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SF350 • 2026

A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

Budget
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
GREEN
Last action
2025-02-20
Official status
Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Green. S.J. 328 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

What This Bill Does

  • A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-20 Iowa Legislature

    Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Green. S.J. 328 .

  2. 2025-02-18 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, referred to State Government. S.J. 295 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act concerning persons appointed to a convention called by the United States Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States, making appropriations, and providing penalties.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Senate

File

350

-

Introduced

SENATE

FILE

350

BY

GREEN

(COMPANION

TO

HF

438

BY

JONES)

A

BILL

FOR

An

Act

concerning

persons

appointed

to

a

convention

called

by

1

the

United

States

Congress

to

propose

amendments

to

the

2

Constitution

of

the

United

States,

making

appropriations,

3

and

providing

penalties.

4

BE

IT

ENACTED

BY

THE

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY

OF

THE

STATE

OF

IOWA:

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350

Section

1.

LEGISLATIVE

FINDINGS.

The

general

assembly

1

finds

all

of

the

following:

2

1.

Article

V

of

the

Constitution

of

the

United

States

3

contains

two

methods

for

proposing

amendments

to

the

4

Constitution

of

the

United

States:

5

a.

The

proposal

of

amendments

by

Congress

whenever

6

two-thirds

of

both

houses

shall

deem

it

necessary.

7

b.

The

call

of

a

convention

for

proposing

amendments

by

8

Congress

upon

the

application

of

the

legislatures

of

two-thirds

9

of

the

several

states.

10

2.

There

have

been

over

four

hundred

fifty

applications

11

for

an

Article

V

convention

of

the

states

for

the

purpose

of

12

proposing

amendments.

13

3.

Every

state

legislature

except

Hawaii

has

enacted

one

14

or

more

resolutions

calling

for

an

Article

V

convention

of

the

15

states

for

the

purpose

of

proposing

amendments.

Some

states

16

have

rescinded

some

or

all

of

such

resolutions.

17

4.

Thirty-seven

states

have

current

resolutions

calling

18

for

an

Article

V

convention

of

the

states

for

the

purpose

19

of

proposing

amendments.

These

states

are:

Alabama,

20

Alaska,

Arkansas,

California,

Connecticut,

Florida,

Georgia,

21

Illinois,

Indiana,

Iowa,

Kansas,

Kentucky,

Louisiana,

Maine,

22

Massachusetts,

Michigan,

Minnesota,

Mississippi,

Missouri,

23

Nebraska,

New

Hampshire,

North

Carolina,

North

Dakota,

Ohio,

24

Oklahoma,

Pennsylvania,

Rhode

Island,

South

Carolina,

South

25

Dakota,

Tennessee,

Texas,

Utah,

Vermont,

Washington,

West

26

Virginia,

Wisconsin,

and

Wyoming.

27

5.

Each

of

these

applications

have

specified

topics

for

28

such

a

convention.

A

very

small

number

have

been

a

call

for

29

a

general

convention.

The

vast

majority

of

applications

have

30

been

for

a

convention

to

propose

amendments

on

a

specified

31

topic.

32

6.

No

set

of

applications

from

the

legislatures

of

the

33

several

states

has

ever

reached

the

threshold

of

two-thirds

of

34

the

states

applying

for

a

convention

for

the

same

topic.

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7.

An

unwavering

historical

precedent

has

been

established

1

for

a

valid

application

for

an

Article

V

convention

of

the

2

states

for

the

purpose

of

proposing

amendments,

by

requiring

3

two-thirds

of

the

legislatures

of

the

several

states

to

apply

4

for

a

convention

for

amendments

on

the

same

topic

or

topics.

5

8.

The

general

assembly

of

Iowa

has

passed

nine

resolutions

6

calling

for

an

Article

V

convention

of

the

states

for

the

7

purpose

of

proposing

amendments

on

a

variety

of

topics.

Eight

8

of

these

resolutions

are

still

valid,

although

three

of

them

9

are

likely

moot

since

the

topic

therein

concerned

the

direct

10

election

of

United

States

senators.

11

9.

