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A resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

A resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON ETHICS
Last action
2025-02-06
Official status
Resolution adopted. S.J. 206 .
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 resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

A resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

What This Bill Does

  • A resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

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. 2025-02-06 Iowa Legislature

    Resolution adopted. S.J. 206 .

  2. 2025-01-27 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 144 .

  3. 2025-01-27 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 140 .

Official Summary Text

A resolution relating to the Senate Code of Ethics governing the conduct of members of the Senate in relation to their senatorial duties during the Ninety-first General Assembly.(Formerly SSB 1020 .)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Senate

Resolution

1

-

Introduced

SENATE

RESOLUTION

NO.

1

BY

COMMITTEE

ON

ETHICS

(SUCCESSOR

TO

SSB

1020)

A

Resolution

relating

to

the

Senate

Code

of

Ethics

1

governing

the

conduct

of

members

of

the

Senate

in

2

relation

to

their

senatorial

duties

during

the

3

Ninety-first

General

Assembly.

4

BE

IT

RESOLVED

BY

THE

SENATE,

That

the

Senate

Code

5

of

Ethics

for

the

Ninetieth

Ninety-first

General

6

Assembly

shall

be

amended

to

read

as

follows:

7

SENATE

CODE

OF

ETHICS

8

PREAMBLE.

Every

legislator

owes

a

duty

to

uphold

9

the

integrity

and

honor

of

the

general

assembly,

to

10

encourage

respect

for

the

law

and

for

the

general

11

assembly

and

the

members

thereof,

and

to

observe

the

12

legislative

code

of

ethics.

13

In

doing

so,

members

of

the

senate

have

a

duty

to

14

conduct

themselves

so

as

to

reflect

credit

on

the

15

general

assembly,

and

to

inspire

the

confidence,

16

respect,

and

trust

of

the

public,

and

to

strive

to

17

avoid

both

unethical

and

illegal

conduct

and

the

18

appearance

of

unethical

and

illegal

conduct.

19

Recognizing

that

service

in

the

Iowa

general

20

assembly

is

a

part-time

endeavor

and

that

members

of

21

the

general

assembly

are

honorable

individuals

who

22

are

active

in

the

affairs

of

their

localities

and

23

elsewhere

and

that

it

is

necessary

that

they

maintain

24

a

livelihood

and

source

of

income

apart

from

their

25

legislative

compensation,

the

following

rules

are

26

adopted

pursuant

to

section

68B.31,

to

assist

the

27

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1

members

in

the

conduct

of

their

legislative

affairs.

1

1.

ECONOMIC

INTEREST

OF

SENATOR.

Taking

into

2

account

that

legislative

service

is

part-time,

a

3

senator

shall

not

accept

economic

or

investment

4

opportunity,

under

circumstances

where

the

senator

5

knows,

or

should

know,

that

there

is

a

reasonable

6

possibility

that

the

opportunity

is

being

afforded

the

7

senator

with

intent

to

influence

the

senator’s

conduct

8

in

the

performance

of

official

duties.

9

2.

DIVESTITURE.

Where

a

senator

learns

that

10

an

economic

or

investment

opportunity

previously

11

accepted

was

offered

with

the

intent

of

influencing

12

the

senator’s

conduct

in

the

performance

of

official

13

duties,

the

senator

shall

take

steps

to

divest

that

14

senator

of

that

investment

or

economic

opportunity,

and

15

shall

report

the

facts

of

the

situation

to

the

senate

16

ethics

committee.

17

3.

CHARGES

FOR

SERVICES.

A

senator

shall

not

18

charge

to

or

accept

from

a

person,

corporation,

19

partnership,

or

association

known

to

have

a

legislative

20

interest

a

price,

fee,

compensation,

or

other

21

consideration

for

the

sale

or

lease

of

any

property

or

22

the

furnishing

of

services

which

is

in

excess

of

that

23

which

the

senator

would

charge

another.

24

4.

USE

OF

CONFIDENTIAL

INFORMATION.

A

senator

in

25

order

to

further

the

senator’s

own

economic

or

other

26

interests,

or

those

of

any

other

person,

shall

not

27

disclose

or

use

confidential

information

acquired

in

28

the

course

of

official

duties.

