Text: HF00360 Text: HF00362 Text: HF00300 - HF00399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMISSION. A campaign
1 2 finance commission is established to study the laws relating
1 3 to the financing of elections for office and to recommend
1 4 reforms in these laws, according to the following:
1 5 1. APPOINTMENT. The commission shall be composed of six
1 6 members, bipartisan and gender-balanced in accordance with
1 7 sections 69.16 and 69.16A, and appointed as follows:
1 8 a. Two members shall be the state chairs of each of the
1 9 political parties, as defined in section 43.2, or their
1 10 designees.
1 11 b. Four members shall be jointly appointed by the majority
1 12 and minority leaders of the senate and house. These members
1 13 shall be appointed from nonpartisan organizations which have
1 14 researched, studied, and advocated the issue of political
1 15 campaign finance reform for fifteen years or more, or who are
1 16 specially qualified to serve on the commission because of
1 17 training or experience.
1 18 c. The commission shall elect a chair and vice chair at
1 19 its first meetings.
1 20 2. TERMS. The members of the commission shall serve for
1 21 the life of the commission.
1 22 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in the commission shall be filled
1 23 in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
1 24 Sec. 2. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
1 25 1. HEARINGS. The commission may hold hearings which shall
1 26 be open and announced in advance to the public, take
1 27 testimony, and receive evidence as the commission considers
1 28 appropriate. Activities of the commission shall be held in
1 29 accordance with chapter 21.
1 30 The commission shall hold at least one hearing in each
1 31 congressional district within the state specifically to obtain
1 32 public input on the issue of campaign finance reform.
1 33 2. QUORUM. Four members of the commission shall
1 34 constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
1 35 3. REPORT. Not later than December 15, 1999, the
2 1 commission shall submit to the general assembly a report of
2 2 the activities of the commission, together with a draft of
2 3 legislation recommended by the commission to reform the laws
2 4 regarding the financing of political campaigns for
2 5 consideration by the general assembly in 2000 according to the
2 6 provisions of this Act.
2 7 4. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED. In holding hearings and
2 8 preparing the report required under subsection 3, the
2 9 commission shall consider all issues related to campaign
2 10 finance reform, including, but not limited to expenditure
2 11 limits, expenditure and contribution disclosure, contribution
2 12 limits by individuals and committees, soft money, independent
2 13 expenditures, and negative campaigning. The commission may
2 14 secure directly from any department or agency such information
2 15 as the commission considers necessary, and the department or
2 16 agency shall promptly furnish such information to the
2 17 commission.
2 18 5. STAFFING. Assistance shall be provided to the
2 19 commission by the central nonpartisan legislative staff
2 20 bureaus. The commission may utilize the services of the
2 21 legislative service bureau in formulating a draft of
2 22 legislation. The attorney general's office and the ethics and
2 23 campaign disclosure board shall serve as consultants, and
2 24 advise the commission as necessary.
2 25 Sec. 3. FAST-TRACK PROCEDURE.
2 26 1. The legislation drafted by the commission shall be
2 27 filed with each chamber on the first day of the legislative
2 28 session beginning in the year 2000, and immediately assigned
2 29 to the committee on state government in each chamber.
2 30 2. Each committee on state government shall have no more
2 31 than one week from the first day of the legislative session to
2 32 review the legislation. If approved by the committee, the
2 33 legislation shall immediately be placed on the calendar for
2 34 consideration by the full chamber. The legislation must be
2 35 approved or rejected by both chambers within thirty days of
3 1 the first day of the legislative session beginning in the year
3 2 2000.
3 3 3. No amendment to the draft legislation shall be in order
3 4 in either chamber of the general assembly, either in committee
3 5 or on the floor. No motion to suspend the application of
3 6 these rules shall be in order in either chamber of the general
3 7 assembly, either in committee or on the floor.
3 8 4. All time periods under this section shall be calculated
3 9 according to calendar days. Weekends and days when the
3 10 general assembly is not in session shall be included in any
3 11 calculation.
3 12 Sec. 4. TERMINATION. The commission shall cease to exist
3 13 one month after the submission of its report under section 2
3 14 of this Act.
3 15 EXPLANATION
3 16 This bill creates a campaign finance commission to review
3 17 issues related to campaign finance reform, to prepare a report
3 18 to be submitted to the legislature by December 15, 1999, and
3 19 to prepare draft reform legislation. The members of the
3 20 commission are composed of the two chairs of the state
3 21 political parties, and four representatives of nonpartisan
3 22 organizations that have studied and advocated campaign finance
3 23 reform. Public hearings shall be held in each congressional
3 24 district. The bill also provides for fast-track consideration
3 25 of the draft legislation by the general assembly. Both
3 26 chambers must debate and vote on the legislation, without any
3 27 amendment, within 30 days of the start of the legislative
3 28 session beginning in the year 2000.
3 29 LSB 2736HH 78
3 30 jj/gg/8
Text: HF00360 Text: HF00362 Text: HF00300 - HF00399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
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