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House File 320 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to permissible honoraria from restricted donors
2to public officials and public employees.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 68B.23, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
22019, is amended to read as follows:
3a. The honorarium consists of payment, not to exceed four
4hundred ninety-nine dollars per day, of actual expenses of a
5donee for registration, food, beverages, travel, and lodging
6paid in return for participation in a panel or speaking
7engagement at a meeting when the expenses relate directly to
8the day or days on which the recipient has participation or
9presentation responsibilities.
10EXPLANATION
11The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
12the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
13This bill relates to permissible honoraria from restricted
14donors to public officials and public employees.
15Under Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying),
16a public official or public employee is prohibited from
17seeking or accepting an honorarium from a restricted donor,
18subject to certain exceptions. One such exception permits a
19public official or public employee to accept an honorarium if
20the honorarium consists of payment for the public official
21or public employee’s actual expenses for registration,
22food, beverages, travel, and lodging paid in return for
23participation in a panel or speaking engagement when the
24expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the public
25official or public employee has participation or presentation
26responsibilities. The bill provides that a public official or
27public employee may not accept an honorarium that is payment
28for actual expenses in exchange for a panel or speaking
29engagement if the payment exceeds $499 per day.
30A knowing and intentional violation of the limitations on
31accepting an honorarium is a serious misdemeanor. A serious
32misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one
33year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.
34In addition, a person who accepts an honorarium in
35violation of Code chapter 68B is subject to civil penalties
-1-1or disciplinary action issued by the ethics and campaign
2disclosure board and to disciplinary action taken by the ethics
3committees of the senate and house of representatives.
-2-jh/tm
2to public officials and public employees.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 68B.23, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code
22019, is amended to read as follows:
3a. The honorarium consists of payment, not to exceed four
4hundred ninety-nine dollars per day, of actual expenses of a
5donee for registration, food, beverages, travel, and lodging
6paid in return for participation in a panel or speaking
7engagement at a meeting when the expenses relate directly to
8the day or days on which the recipient has participation or
9presentation responsibilities.
10EXPLANATION
11The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
12the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
13This bill relates to permissible honoraria from restricted
14donors to public officials and public employees.
15Under Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying),
16a public official or public employee is prohibited from
17seeking or accepting an honorarium from a restricted donor,
18subject to certain exceptions. One such exception permits a
19public official or public employee to accept an honorarium if
20the honorarium consists of payment for the public official
21or public employee’s actual expenses for registration,
22food, beverages, travel, and lodging paid in return for
23participation in a panel or speaking engagement when the
24expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the public
25official or public employee has participation or presentation
26responsibilities. The bill provides that a public official or
27public employee may not accept an honorarium that is payment
28for actual expenses in exchange for a panel or speaking
29engagement if the payment exceeds $499 per day.
30A knowing and intentional violation of the limitations on
31accepting an honorarium is a serious misdemeanor. A serious
32misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one
33year and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.
34In addition, a person who accepts an honorarium in
35violation of Code chapter 68B is subject to civil penalties
-1-1or disciplinary action issued by the ethics and campaign
2disclosure board and to disciplinary action taken by the ethics
3committees of the senate and house of representatives.
-2-jh/tm