Section 68B.1 – Short title.

68B.1 Short title. This chapter shall be known as the “Government Ethics and Lobbying Act”. [C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §68B.1] 2005 Acts, ch 76, §1

Section 68B.2 – Definitions.

68B.2 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Agency” means a department, division, board, commission, bureau, authority, or office of the executive or legislative branch of state government, the office of attorney general, the state board of regents, community colleges, and the office of the governor, including a regulatory agency, […]

Section 68B.21 – Legislative intent.

68B.21 Legislative intent. It is the goal of the general assembly that public officials and public employees of the state be extremely cautious and circumspect about accepting a gratuity or favor, especially from persons that have a substantial interest in the legislative, administrative, or political actions of the official or employee. Even where there is […]

Section 68B.22 – Gifts accepted or received.

68B.22 Gifts accepted or received. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a public official, public employee, or candidate, or that person’s immediate family member shall not, directly or indirectly, accept or receive any gift or series of gifts from a restricted donor. A public official, public employee, candidate, or the person’s immediate family […]

Section 68B.23 – Honoraria — banned.

68B.23 Honoraria — banned. 1. Except as provided in subsection 2, a public official or public employee shall not seek or accept an honorarium from a restricted donor. 2. A public official or public employee may accept an honorarium from any person under the following circumstances: a. The honorarium consists of payment of actual expenses […]

Section 68B.24 – Loans — receipt from lobbyists prohibited.

68B.24 Loans — receipt from lobbyists prohibited. 1. An official, member of the general assembly, state employee, legislative employee, or candidate for state office shall not, directly or indirectly, seek or accept a loan or series of loans from a person who is a lobbyist. 2. A lobbyist shall not, directly or indirectly, offer or […]

Section 68B.25 – Additional penalty.

68B.25 Additional penalty. Reserved.

Section 68B.26 – Actions commenced.

68B.26 Actions commenced. Reserved.

Section 68B.2A – Prohibited outside employment and activities — conflicts of interest.

68B.2A Prohibited outside employment and activities — conflicts of interest. 1. Any person who serves or is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state shall not engage in any of the following conduct: a. Outside employment or an activity that involves the use of the state’s or the political subdivision’s time, […]

Section 68B.2B – Executive branch compensation.

68B.2B Executive branch compensation. 1. Effective July 1, 2006, an official or state employee shall not receive compensation simultaneously from more than one executive branch agency, unless the official or state employee provides notice to the board within twenty business days of accepting employment with a second executive branch agency. Notice under this section shall […]

Section 68B.2C – Prohibited outside employment and activities — agents of foreign principals.

68B.2C Prohibited outside employment and activities — agents of foreign principals. Officials and state employees shall not engage in any outside employment or activity that requires the person to register under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. §611 et seq. 2018 Acts, ch 1061, §7; 2018 Acts, ch 1172, […]

Section 68B.3 – When public bids required — disclosure of income from other sales.

68B.3 When public bids required — disclosure of income from other sales. 1. Except as part of official state duties, an official, a state employee, a member of the general assembly, or a legislative employee shall not sell, in any one occurrence, any goods or services having a value in excess of two thousand dollars […]

Section 68B.31 – Legislative ethics committee.

68B.31 Legislative ethics committee. 1. There shall be an ethics committee in the senate and an ethics committee in the house, each to consist of six members; three members to be appointed by the majority leader in each house, and three members by the minority leader in each house. A member of the ethics committee […]

Section 68B.31A – Investigation by independent special counsel — probable cause.

68B.31A Investigation by independent special counsel — probable cause. The purpose of an investigation by the independent special counsel is to determine whether there is probable cause to proceed with an adjudicatory hearing on the matter. In conducting investigations and holding hearings, the independent special counsel may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of […]

Section 68B.32 – Independent ethics and campaign disclosure board — established.

68B.32 Independent ethics and campaign disclosure board — established. 1. An Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board is established as an independent agency. The board shall administer this chapter and set standards for, investigate complaints relating to, and monitor the ethics of officials, employees, lobbyists, and candidates for office in the executive branch of state […]

Section 68B.32A – Duties of the board.

68B.32A Duties of the board. The duties of the board shall include but are not limited to all of the following: 1. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A and conduct hearings under sections 68B.32B and 68B.32C and chapter 17A, as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, chapter 68A, and section 8.7. 2. […]

Section 68B.32B – Complaint procedures.

68B.32B Complaint procedures. 1. Any person may file a complaint alleging that a candidate, committee, person holding a state office in the executive branch of state government, employee of the executive branch of state government, or other person has committed a violation of chapter 68A or rules adopted by the board. Any person may file […]

Section 68B.32C – Contested case proceedings.

68B.32C Contested case proceedings. 1. Contested case proceedings initiated as a result of the issuance of a statement of charges pursuant to section 68B.32B, subsection 9, shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of chapter 17A. Clear and convincing evidence shall be required to support a finding that a person has violated this chapter, […]

Section 68B.32D – Penalties — recommended actions.

68B.32D Penalties — recommended actions. 1. The board, after a hearing and upon a finding that a violation of this chapter, chapter 68A, section 8.7, or rules adopted by the board has occurred, may do one or more of the following: a. Issue an order requiring the violator to cease and desist from the violation […]

Section 68B.33 – Judicial review — enforcement.

68B.33 Judicial review — enforcement. Judicial review of the actions of the board may be sought in accordance with chapter 17A. Judicial enforcement of orders of the board may be sought in accordance with chapter 17A. 92 Acts, ch 1228, §15; 93 Acts, ch 163, §19 Referred to in §68B.32D