Senate
Study
Bill
1229
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
SMITH)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
prohibiting
governmental
entities
from
using
public
1
funds
for
lobbying
activities
and
providing
a
penalty.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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Section
1.
Section
68B.8,
Code
2019,
is
amended
to
read
as
1
follows:
2
68B.8
Lobbying
activities
by
state
agencies
governmental
3
entities
.
4
1.
A
state
agency
of
the
executive
branch
of
state
5
government
governmental
entity
shall
not
employ
a
person
6
through
the
use
of
its
public
funds
whose
position
with
the
7
agency
governmental
entity
is
primarily
representing
the
agency
8
governmental
entity
relative
to
the
passage,
defeat,
approval,
9
or
modification
of
legislation
that
is
being
considered
by
the
10
general
assembly.
11
2.
A
state
agency
of
the
executive
branch
of
state
12
government
governmental
entity
shall
not
use
or
permit
the
use
13
of
its
public
funds
for
a
paid
advertisement
or
public
service
14
announcement
thirty
days
prior
to
or
during
a
legislative
15
session
for
the
purpose
of
encouraging
the
passage,
defeat,
16
approval,
or
modification
of
a
bill
that
is
being
considered,
17
or
was
considered
during
the
previous
legislative
session,
by
18
the
general
assembly.
19
3.
For
purposes
of
this
section,
“governmental
entity”
means
20
an
agency,
the
judicial
branch,
a
county,
a
city,
or
any
other
21
unit
of
local
government.
22
EXPLANATION
23
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
24
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
25
This
bill
prohibits
governmental
entities
from
using
public
26
funds
for
lobbying
activities.
27
Current
law
prohibits
a
state
agency
of
the
executive
28
branch
from
employing
persons
through
the
use
of
public
funds
29
whose
position
with
the
agency
is
primarily
representing
the
30
agency
relative
to
the
passage
or
defeat
of
legislation
that
31
is
being
considered
by
the
general
assembly.
Current
law
also
32
prohibits
a
state
agency
of
the
executive
branch
from
using
33
public
funds
30
days
prior
to
or
during
a
legislative
session
34
to
advertise
for
or
against
legislation.
The
bill
extends
35
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these
prohibitions
to
agencies,
the
judicial
branch,
counties,
1
cities,
and
any
other
unit
of
local
government.
An
agency
is
2
a
department,
division,
board,
commission,
bureau,
authority,
3
or
office
of
the
executive
or
legislative
branch
of
state
4
government,
the
office
of
attorney
general,
the
state
board
of
5
regents,
community
colleges,
and
the
office
of
the
governor,
6
including
a
regulatory
agency,
or
any
department,
division,
7
board,
commission,
bureau,
or
office
of
a
political
subdivision
8
of
the
state,
but
does
not
include
any
agricultural
commodity
9
promotional
board,
which
is
subject
to
a
producer
referendum.
10
A
person
who
knowingly
and
intentionally
violates
the
bill
11
is
guilty
of
a
serious
misdemeanor
and
may
be
reprimanded,
12
suspended,
or
dismissed
from
the
person’s
position
or
otherwise
13
sanctioned.
A
serious
misdemeanor
is
punishable
by
confinement
14
for
no
more
than
one
year
and
a
fine
of
at
least
$315
but
not
15
more
than
$1,875.
16
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