There

are

contemporary

efforts

to

call

for

an

Article

12

V

convention

of

the

states

for

the

purpose

of

proposing

13

amendments

that

have

reached

more

than

one-half

of

the

required

14

number

of

states

to

require

Congress

to

call

such

a

convention.

15

10.

It

is

in

the

best

interest

of

the

people

of

Iowa

for

16

its

general

assembly

to

be

prepared

to

nominate,

credential,

17

and

oversee

the

actions

of

delegates

that

it

will

appoint

for

18

such

a

convention

regardless

of

the

topic

if

such

convention

19

is

called.

20

11.

The

historic

record

makes

it

clear

that

the

founders

21

used

the

term

“convention

of

states”

to

describe

the

Article

22

V

convention

process.

This

terminology

has

at

least

one

23

particular

legal

meaning.

It

clarifies

that

the

convention

24

will

be

in

the

form

of

states

meeting

as

states.

By

25

definition,

all

conventions

of

states

require

voting

on

the

26

basis

of

one

state,

one

vote.

27

12.

All

stages

of

the

convention

process

proceed

on

the

28

basis

of

one

state,

one

vote.

Two-thirds

of

the

states

are

29

required

to

call

a

convention.

A

majority

of

the

states

30

are

required

to

finalize

the

text

of

any

proposed

amendments

31

drafted

by

the

convention.

Three-fourths

of

the

states

are

32

required,

via

either

their

legislature

or

in

ratification

33

conventions

as

shall

be

specified

by

Congress,

to

ratify

the

34

text

of

any

proposed

amendment.

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13.

As

established

at

the

original

constitutional

1

convention

in

Philadelphia

in

1787,

the

legislature

of

each

2

state

names

its

commissioners

or

delegates,

and

gives

them

such

3

instructions

as

the

legislature

deems

appropriate.

4

14.

Once

two-thirds

of

the

several

states

have

applied

for

5

a

convention

for

the

same

topic,

the

duty

of

Congress

to

call

a

6

convention

is

mandatory.

7

15.

Litigation

surrounding

the

ratification

of

the

equal

8

rights

amendment

has

established

the

principle

that

it

is

9

unconstitutional

to

attempt

to

change

the

process

for

adopting

10

a

constitutional

amendment

in

the

middle

of

the

process.

11

Accordingly,

it

is

unconstitutional

for

a

convention

to

12

consider

amendments

on

any

topic

other

than

the

topic

for

which

13

it

was

expressly

called

by

the

agreement

of

two-thirds

of

the

14

several

states.

15

16.

The

supreme

court

of

the

United

States

has

determined

16

that

all

actions

of

state

legislatures

arising

under

Article

17

V

of

the

Constitution

of

the

United

States

are

based

on

their

18

authority

under

Article

V

of

the

Constitution

of

the

United

19

States.

Accordingly,

the

general

assembly

possesses

intrinsic

20

power

under

the

Constitution

of

the

United

States

to

call

21

itself

into

session

at

any

time

for

the

purpose

of

fulfilling

22

any

of

its

duties

under

Article

V.

23

Sec.

2.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.1

Definitions.

24

As

used

in

this

chapter,

unless

the

context

otherwise

25

requires:

26

1.

“Advisory

committee”

means

a

committee

consisting

of

27

members

selected

by

each

chamber

using

the

process

defined

in

28

this

chapter

to

perform

the

duties

defined

in

this

chapter.

29

2.

“Alternate

commissioner”

means

a

person

designated

to

30

replace

a

commissioner

upon

a

vacancy.

31

3.

“Call”

means

a

measure

sent

by

Congress

calling

for

an

32

Article

V

convention

of

states

for

the

purpose

of

proposing

33

amendments

to

the

Constitution

of

the

United

States.

34

4.

“Chamber”

means

either

the

senate

or

the

house

of

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representatives

of

the

general

assembly.

1

5.

“Commissioner”

means

a

person

selected

by

resolution

of

2

the

general

assembly

as

provided

in

this

chapter

to

represent

3

this

state

at

an

Article

V

convention

of

states

for

proposing

4

amendments.

5

6.

