House File 846 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 486)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to employment and improper influence ethics
2 issues for executive branch officials and employees, and
3 making penalties applicable.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 8.7 REPORTING OF GIFTS RECEIVED.
1 2 All gifts, bequests, and grants received by a department or
1 3 accepted by the governor on behalf of the state shall be
1 4 reported to the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board and
1 5 the government oversight committees. The ethics and campaign
1 6 disclosure board shall, by January 31 of each year, submit to
1 7 the fiscal services division of the legislative services
1 8 agency a written report listing all gifts, bequests, and
1 9 grants received during the previous calendar year with a value
1 10 over one thousand dollars and the purpose for each such gift,
1 11 bequest, or grant. The submission shall also include a
1 12 listing of all gifts, bequests, and grants received by a
1 13 department from a person if the cumulative value of all gifts,
1 14 bequests, and grants received by the department from the
1 15 person during the previous calendar year exceeds one thousand
1 16 dollars, and the ethics and campaign disclosure board shall
1 17 include, if available, the purpose for each such gift,
1 18 bequest, or grant.
1 19 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 68B.22A IMPROPER INFLUENCE.
1 20 1. An official or state employee shall not solicit or
1 21 accept anything of value for the benefit of any state agency
1 22 given pursuant to an understanding or arrangement that the
1 23 thing of value will influence the act, vote, opinion,
1 24 judgment, decision, or exercise of discretion of the person
1 25 with respect to the person's services provided as an official
1 26 or state employee.
1 27 2. This section shall not apply to the application for or
1 28 receipt of a grant obtained through a bona fide written grant
1 29 application process. This section shall not apply to
1 30 institutions under the control of the state board of regents
1 31 or the state historical society of Iowa. This section shall
1 32 not apply to gifts of real property accepted by the department
1 33 of natural resources which restrict the use of the real
1 34 property to the departmental mission and management
1 35 objectives.
2 1 EXPLANATION
2 2 This bill requires that all gifts, bequests, and grants
2 3 received by a department of the state or accepted by the
2 4 governor on behalf of the state shall be reported to the Iowa
2 5 ethics and campaign disclosure board and the government
2 6 oversight committees. The board is then required to submit by
2 7 January 31 of each year a written report to the fiscal
2 8 division of the legislative services agency listing, for the
2 9 previous calendar year, all gifts received of over $1,000 and
2 10 all gifts received by a particular state department from a
2 11 person if the cumulative value of the gifts received from the
2 12 person is over $1,000. The bill also requires that the
2 13 purpose of each gift received and reported be included, if
2 14 available, in the report.
2 15 The bill also prohibits a state government official or
2 16 employee from soliciting or accepting anything of value for
2 17 the benefit of a state agency, if there is an understanding or
2 18 arrangement that the thing of value will influence any action
2 19 taken by the state official or employee concerning that
2 20 official's or employee's governmental duties or
2 21 responsibilities. The restriction does not apply to the
2 22 application for or receipt of a grant through a bona fide
2 23 grant process. The restriction also does not apply to
2 24 institutions under the control of the board of regents or the
2 25 historical society. The restriction does not apply to certain
2 26 gifts of real property to the department of natural resources.
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