HSB 45 (LSB 1553YC (2) 87)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT BILL BY CHAIRPERSON RIZER)

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting the use of public resources for union-related or politically partisan activities and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68B.9  Use of public resources —— union-related or politically partisan activities.
   A public employee shall not use public resources for union-related or politically partisan activities. For purposes of this section, “public resources” means the moneys, time, property, facilities, equipment, or supplies under the control of the public employer. This section does not apply to statewide elected officials, local officials, and members of the general assembly; staff that such officials directly supervise; and partisan staff of the general assembly.
    Sec. 2.  Section 68B.34, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   68B.34  Additional penalty.
   In addition to any penalty contained in any other provision of law, a person who knowingly and intentionally violates a provision of sections 68B.2A through 68B.8 68B.9, sections 68B.22 through 68B.24, or sections 68B.35 through 68B.38 is guilty of a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned.
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 public employees from using public resources for union-related or politically partisan activities. The term “public resources” means the moneys, time, property, facilities, equipment, and supplies under the control of the public employer. The term “public employee” means state employees, legislative employees, and local employees. The bill does not apply to statewide elected officials, local officials, and members of the general assembly; staff that such officials directly supervise; and partisan staff of the general assembly. 
   The bill provides that a person that knowingly and intentionally violates the provisions of the bill 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.