HF 2079 (LSB 5272YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2079

BY  LOHSE, ANDREWS, and GUSTOFF

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the use of county funds by ecclesiastical and sectarian institutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.901, subsection 5, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  A county or township officer or employee shall not appropriate, give, or loan public funds to or in favor of an institution, school, association, or object which that is under ecclesiastical or sectarian management or control unless the public funds are to be utilized for a project or program that benefits the public and does not require any religious or secular services, educational programs, or participation requirements.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the use of county funds by ecclesiastical and sectarian institutions. The bill allows public funds to be utilized by an ecclesiastical or sectarian institution for a project or program if it benefits the public. The project or program using public funds must not require religious or secular services, educational programs, or participation requirements. Current law prohibits a county or township officer from appropriating, giving, or loaning public funds to institutions, schools, associations, or objects under ecclesiastical or sectarian management or control.