“Commissioning

resolution”

means

the

resolution

adopted

6

by

both

chambers

which

sets

forth

the

names

of

the

appointed

7

commissioners

and

their

commissions

and

instructions.

8

7.

“Convention”

means

an

Article

V

convention

of

states

for

9

the

purpose

of

proposing

amendments

to

the

Constitution

of

the

10

United

States.

11

8.

“Delegation”

means

the

group

of

commissioners

and

interim

12

commissioners

chosen

by

the

general

assembly

to

represent

Iowa

13

at

an

Article

V

convention

with

the

powers

and

duties

defined

14

in

this

chapter

and

as

may

be

additionally

set

forth

in

the

15

commissioning

resolution

for

a

particular

convention.

16

9.

“Scope

of

commissioner’s

authority”

means

the

limitation

17

on

a

commissioner

to

support

only

proposed

amendments

that

18

are

directly

within

the

topics

specified

in

the

resolutions

19

of

two-thirds

of

the

several

states

which

gave

rise

to

the

20

convention

in

question,

which

are

enumerated

in

the

credentials

21

of

each

commissioner.

22

Sec.

3.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.2

Call

of

special

session.

23

If

a

call

of

a

convention

is

issued

by

Congress

when

the

24

general

assembly

is

not

in

session

and

is

not

scheduled

to

25

be

in

session

within

thirty

days,

the

majority

leader

of

the

26

senate

and

the

speaker

of

the

house

of

representatives

shall,

27

by

joint

communication,

call

a

special

session

of

the

general

28

assembly

limited

to

fulfilling

the

duties

as

specified

under

29

this

chapter.

Other

special

sessions

may

be

called

in

like

30

manner

to

perform

any

other

duties

required

of

the

general

31

assembly

under

this

chapter.

32

Sec.

4.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.3

Number

of

commissioners.

33

Five

commissioners

shall

be

named

to

represent

Iowa

at

any

34

convention.

Any

vacancies

shall

be

filled

as

promptly

as

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possible

under

the

provisions

of

this

chapter

to

maintain

the

1

delegation

at

full

strength

at

a

convention.

2

Sec.

5.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.4

Qualification

of

commissioners.

3

1.

At

the

time

of

appointment

and

at

all

times

during

a

4

convention,

a

commissioner

must

be

all

of

the

following:

5

a.

A

current

citizen

of

the

United

States

and

a

citizen

of

6

the

United

States

for

at

least

the

last

five

years.

7

b.

A

current

resident

of

Iowa

and

a

resident

of

Iowa

for

at

8

least

the

last

five

years.

9

c.

At

least

twenty-five

years

of

age.

10

d.

Registered

to

vote

in

this

state.

11

2.

At

the

time

of

appointment

and

at

all

times

during

a

12

convention,

a

commissioner

shall

not

be

any

of

the

following:

13

a.

Registered

or

required

to

register

as

a

state

or

federal

14

lobbyist

at

any

time

within

the

last

five

years.

15

b.

A

current

federal

employee

or

contractor

other

than

as

a

16

member

of

the

United

States

armed

forces,

at

any

time

within

17

the

last

ten

years.

18

c.

A

federal

appointed

officer

requiring

confirmation

by

the

19

senate

of

the

United

States

or

a

federal

elected

officer,

or

a

20

federal

appointed

officer

requiring

confirmation

by

the

senate

21

of

the

United

States

or

a

federal

elected

officer

at

any

time

22

within

the

last

ten

years.

23

d.

Convicted

of

a

felony

in

any

jurisdiction

within

the

last

24

ten

years.

25

e.

Currently

employed

by

any

agency

of

any

government.

26

f.

A

member

of

the

general

assembly

within

the

last

two

27

years.

28

Sec.

6.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.5

Selection

of

commissioners.

29

Each

chamber

shall

select

two

commissioners

to

be

appointed

30

to

a

convention

by

adoption

of

a

simple

resolution.

Each

31

chamber

shall

nominate

one

additional

commissioner

by

adoption

32

of

a

simple

resolution.

