HF 2430 (LSB 6589YH (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2430

BY  TUREK

A BILL FOR

An Act limiting individual campaign contributions, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68A.507  Contribution limits for candidates.
   1.  For the purposes of this section, “election campaign cycle” means the time period between elections for a particular office. Each primary, general, and special election is a separate election campaign cycle. Separate contribution limits for each type of election for a particular office, including primary, general, and special elections, apply in an election campaign cycle.
   2.  An individual shall not make, and a candidate, candidate’s committee, or anyone acting on behalf of any candidate or candidate’s committee shall not accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount of the individual’s contributions to a candidate or candidate’s committee to exceed the amounts set forth in 11 C.F.R. pt. 110 in an election campaign cycle.
   3.  This section applies to candidates for any public office in this state.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill imposes campaign contribution limits on candidates for public office that are identical to those set forth in federal campaign finance regulations.
   A person who willfully violates the bill is, pursuant to Code section 68A.701, guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
   A variety of civil remedies are also available in Code section 68B.32D for a violation of the bill, ranging from a reprimand to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.