House File 806 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 36)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to political campaigns by limiting campaign
2 contributions for statewide and legislative elections and
3 making penalties applicable.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 1186HV 82
6 jr/je/5
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 68A.506 CONTRIBUTIONS ==
1 2 LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS.
1 3 1. As used in this section, "cash" includes but is not
1 4 limited to a check, money order, or other negotiable
1 5 instrument. As used in this section, "person" does not
1 6 include any person prohibited by this chapter from making a
1 7 contribution.
1 8 2. The aggregate amount of a contribution made to a
1 9 candidate or a candidate's committee by a committee or person
1 10 other than the candidate shall not exceed the following
1 11 amounts:
1 12 a. For the office of member of the house of
1 13 representatives, seven hundred fifty dollars in cash and an
1 14 additional five hundred dollars of in=kind contributions for
1 15 each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of a
1 16 political party, and an equal amount for each general
1 17 election.
1 18 b. For the office of state senator, one thousand dollars
1 19 in cash and an additional one thousand dollars of in=kind
1 20 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a
1 21 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each
1 22 general election.
1 23 c. For the office of a statewide elected official, as
1 24 defined in section 68B.2, ten thousand dollars in cash and an
1 25 additional ten thousand dollars of in=kind contributions for
1 26 each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of a
1 27 political party, and an equal amount for each general
1 28 election. The limits set out in this paragraph apply to the
1 29 governor and lieutenant governor together, as if the two
1 30 offices were one and the same.
1 31 3. The aggregate amount of a contribution made to a
1 32 candidate or a candidate's committee by a political party or
1 33 political organization, as defined in section 43.2, shall not
1 34 exceed the following amounts:
1 35 a. For the office of member of the house of
2 1 representatives, one thousand five hundred dollars in cash and
2 2 an additional four thousand five hundred dollars of in=kind
2 3 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a
2 4 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each
2 5 general election.
2 6 b. For the office of state senator, three thousand dollars
2 7 in cash and an additional nine thousand dollars of in=kind
2 8 contributions for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a
2 9 convention of a political party, and an equal amount for each
2 10 general election.
2 11 c. For the office of a statewide elected official, as
2 12 defined in section 68B.2, thirty thousand dollars in cash and
2 13 an additional ninety thousand dollars of in=kind contributions
2 14 for each primary election, or in lieu thereof a convention of
2 15 a political party, and an equal amount for each general
2 16 election. The limits set out in this paragraph apply to the
2 17 governor and lieutenant governor together, as if the two
2 18 offices were one and the same.
2 19 4. A political party or political organization may
2 20 establish no more than one fund to provide contributions to a
2 21 candidate or a candidate's committee for the office of member
2 22 of the house of representatives or state senator or office of
2 23 a statewide elected official.
2 24 EXPLANATION
2 25 This bill relates to political campaigns and campaign
2 26 finance and disclosure, containing limitations on certain
2 27 contributions to candidates for statewide office or the
2 28 general assembly.
2 29 The bill limits contributions by a committee or any person
2 30 other than the candidate. The term "person" includes any
2 31 individual, corporation, government or governmental
2 32 subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust,
2 33 partnership or association, labor union, or any other legal
2 34 entity. The term does not include any person prohibited from
2 35 making a contribution.
3 1 As provided in Code section 68A.701, willful violation of
3 2 these limitations is a serious misdemeanor punishable by
3 3 confinement for up to one year and a fine of at least $315 but
3 4 not more than $1,875. A variety of civil remedies are also
3 5 available in Code section 68B.32D, ranging from a reprimand to
3 6 a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.
3 7 LSB 1186HV 82
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