A

conference

committee

appointed

33

by

the

majority

leader

of

the

senate

and

the

speaker

of

the

34

house

of

representatives

shall

decide

which

of

the

additional

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commissioners

shall

be

selected

as

the

fifth

commissioner.

The

1

additional

commissioner

that

is

not

so

selected

shall

become

2

the

first

alternate

commissioner.

3

Sec.

7.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.6

Selection

of

alternate

4

commissioners.

5

Each

chamber

shall

nominate

two

persons

as

alternate

6

commissioners

by

adoption

of

a

simple

resolution.

Each

7

chamber

shall

establish

a

rank-order

for

which

of

the

two

8

alternates

shall

be

given

priority

in

the

event

of

a

vacancy.

9

Whichever

chamber’s

nominee

is

selected

as

the

first

alternate

10

commissioner

under

section

38.5

shall

name

the

third

and

fifth

11

alternate

commissioners.

The

alternate

commissioners

named

12

by

the

other

chamber

shall

be

named

as

the

second

and

fourth

13

alternate

commissioners.

14

Sec.

8.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.7

Commissioning

resolution.

15

1.

A

resolution

naming

the

commissioners

must

include

the

16

commission

of

the

commissioners.

The

commission

must

include

17

but

shall

not

be

limited

to

all

of

the

following

components:

18

a.

A

prohibition

on

a

commissioner

voting

for

or

otherwise

19

promoting

a

method

of

voting

at

a

convention

other

than

the

20

rule

that

each

state

has

one

vote.

21

b.

A

prohibition

on

a

commissioner

proposing,

promoting,

22

or

voting

in

favor

of

a

proposed

amendment

that

would

alter

23

the

text

of

or

in

any

way

erode

the

specific

guarantees

24

of

individual

liberty

established

by

the

Constitution

of

25

the

United

States,

including

the

original

Constitution

of

26

the

United

States,

the

Bill

of

Rights,

and

the

thirteenth,

27

fourteenth,

fifteenth,

nineteenth,

twenty-third,

twenty-fourth,

28

and

twenty-sixth

amendments

to

the

Constitution

of

the

United

29

States.

30

2.

The

commissioning

resolution

must

clearly

state

the

31

scope

of

the

commissioners’

authority,

which

must

be

strictly

32

limited

to

the

topic

upon

which

two-thirds

of

the

several

33

states

agreed

and

which

formed

the

basis

of

the

call

of

the

34

convention.

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3.

The

general

assembly

may

provide

additional

instructions

1

within

the

commissioning

resolution

or

at

any

later

time

2

by

adoption

of

a

subsequent

resolution.

A

copy

of

any

3

subsequent

resolution

shall

be

provided

to

each

commissioner

4

and

to

the

advisory

committee

by

the

clerk

of

the

house

of

5

representatives.

6

Sec.

9.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.8

Commissioners

——

oath

——

7

credentials.

8

1.

Each

commissioner

shall,

before

exercising

any

function

9

of

the

position,

execute

the

following

oath

in

writing:

10

I

do

solemnly

swear

(or

affirm)

that

I

accept

and

will

11

faithfully

act

according

to

the

limits

of

authority

specified

12

in

my

commission

and

any

present

or

subsequent

instructions.

13

I

understand

that

violating

this

oath

may

subject

me

to

14

penalties

provided

by

law.

I

understand

that

I

may

be

recalled

15

or

suspended

from

my

duties

by

the

general

assembly

or

the

16

advisory

committee.

17

2.

A

commissioner’s

executed

oath

shall

be

filed

with

the

18

secretary

of

state.

Upon

filing

of

a

commissioner’s

oath,

19

the

secretary

of

state

shall

provide

to

the

commissioner

an

20

official

copy

of

the

executed

oath

and

the

commissioning

21

resolution,

which

together

shall

serve

as

the

commissioner’s

22

credentials.

23

Sec.

10.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.9

Removal

of

commissioners.

24

1.

A

commissioner

may

be

removed

for

any

reason

at

any

time

25

by

adoption

of

a

resolution

by

a

constitutional

majority

of

26

both

chambers.

27

2.

