House Study Bill 536 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON ETHICS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON KOESTER) A BILL FOR An Act relating to ethics regulations for gifts received at 1 certain functions and meetings. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5435HC (2) 84 tm/rj

H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 68B.22, subsection 4, paragraphs g and s, 1 Code 2011, are amended to read as follows: 2 g. Actual expenses of a donee for food, beverages, 3 registration, travel, and lodging for a meeting, which is 4 given in return for participation in a panel or a speaking 5 engagement as a single speaker or as part of a panel discussion 6 at the meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day 7 or days on which the donee has participation or presentation 8 responsibilities a speaking engagement . For purposes of 9 this paragraph, a donee is only a person with speaking 10 responsibilities. 11 s. Gifts of food, beverage, and entertainment received 12 at a function where every member of the general assembly has 13 been invited to attend, when the function takes place during 14 a regular session of the general assembly. A sponsor of a 15 function under this paragraph shall file a registration at 16 least five days prior to the function taking place identifying 17 the sponsor and the date, time, and location of the function. 18 The registration shall be filed with the person or persons 19 designated by the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk 20 of the house and with the board. After a function takes place, 21 the sponsor of the function shall file a report disclosing 22 the total amount expended, including in-kind expenditures, 23 on food, beverage, and entertainment for the function. The 24 report shall be filed with the person or persons designated by 25 the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house 26 and with the board within twenty-eight calendar days following 27 the date of the function. For purposes of this paragraph, 28 “entertainment” does not include admission to a sporting event, 29 concert, theatrical performance, or other similar type of event 30 or performance that is open to the public and requires paid 31 admission. 32 EXPLANATION 33 This bill relates to ethics regulations for gifts received 34 at certain functions and meetings. 35 -1- LSB 5435HC (2) 84 tm/rj 1/ 2

H.F. _____ Currently, the gift law prohibits public officials, public 1 employees, and candidates, and immediate family members 2 of public officials, public employees, and candidates from 3 accepting or receiving gifts from restricted donors. The gift 4 law includes a list of exceptions that makes an otherwise 5 impermissible gift permissible. 6 Currently, one of the exceptions is for food, beverages, 7 registration, travel, and lodging for a meeting, which is given 8 in return for participation in a panel or a speaking engagement 9 at the meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day 10 or days on which the donee has participation or presentation 11 responsibilities. The bill provides that such permissible 12 gifts must be given in return for a speaking engagement 13 as a single speaker or as part of a panel discussion. The 14 bill provides that a donee is only a person with speaking 15 responsibilities. 16 Currently, one of the exceptions is for gifts of food, 17 beverage, and entertainment received at a function where every 18 member of the general assembly has been invited to attend, 19 when the function takes place during a regular session of the 20 general assembly. Currently, a sponsor of a function must 21 register a function prior to the function taking place. The 22 bill provides that the registration must be filed at least 23 five days prior to the function taking place. The bill 24 also provides that the term “entertainment” does not include 25 admission to a sporting event, concert, theatrical performance, 26 or other similar type of event or performance that is open to 27 the public and requires paid admission. 28 -2- LSB 5435HC (2) 84 tm/rj 2/ 2