H-1053

   Amend House File 304 as follows:
   1.  Page 1, before line 1 by inserting: 
   <Section 1.  Section 474.1, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  a.  Subject to confirmation by the senate, the governor shall appoint a member as the chairperson of the commission. The chairperson shall be the administrator of the utilities commission preside over the meetings. The appointment as chairperson shall be for a two-year term which that begins and ends as provided in section 69.19.
   b.  The commission, with approval of a majority of the members, shall appoint a chief operating officer an executive director to manage the administration and operations of the utilities commission. The commission shall set the salary of the chief operating officer executive director within the limits of the pay plan for exempt positions provided for in section 8A.413, subsection 3, unless otherwise provided by the general assembly. The commission may employ additional personnel as it finds necessary.  The executive director shall be selected primarily for administrative ability and knowledge in the field, without regard to political affiliation. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.
   Sec. ___.  Section 474.2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   474.2  Certain persons barred from office.
   A person who is employed by any common carrier or other public utility or who owns any bonds, stock, or property in any public utility shall not be eligible to hold the office of utilities commission member or chief operating officer of the utilities commission executive director. A member or chief operating officer executive director who enters into employment with any common carrier or other public utility or who acquires any stock or other interest in any common carrier or other public utility after appointment as a member or chief operating officer executive director shall be disqualified from holding or performing the duties of the office.
   Sec. ___.  Section 474.8, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   474.8  Office —— time employed —— expenses.
   The utilities commission shall have an office at the seat of government. Each member shall devote the member’s whole time to the duties of the office, and the members, chief operating officer executive director, and other employees shall receive their actual necessary traveling expenses while in the discharge of their official duties away from the general offices.>
   2.  Title page, line 1, by striking <including> and inserting <the organizational structure of the Iowa utilities commission,>
   3.  Title page, line 2, after <telecommunications> and inserting <,>
   4.  By renumbering as necessary.

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WILZ of Wapello