A

commissioner

may

be

removed

for

cause

by

the

advisory

28

committee

if

the

advisory

committee

finds

any

of

the

following

29

to

be

true

by

a

preponderance

of

the

evidence:

30

a.

The

commissioner

has

supported

a

proposal

at

the

31

convention

that

goes

beyond

the

topic

for

which

the

convention

32

has

been

called

as

specified

in

the

commissioner’s

credentials,

33

or

has

publicly

announced

an

intention

to

do

so.

34

b.

The

commissioner

has

supported

any

form

of

voting

at

the

35

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convention

other

than

one

state,

one

vote.

1

c.

The

commissioner

has

otherwise

failed

to

adhere

to

2

instructions

or

other

limitations

imposed

by

the

general

3

assembly

that

are

reflected

in

the

commission

or

any

subsequent

4

instruction

provided

to

the

commissioner

pursuant

to

this

5

chapter.

6

d.

The

commissioner

has

otherwise

violated

the

7

commissioner’s

oath.

8

Sec.

11.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.10

Advisory

committee.

9

1.

There

shall

be

an

advisory

committee

consisting

of

the

10

following

members:

11

a.

One

member

selected

by

the

majority

leader

of

the

senate.

12

b.

One

member

selected

by

the

speaker

of

the

house

of

13

representatives.

14

c.

A

third

member

selected

by

the

presiding

officer

of

15

the

chamber

whose

nominee

for

the

fifth

commissioner

was

not

16

selected

pursuant

to

section

38.5.

17

2.

If

a

member

of

the

advisory

committee

determines

that

18

there

is

probable

cause

for

the

removal

of

a

commissioner,

the

19

advisory

committee

member

shall

do

all

of

the

following

within

20

twenty-four

hours

of

making

the

determination:

21

a.

Schedule

an

in-person

or

electronic

meeting

of

the

22

advisory

committee

within

forty-eight

hours

of

making

the

23

determination.

24

b.

Notify

the

presiding

officers

of

each

chamber

of

the

25

determination.

26

c.

Notify

the

attorney

general

of

the

determination.

27

3.

a.

At

a

meeting

called

under

subsection

2,

paragraph

28

“a”

,

the

advisory

committee

shall

determine

by

majority

vote

29

whether

there

is

probable

cause

to

believe

that

a

commissioner

30

has

acted

in

a

manner

that

meets

the

criteria

for

removal

31

pursuant

to

section

38.9,

subsection

2.

32

b.

If

the

advisory

committee

determines

that

a

commissioner

33

has

acted

in

a

manner

that

meets

the

criteria

for

removal

34

pursuant

to

section

38.9,

subsection

2,

the

advisory

committee

35

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shall

immediately

communicate

notice

of

the

determination

1

to

the

commissioner.

Upon

receipt

of

notice

pursuant

to

2

this

paragraph,

the

commissioner

shall

cease

voting

at

the

3

convention

pending

a

final

determination.

The

notice

must

4

specify

a

time

on

the

next

business

day

after

the

notice

is

5

issued

for

a

hearing

to

determine

the

truth

of

the

matter

6

concerning

actions

meriting

removal.

The

hearing

may

be

7

held

electronically

or

in

person

at

the

advisory

committee’s

8

preference.

The

commissioner

may

be

represented

by

counsel

of

9

the

commissioner’s

choosing

and

at

the

commissioner’s

expense.

10

4.

If

the

advisory

committee

determines

by

a

preponderance

11

of

the

evidence

that

a

commissioner

has

acted

in

a

manner

12

that

meets

the

criteria

for

removal

pursuant

to

section

38.9,

13

subsection

2,

the

commissioner

shall

immediately

cease

to

be

a

14

member

of

the

delegation.

The

alternative

commissioner

next

in

15

line

shall

immediately

join

the

delegation

at

the

convention.

16

5.

A

commissioner

removed

by

the

advisory

committee

17

may

appeal

to

the

general

assembly

if

a

petition

on

the

18

commissioner’s

behalf

is

signed

by

at

least

twenty-five

19

members

from

each

chamber

within

seven

days

of

the

removal.

