has taken affirmative 18 action to seek the nomination or election to any federal, 19 state, county, city, or school office filled by election and 20 shall also include any judge standing for retention in a 21 judicial election. 22 EXPLANATION 23 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 24 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 25 This bill relates to campaign signs. The bill applies the 26 restrictions on the placement of campaign signs to candidates 27 for federal office. The bill also defines “campaign sign” and 28 “candidate”. 29 A person who violates a provision of Code chapter 68A 30 is subject to civil penalties imposed by the Iowa ethics 31 and campaign disclosure board, including remedial action, a 32 reprimand, and a civil penalty up to $2,000. In addition, a 33 person who willfully violates a provision of Code chapter 68A 34 is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is 35 -1- LSB 5366DP (3) 88 ss/jh 1/ 2
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine 1 of at least $315 but not more than $1,875. 2 -2- LSB 5366DP (3) 88 ss/jh 2/ 2