HF 2018 (LSB 5235YH (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE 2018

BY  MEYER

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting outside employment or activities requiring registration as a foreign agent and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68B.2C  Prohibited outside employment and activities —— agents of foreign principals.
   Officials and state employees shall not engage in any outside employment or activity that requires the person to register under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq., as amended.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits officials and state employees from engaging in any outside employment or activity that requires the person to register under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act. 
   An “official” is defined in Code section 68B.2 as all statewide elected officials, the executive or administrative head or heads of an agency of state government, the deputy executive or administrative head or heads of an agency of state government, members of boards or commissions as defined under Code section 7E.4, and heads of the major subunits of departments or independent state agencies whose positions involve a substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds as defined under rules of the board adopted in consultation with the department or agency and pursuant to Code chapter 17A. “Official” does not include officers or employees of political subdivisions of the state, members of the general assembly, legislative employees, officers or employees of the judicial branch of government who are not members or employees of the office of attorney general, members of state government entities which are or exercise the same type of authority that is exercised by councils or committees as defined under Code section 7E.4, or members of any agricultural commodity promotional board, if the board is subject to a producer referendum. A “state employee” is an employee of the executive branch and does not include independent contractors.
   A person who knowingly and intentionally violates this provision is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.