20

The

leaders

of

each

chamber

shall

call

a

special

session

21

within

seven

days

after

each

receives

the

petition

bearing

22

sufficient

signatures.

A

constitutional

majority

in

both

23

chambers

is

required

to

restore

the

commissioner

to

office.

24

If

a

previously

removed

commissioner

is

restored

to

office,

25

the

alternate

commissioner

shall

be

withdrawn

from

the

26

delegation

upon

the

arrival

of

the

restored

commissioner

at

the

27

convention.

The

alternate

commissioner

shall

then

resume

the

28

alternate

commissioner’s

place

in

the

priority

sequence

for

29

alternate

commissioners.

30

6.

A

decision

of

the

advisory

committee

or

general

assembly

31

pursuant

to

this

section

is

not

subject

to

judicial

review.

32

Sec.

12.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.11

Commissioners

——

vacancy.

33

1.

A

vacancy

is

created

when

any

commissioner

resigns,

dies,

34

or

becomes

unable

to

attend

the

convention

for

any

health

or

35

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personal

reason.

Any

absence

from

the

convention

for

more

than

1

three

consecutive

days

or

for

more

than

five

days

total

shall

2

constitute

a

vacancy.

3

2.

A

vacancy

shall

be

filled

by

the

highest

ranking

4

alternate

commissioner

according

to

the

process

established

5

in

this

chapter.

The

advisory

committee

shall

notify

the

6

alternate

commissioner

of

the

vacancy

within

three

days

of

7

the

creation

of

the

vacancy.

Upon

the

filing

of

the

required

8

oath,

the

alternate

commissioner

shall

be

confirmed

as

a

9

commissioner.

10

Sec.

13.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.12

Commissioners

——

compensation

11

and

expenses.

12

1.

A

commissioner

shall

be

paid

on

a

monthly

basis

using

an

13

equivalent

rate

to

the

salary

of

a

district

court

judge.

14

2.

A

commissioner

shall

receive

the

same

allowance

for

15

expenses

as

provided

to

a

member

of

the

general

assembly

who

is

16

not

a

resident

of

Polk

county.

17

3.

A

commissioner

shall

be

considered

an

employee

of

the

18

general

assembly

for

administrative

purposes.

19

4.

During

active

attendance

at

a

convention,

a

commissioner

20

shall

not

be

compensated

for

any

other

form

of

employment

21

performed

during

the

time

of

attendance,

but

shall

be

permitted

22

to

move

to

an

inactive

status

of

any

employment

position

so

23

as

not

to

impact

insurance,

retirement,

or

any

other

term

or

24

benefit

of

employment.

25

5.

There

is

appropriated

from

the

general

fund

of

the

state

26

to

the

general

assembly

an

amount

necessary

to

pay

costs

under

27

this

section.

28

Sec.

14.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.13

Emoluments

and

gifts

——

29

financial

disclosures

——

expenditures.

30

1.

A

commissioner

shall

be

subject

to

the

provisions

of

31

section

68B.22.

32

2.

A

commissioner

shall

make

all

financial

disclosures

as

33

are

required

for

a

member

of

the

general

assembly

pursuant

to

34

law

or

rule.

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3.

A

person

shall

not

expend

any

moneys

or

transfer

any

1

item

of

value

to

any

other

person

for

the

purpose

of

seeking

2

appointment

as

a

commissioner

or

alternate

commissioner.

3

Sec.

15.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.14

Commissioners

——

criminal

4

penalties.

5

1.

A

commissioner

who

knowingly

introduces,

sponsors,

or

6

votes

for

any

proposed

amendment

that

addresses

a

topic

that

is

7

beyond

the

scope

of

the

commissioner’s

authority

is

guilty

of

a

8

class

“D”

felony.

9

2.

Conviction

of

a

felony

pursuant

to

this

section

shall

10

constitute

an

infamous

crime

for

the

purposes

of

Article

II,

11

section

5,

of

the

Constitution

of

the

State

of

Iowa.

12

Sec.

16.

NEW

SECTION

.

38.15

Criminal

interference.

13

1.

