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House Study Bill 52 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1prohibiting the use of public resources for political
2purposes and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 68A.505A Use of public resources
2for political purposes.
31. A public official or public employee shall not use or
4permit the use of any of the following public resources for a
5political purpose:
6a. A website or social media page.
7b. An electronic mail account or address.
8c. Computer hardware or software.
9d. A telephone, including a cellular telephone.
10e. A facsimile machine.
11f. A printer, copier, or scanner.
12g. Public moneys.
132. For purposes of this section:
14a. “Public employee” means the same as defined in section
1568B.2.
16b. “Public official” means the same as defined in section
1768B.2.
18c. “Public resource” means property managed or maintained
19by the state or the governing body of a county, city, or other
20political subdivision of the state.
213. This section does not prohibit a public official or
22public employee from using a public resource for a political
23purpose if the public resource is available to a member of the
24general public to use for other purposes.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28This bill relates to the use of public resources for
29political purposes. The bill prohibits public officials and
30employees from using or permitting the use of certain public
31resources managed or maintained by the state of Iowa or the
32governing body of a political subdivision of the state for a
33political purpose. The bill does not prohibit the use of a
34public resource for a political purpose if the public resource
35is available to the general public to use for other purposes.
-1- 1A person who violates a provision of Code chapter 68A
2is subject to civil penalties imposed by the Iowa ethics
3and campaign disclosure board, including remedial action, a
4reprimand, and a civil penalty up to $2,000. In addition, a
5person who willfully violates a provision of Code chapter 68A
6is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is
7punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine
8of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.
-2-ss/jh
2purposes and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 68A.505A Use of public resources
2for political purposes.
31. A public official or public employee shall not use or
4permit the use of any of the following public resources for a
5political purpose:
6a. A website or social media page.
7b. An electronic mail account or address.
8c. Computer hardware or software.
9d. A telephone, including a cellular telephone.
10e. A facsimile machine.
11f. A printer, copier, or scanner.
12g. Public moneys.
132. For purposes of this section:
14a. “Public employee” means the same as defined in section
1568B.2.
16b. “Public official” means the same as defined in section
1768B.2.
18c. “Public resource” means property managed or maintained
19by the state or the governing body of a county, city, or other
20political subdivision of the state.
213. This section does not prohibit a public official or
22public employee from using a public resource for a political
23purpose if the public resource is available to a member of the
24general public to use for other purposes.
25EXPLANATION
26The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
27the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
28This bill relates to the use of public resources for
29political purposes. The bill prohibits public officials and
30employees from using or permitting the use of certain public
31resources managed or maintained by the state of Iowa or the
32governing body of a political subdivision of the state for a
33political purpose. The bill does not prohibit the use of a
34public resource for a political purpose if the public resource
35is available to the general public to use for other purposes.
-1- 1A person who violates a provision of Code chapter 68A
2is subject to civil penalties imposed by the Iowa ethics
3and campaign disclosure board, including remedial action, a
4reprimand, and a civil penalty up to $2,000. In addition, a
5person who willfully violates a provision of Code chapter 68A
6is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is
7punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine
8of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.
-2-ss/jh