House Study Bill 698



                                    HOUSE FILE       
                                    BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON ETHICS
                                         BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SCHICKEL)


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to ethical principles of public service for
  2    public officials.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 6487HC 81
  5 tm/cf/24

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68B.1A  ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF
  1  2 PUBLIC SERVICE == PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
  1  3    The general assembly finds all of the following:
  1  4    1.  That public officials should treat their office as a
  1  5 public trust, using the powers and resources of public office
  1  6 to advance public interests as distinct from private interests
  1  7 incompatible with the public good.
  1  8    2.  That public officials should employ independent
  1  9 objective judgment in performing their duties, deciding all
  1 10 matters on the merits, free from conflicts of interest and
  1 11 both real and apparent improper influences.
  1 12    3.  That public officials should assure that government is
  1 13 conducted openly, efficiently, fairly, and honorably in a
  1 14 manner that permits the citizens to make informed judgments
  1 15 and hold officials accountable.
  1 16    4.  That public officials should honor and respect the
  1 17 principles and spirit of representative democracy and set a
  1 18 positive example of good citizenship by scrupulously observing
  1 19 the letter and spirit of laws and rules.
  1 20    5.  That public officials should be dedicated to the ideals
  1 21 of honesty, honor, and integrity in all public and personal
  1 22 relationships in order that they may merit the respect and
  1 23 confidence of all citizens.
  1 24                           EXPLANATION
  1 25    This bill relates to ethical principles of public service
  1 26 for public officials.
  1 27    The bill provides for ethical principles of public service
  1 28 in Code chapter 68B, which relates to governmental ethics.
  1 29 The ethical principles include treating public office as a
  1 30 public trust, employing independent objective judgment,
  1 31 assuring that government is conducted openly, honoring and
  1 32 respecting the principles and spirit of representative
  1 33 democracy, and being dedicated to the ideals of honesty,
  1 34 honor, and integrity in all public and personal relationships.
  1 35 LSB 6487HC 81
  2  1 tm:nh/cf/24