A

person

who,

except

as

authorized

by

law,

knowingly

14

bribes,

threatens,

intimidates,

or

obstructs

a

commissioner

15

or

alternate

commissioner

from

Iowa

in

the

performance

of

the

16

commissioner’s

or

alternate

commissioner’s

duties

is

guilty

17

of

a

class

“D”

felony.

A

violation

of

this

subsection

is

18

punishable

in

this

state

regardless

of

where

the

prohibited

act

19

occurs.

20

2.

If

a

convention

is

held

in

this

state,

a

person

who,

21

except

as

authorized

by

law,

knowingly

bribes,

threatens,

22

intimidates,

or

obstructs

a

commissioner

or

alternate

23

commissioner

from

any

state

in

the

performance

of

the

24

commissioner’s

or

alternate

commissioner’s

duties

is

guilty

25

of

a

class

“D”

felony.

A

violation

of

this

subsection

is

26

punishable

in

Iowa

regardless

of

where

the

prohibited

act

27

occurs.

28

EXPLANATION

29

The

inclusion

of

this

explanation

does

not

constitute

agreement

with

30

the

explanation’s

substance

by

the

members

of

the

general

assembly.

31

This

bill

relates

to

the

appointment

and

regulation

32

of

commissioners

to

a

convention

called

by

Congress

to

33

propose

amendments

to

the

Constitution

of

the

United

States

34

(convention).

The

bill

includes

legislative

findings.

35

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The

bill

requires

the

majority

leader

of

the

senate

and

1

the

speaker

of

the

house

of

representatives

to

call

a

special

2

session

of

the

general

assembly

if

Congress

calls

a

convention

3

and

the

general

assembly

is

not

in

session

and

is

not

scheduled

4

to

be

in

session

within

30

days.

The

special

session

shall

be

5

limited

to

the

matters

listed

in

the

bill.

The

bill

requires

a

6

delegation

sent

by

Iowa

to

a

convention

to

always

consist

of

7

five

members

(commissioners).

The

bill

requires

a

commissioner

8

to

be

and

have

been

for

at

least

5

years

a

citizen

of

the

United

9

States

and

a

resident

of

Iowa,

at

least

25

years

of

age,

and

10

registered

to

vote

in

Iowa.

The

bill

prohibits

a

commissioner

11

from

being

registered

or

required

to

register

as

a

lobbyist;

12

a

federal

employee

or

contractor,

other

than

as

a

member

of

13

the

United

States

armed

forces,

within

the

last

10

years;

a

14

federal

appointed

officer

requiring

confirmation

by

the

senate

15

of

the

United

States

or

a

federal

elected

officer

within

the

16

last

10

years;

convicted

of

a

felony

within

the

last

10

years;

17

currently

employed

by

any

agency

of

any

government;

or

a

member

18

of

the

general

assembly

within

the

last

2

years.

19

The

bill

requires

each

chamber

of

the

general

assembly

to

20

select

two

commissioners

by

adoption

of

a

simple

resolution

21

and

to

nominate

one

additional

member.

A

conference

committee

22

appointed

by

the

majority

leader

of

the

senate

and

the

speaker

23

of

the

house

of

representatives

shall

select

which

alternate

24

member

shall

act

as

the

fifth

commissioner

and

which

shall

25

serve

as

the

first

alternate

commissioner.

The

bill

also

26

requires

each

chamber

to

select

two

additional

alternate

27

commissioners

and

provides

a

process

for

ranking

the

alternate

28

commissioners.

29

The

bill

requires

the

resolution

appointing

a

commissioner

30

to

contain

prohibitions

on

supporting

or

voting

for

certain

31

proposals

and

amendments

at

a

convention

and

the

scope

of

the

32

commissioner’s

authority,

which

shall

be

limited

to

the

topic

33

of

the

convention.

The

bill

allows

the

general

assembly

to

34

provide

additional

instructions

to

a

commissioner

by

adoption

35

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of

a

further

resolution.

The

bill

requires

each

commissioner

1

to

execute

an

oath

in

writing

to

obey

the

commission

of

the

2

commissioner,

which

shall

be

filed

with

the

secretary

of

state.

