Bill
Bill > HF2062
IA HF2062
IA HF2062A bill for an act relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable.(See HF 2539.)
summary
Introduced
01/17/2024
01/17/2024
In Committee
01/17/2024
01/17/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/16/2024
04/16/2024
Introduced Session
90th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Under current law, a court is required to assess a person who participated in a violation of Code chapter 21 (open meetings) damages between $100 and $500. This bill increases the damages to between $1,000 and $5,000. Under current law, if a violation was knowingly committed, a court is required to assess the person damages between $1,000 and $2,500. The bill increases the damages to between $10,000 and $25,000. The bill requires a court to issue an order removing a member of a governmental body from office if that member has engaged in a prior violation of Code chapter 21 regardless of whether damages were assessed against the member during the member’s term, which is a prerequisite to removal under current law. The bill requires members elected or appointed to a governmental body to take an educational course provided by the governmental body on the provisions of Code chapter 21 and Code chapter 22 (open records) that are relevant to the member’s position. By operation of law, failing to take such an educational course is a violation of Code chapter 21 and subjects the person to the penalties provided in Code section 21.6.
AI Summary
This bill increases the civil penalties for violations of Iowa's open meetings law. Under current law, a court must assess between $100 and $500 in damages against a person who participated in a violation. This bill raises that range to between $1,000 and $5,000. If the violation was committed knowingly, the current penalty of $1,000 to $2,500 is increased to $10,000 to $25,000. Additionally, the bill requires a court to remove a member of a governmental body from office if that member has previously violated the open meetings law, regardless of whether damages were previously assessed. The bill also mandates that members of governmental bodies complete an educational course on the open meetings and open records laws relevant to their positions.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Withdrawn. H.J. 380. (on 02/22/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF2062 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/90/attachments/HF2062.html |
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