House File 176 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 176 BY SEXTON A BILL FOR An Act modifying membership, salary, and other requirements 1 applicable to the Iowa utilities board. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1906YH (5) 87 gh/sc/rn
H.F. 176 Section 1. Section 474.1, subsection 1, Code 2017, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 1. a. A utilities division is created within the department 3 of commerce. The policymaking body for the division is the 4 utilities board which is created within the division. The 5 board is composed of three five members appointed by the 6 governor and subject to confirmation by the senate, not more 7 than two three of whom shall be from the same political party. 8 Each member appointed shall serve for six-year staggered terms 9 beginning and ending as provided by section 69.19 . Vacancies 10 shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the 11 same manner as full-term appointments are made. 12 b. Notwithstanding the salary range enacted in 2008 Iowa 13 Acts, ch. 1191, §14, for fiscal years beginning on or after 14 July 1, 2017, the governor or other person designated to 15 determine the salaries of utilities board members shall not 16 determine salary amounts that, in the aggregate, exceed the 17 total amount provided for the salaries of utilities board 18 members for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. 19 Sec. 2. Section 474.2, Code 2017, is amended to read as 20 follows: 21 474.2 Certain persons barred from office —— restrictions . 22 1. No A person in the employ of any common carrier or other 23 public utility, or owning any bonds, stock or property in any 24 railroad company or other public utility shall not be eligible 25 to the office of utilities board member or secretary of the 26 utilities board ; and the . The entering into the employ of 27 any common carrier or other public utility or the acquiring 28 of any stock or other interest in any common carrier or other 29 public utility by such member or secretary after appointment 30 shall disqualify the member or secretary to hold the office or 31 perform the duties thereof of the office . 32 2. A person shall not serve in any manner or be employed 33 by any common carrier or other public utility, or acquire 34 any bonds, stock, or property in any railroad company or 35 -1- LSB 1906YH (5) 87 gh/sc/rn 1/ 2
H.F. 176 other public utility for at least two years following the 1 person’s departure from the office of utilities board member or 2 secretary of the utilities board. 3 3. A person shall not be eligible to the office of utilities 4 board member or secretary of the utilities board for at least 5 two years following the person’s departure from service as a 6 member of the Iowa general assembly. 7 EXPLANATION 8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 9 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 10 This bill modifies membership, salary, and other 11 requirements applicable to the Iowa utilities board. 12 The bill increases the current number of members of the 13 board from three to five members and increases the limitation 14 on the number of members who are permitted to be from the same 15 political party from two to three members. 16 The bill provides that, notwithstanding the most recent 17 state officers salary range enacted by the general assembly, 18 beginning with the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, the 19 governor or other person designated to determine the salaries 20 of board members cannot determine salary amounts that in the 21 aggregate exceed the total amount provided for board member 22 salaries for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. 23 Additionally, the bill adds restrictions relating to 24 membership eligibility and actions after departure from 25 membership. The bill provides that a person is prohibited 26 from employment with any common carrier or other public 27 utility, or from acquiring any bonds, stock, or property in 28 any railroad company or other public utility for at least two 29 years following their departure from serving as a member of the 30 board or secretary of the board. Further, the bill provides 31 that a person shall not be eligible to become appointed to the 32 board or serve as secretary of the board for at least two years 33 following their departure from service as a member of the Iowa 34 general assembly. 35 -2- LSB 1906YH (5) 87 gh/sc/rn 2/ 2