3

The

bill

allows

the

general

assembly

to

remove

a

4

commissioner

at

any

time

for

any

reason

by

adoption

of

a

5

resolution

by

a

constitutional

majority

of

both

chambers.

The

6

bill

allows

an

advisory

committee,

consisting

of

a

member

7

selected

by

the

majority

leader

of

the

senate,

a

member

8

selected

by

the

speaker

of

the

house

of

representatives,

and

a

9

third

member

selected

by

the

presiding

officer

of

the

chamber

10

whose

nominee

for

the

fifth

commissioner

was

not

selected,

11

to

remove

a

commissioner

if

the

advisory

committee

finds

by

12

a

preponderance

of

the

evidence

that

a

commissioner

acted

13

contrary

to

the

commissioner’s

commission

or

oath.

The

bill

14

includes

a

mechanism

for

calling

a

meeting

of

the

advisory

15

committee

and

notifying

a

commissioner

of

potential

adverse

16

actions.

The

bill

allows

a

commissioner

to

be

represented

by

17

counsel

of

the

commissioner’s

choosing

at

the

commissioner’s

18

expense.

The

bill

allows

a

removed

commissioner

to

appeal

to

19

the

general

assembly

but

prohibits

judicial

review.

20

The

bill

creates

a

vacancy

in

the

office

of

commissioner

21

when

a

commissioner

resigns,

dies,

or

becomes

unable

to

attend

22

the

convention

for

any

health

or

personal

reason,

or

when

a

23

commissioner

is

absent

for

more

than

three

consecutive

days

24

or

five

days

total.

The

bill

provides

a

mechanism

for

the

25

replacement

of

a

commissioner

with

an

alternate

commissioner.

26

The

bill

sets

the

compensation

for

a

commissioner

at

the

27

same

rate

as

for

a

district

court

judge.

The

bill

grants

a

28

commissioner

an

allowance

for

expenses

that

is

the

same

as

29

for

a

member

of

the

general

assembly

who

is

not

a

resident

of

30

Polk

county.

The

bill

makes

a

commissioner

an

employee

of

the

31

general

assembly

for

administrative

purposes

and

prohibits

32

a

commissioner

from

receiving

compensation

for

outside

33

employment

during

active

attendance

at

a

convention.

The

bill

34

appropriates

necessary

moneys

from

the

general

fund

for

these

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purposes.

1

The

bill

requires

a

commissioner

to

abide

by

the

provisions

2

of

Code

section

68B.22

(gifts

accepted

or

received)

and

to

make

3

the

same

financial

disclosures

as

required

for

a

member

of

the

4

general

assembly.

The

bill

prohibits

a

person

from

making

5

expenditures

to

seek

appointment

as

a

commissioner

or

alternate

6

commissioner.

7

A

commissioner

who

knowingly

introduces,

sponsors,

or

votes

8

for

any

proposed

amendment

that

addresses

a

topic

that

is

9

beyond

the

scope

of

the

commissioner’s

authority

is

guilty

of

10

a

class

“D”

felony,

which

shall

constitute

an

infamous

crime.

11

A

class

“D”

felony

is

punishable

by

confinement

for

no

more

12

than

five

years

and

a

fine

of

at

least

$1,025

but

not

more

than

13

$10,245.

Under

the

Constitution

of

the

State

of

Iowa,

a

person

14

convicted

of

an

infamous

crime

is

not

entitled

to

the

privilege

15

of

an

elector.

16

A

person

who,

except

as

authorized

by

law,

knowingly

17

bribes,

threatens,

intimidates,

or

obstructs

a

commissioner

18

or

alternate

commissioner

from

Iowa,

or

from

any

state

if

19

the

convention

is

held

in

Iowa,

in

the

performance

of

the

20

commissioner’s

or

alternate

commissioner’s

duties

is

guilty

of

21

a

class

“D”

felony.

A

violation

of

this

provision

of

the

bill

22

is

punishable

in

Iowa

regardless

of

where

the

prohibited

act

23

occurs.

24

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LSB

1932XS

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91

ss/ns

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14