General Information about the General Assembly: 76-1
SALARIES, BENEFITS, AND REIMBURSEMENT
The rate of pay for salaries, expenses and travel for legislators is set in
section 2.10 of The Code of Iowa.
Annual
Salaries
Beginning in January 1995, a legislator is paid an annual salary as follows:
- Members
- $18,800
- President of the Senate
- $29,000
- President Pro Tempore
- $19,900
- Speaker
- $29,000
- Speaker Pro Tempore
- $19,900
- Senate Majority Leader
- $29,000
- Senate Minority Leader
- $29,000
- House Majority Leader
- $29,000
- House Minority Leader
- $29,000
The annual salaries are paid to legislators at the same time
state employees are paid, i.e., every other Friday. A legislator may select one
of the following options for receipt of the annual salary.
- During each pay period for the entire calendar year.
- During each pay period during the first six months of each calendar year.
- During the first six months of each calendar year by allocating 2/3 of the
annual salary to each pay period during such time period and 1/3 of the annual
salary to each pay period during the second six months of a calendar
year.
Regular
Session Expense Payments
Legislators receive $60 per day for expense of office for each calendar day
during a regular legislative session commencing on the day the session convenes
and ending on the day the session adjourns. Polk county legislators receive $45
per day. Payments are, however, limited to 110 days in the odd-numbered years
and 100 days in even-numbered years.
Legislators receive $.21 per mile for actual travel for one round-trip from the
legislator's residence to the seat of government for each week the General
Assembly is in session.
Special
Session Payments
In addition to the regular salaries, legislators are paid $60 for each day the
General Assembly convenes in special session and the legislator is actually in
attendance. Legislators also receive an additional $60 as expense payment for
each calendar day of the special session commencing on the day the special
session begins and ending on the day the special session adjourns. The weekly
travel reimbursement mentioned above is also provided.
Interim
Payments
During the legislative interim, legislators receive $60 per day for attendance
at official meetings of state boards, commissions or councils, interim or
standing committees, or other official business authorized by the presiding
officer of the chamber.
Legislators also receive reimbursement for the actual expenses incurred by the
legislators in the performance of the official duties. There are limitations
established on the reimbursement amounts for meals. Reimbursement at the rate
of $.21 per mile is made for the actual miles traveled for attendance at the
meeting.
Legislative
District Expense Payments
Legislators receive $125 per month for legislative district constituency
postage, travel, telephone costs and other expenses.
Membership
in State Insurance Plans
Legislators may elect to become members of and pay premiums to any of the state
group insurance plans on the same basis as full-time state employees excluded
from collective bargaining. Legislators who have been covered under a state
health or medical group insurance plan for two or more years may continue
coverage under the plan after leaving office, but must pay the total premium
and administrative costs.
During their tenure in office, legislators are eligible for coverage under the
employees disability program on the same basis as full-time state employees
excluded from collective bargaining.
State
Retirement Plan Membership
Legislators may make application to the Department of Personnel to be covered
under the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) through the Senate
or House Finance Office. Effective January 1, 1995, the contribution made by
the state on behalf of the employee is 3.7 percent of salary up to the covered
wage and the state's contribution is 5.75 percent. Maximum benefits of 60
percent of the average of the legislator's highest three years of covered
salary are paid after 30 years of service and age 62, or when the total of the
legislator's years of service and age of at least 55 years equal or exceed 92.
Senate
and House Finance Officers
Each chamber has a finance office that maintains records of salaries and
benefits for members of the chamber. These officers can answer more specific
questions about salaries and benefits.
(For more information on the services of the finance offices, please refer to
Part IV of this Handbook, "Senate and House Staffs and Services.")
Iowa General Assembly
Index
© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov
Last update: 1995
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/LSB/LegHandbook/GeneralInfo/Salaries.html
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