HOUSE FILE 2083

BY  PETTENGILL

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to public service announcements by candidates for public office and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68A.507  Public service announcements by candidates —— restrictions.
   A candidate for public office shall not appear in any public service announcement that is funded in whole or in part with public funds, within ninety days of a primary or general election in which that individual is a candidate.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that a candidate for a state, county, city, or school office shall not appear in any taxpayer-funded public service announcement within 90 days of a primary or general election in which that individual is a candidate.
   As provided in Code section 68A.701, a willful violation of any provision of the campaign finance Code chapter is a serious misdemeanor punishable by confinement for up to one year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875. A variety of civil remedies are also available in Code section 68B.32D for a violation of Code chapter 68A or rules of the ethics and campaign disclosure board, ranging from a reprimand to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.