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 government. The board shall
administer and set standards for, investigate complaints relating to,
and monitor the campaign finance practices of candidates for public
office. The board shall administer and establish standards for,
investigate complaints relating to, and monitor the reporting of
gifts and bequests under section 8.7. The board shall consist of six
members and shall be balanced as to political affiliation as provided
in section 69.16. The members shall be appointed by the governor,
subject to confirmation by the senate.
2. Members shall serve staggered six-year terms beginning and
ending as provided in section 69.19. Any vacancy on the board shall
be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term,
within ninety days of the vacancy and in accordance with the
procedures for regular appointments. A member of the board may be
reappointed to serve additional terms on the board. Members may be
removed in the manner provided in chapter 69.
3. The board shall annually elect one member to serve as the
chairperson of the board and one member to serve as vice chairperson.
The vice chairperson shall act as the chairperson in the absence or
disability of the chairperson or in the event of a vacancy in that
office.
4. Members of the board shall receive a per diem as specified in
section 7E.6 while conducting business of the board, and payment of
actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties. Members of the board shall file statements of financial
interest under section 68B.35.
5. The board shall employ a full-time executive director who
shall be the board's chief administrative officer. The board shall
employ or contract for the employment of legal counsel
notwithstanding section 13.7, and any other personnel as may be
necessary to carry out the duties of the board. The board's legal
counsel shall be the chief legal officer of the board and shall
advise the board on all legal matters relating to the administration
of this chapter and chapter 68A. The state may be represented by the
board's legal counsel in any civil action regarding the enforcement
of this chapter or chapter 68A, or at the board's request, the state
may be represented by the office of the attorney general.
Notwithstanding section 8A.412, all of the board's employees, except
for the executive director and legal counsel, shall be employed
subject to the merit system provisions of chapter 8A, subchapter IV.
The salary of the executive director shall be fixed by the board,
within the range established by the general assembly. The salary of
the legal counsel shall be fixed by the board, within a salary range
established by the department of administrative services for a
position requiring similar qualifications and experience. Section History: Recent Form
92 Acts, ch 1228, § 14; 93 Acts, ch 163, § 14; 95 Acts, ch 198,
§18; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §155, 286; 2006 Acts, ch 1035, §1; 2008 Acts,
ch 1191, § 41
Referred to in § 68A.101, 68A.102, 331.210A
Confirmation, see § 2.32