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IA SF261

IA SF261
A bill for an act relating to monetary donations that may be received and gifted by local officials and local employees to offset medical or health care expenses, and making penalties applicable.(See SF 580, SF 2145.)


summary

Introduced
02/11/2025
In Committee
02/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

91st General Assembly

Bill Summary

Generally under current law, a public official, public employee, or candidate, or that person’s immediate family member is prohibited from accepting or receiving any gift or series of gifts from a restricted donor. Certain monetary gifts are authorized under Code section 68B.22(4). This bill authorizes local officials and local employees to receive moneys in the form of donations made by other local officials or local employees to offset medical or health care expenses as a result of a diagnosed condition. Such donations are authorized if they are made and received through the use of an online crowdfunding or fundraising platform. An authorized donation from a donor to a recipient under the bill cannot exceed $100 per calendar year. When used in Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying), including in the bill, “local employee” means a person employed by a political subdivision but does not include an independent contractor; and “local official” means an officeholder of a political subdivision. By operation of law, a person who knowingly and intentionally violates Code section 68B.22, as amended by the bill, commits a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. 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.

AI Summary

This bill modifies current Iowa law to allow local officials and local employees to receive monetary donations from other local officials or employees to help cover medical or health care expenses related to a diagnosed condition. The donations can only be made through online crowdfunding or fundraising platforms, and are limited to $100 per calendar year per donor. For the purposes of this bill, "local employee" refers to a person employed by a political subdivision (excluding independent contractors), and "local official" means an officeholder of a political subdivision. This represents an exception to existing gift restrictions for public officials and employees. If someone violates these guidelines, they could face a serious misdemeanor, which carries potential penalties including confinement for up to one year and a fine between $430 and $2,560, as well as potential professional consequences like reprimand, suspension, or dismissal from their position.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 580. S.J. 474. (on 03/10/2025)

bill text


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