HF 286 (LSB 2080YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 286

BY  TUREK

A BILL FOR

An Act limiting campaign contributions to political committees, 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 political committees.
   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.  A person shall not make, and a political committee shall not accept, any contribution which will cause the total amount of the person’s contributions to the political committee to exceed five thousand dollars.
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 for political committees. In an election campaign cycle, a person shall not contribute more than $5,000 to a political committee, and a political committee shall not accept more than $5,000 from a person.
   A person who violates the bill is subject to penalties pursuant to Code section 68B.32D. A person who willfully violates the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor (Code section 68A.701). 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 Code chapter 68A or rules of the ethics and campaign disclosure board, ranging from a reprimand to a civil penalty of not more than $2,000.