29

5.

HONORARIA.

A

senator

shall

not

accept

an

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honorarium

from

a

restricted

donor

for

a

speech,

1

writing

for

publication,

or

other

similar

activity,

2

except

as

otherwise

provided

in

section

68B.23.

3

6.

EMPLOYMENT.

A

senator

shall

not

accept

4

employment,

either

directly

or

indirectly,

from

a

5

political

action

committee

or

from

an

organization

6

exempt

from

taxation

under

section

501(c)(4),

7

501(c)(6),

or

527

of

the

Internal

Revenue

Code

that

8

engages

in

activities

related

to

the

nomination,

9

election,

or

defeat

of

a

candidate

for

public

office.

10

A

senator

may

accept

employment

from

a

political

11

party,

but

shall

disclose

the

employment

relationship

12

in

writing

to

the

secretary

of

the

senate

within

ten

13

days

after

the

beginning

of

each

legislative

session.

14

If

a

senator

accepts

employment

from

a

political

15

party

during

a

legislative

session,

the

senator

shall

16

disclose

the

employment

relationship

within

ten

days

17

after

acceptance

of

the

employment.

18

For

the

purpose

of

this

rule,

a

political

action

19

committee

means

a

committee,

but

not

a

candidate’s

20

committee,

which

accepts

contributions,

makes

21

expenditures,

or

incurs

indebtedness

in

the

aggregate

22

of

more

than

one

thousand

dollars

in

any

one

calendar

23

year

to

expressly

advocate

the

nomination,

election,

or

24

defeat

of

a

candidate

for

public

office

or

to

expressly

25

advocate

the

passage

or

defeat

of

a

ballot

issue

or

26

influencing

legislative

action,

or

an

association,

27

lodge,

society,

cooperative,

union,

fraternity,

28

sorority,

educational

institution,

civic

organization,

29

labor

organization,

religious

organization,

or

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professional

organization

which

makes

contributions

in

1

the

aggregate

of

more

than

one

thousand

dollars

in

any

2

one

calendar

year

to

expressly

advocate

the

nomination,

3

election,

or

defeat

of

a

candidate

for

public

office

or

4

ballot

issue

or

influencing

legislative

action.

5

7.

ECONOMIC

INTERESTS

OF

LOBBYIST.

With

the

6

exception

of

exercising

unfettered

discretion

in

7

supporting

or

refusing

to

support

proposed

legislation,

8

a

senator

shall

not

take

action

intended

to

affect

the

9

economic

interests

of

a

lobbyist

or

citizen

supporting

10

or

opposing

proposed

legislation.

11

8.

APPEARANCE

BEFORE

GOVERNMENTAL

AGENCY.

A

12

senator

may

appear

before

a

governmental

agency

or

13

board

in

any

representation

case,

except

that

the

14

senator

shall

not

act

as

a

lobbyist.

Whenever

a

15

senator

appears

before

a

governmental

agency

or

board,

16

the

senator

shall

carefully

avoid

all

conduct

which

17

might

in

any

way

lead

members

of

the

general

public

18

to

conclude

that

the

senator

is

using

the

senator’s

19

official

position

to

further

the

senator’s

professional

20

success

or

personal

financial

interest.

21

9.

CONFLICTS

OF

INTERESTS.

In

order

to

permit

the

22

general

assembly

to

function

effectively,

a

senator

23

will

sometimes

be

required

to

vote

on

bills

and

24

participate

in

committee

work

which

will

affect

the

25

senator’s

employment

and

other

monetary

interests.

In

26

making

a

decision

relative

to

the

senator’s

activity

on

27

given

bills

or

committee

work

which

are

subject

to

the

28

code,

the

following

factors

shall

be

considered:

29

a.

Whether

a

substantial

threat

to

the

senator’s

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independence

of

judgment

has

been

created

by

the

1

conflict

situation.

2

b.

The

effect

of

the

senator’s

participation

on

3

public

confidence

in

the

integrity

of

the

legislature.

4

c.

The

need

for

the

senator’s

particular

5

contribution,

such

as

special

knowledge

of

the

6

subject

matter,

to

the

effective

functioning

of

the

7

legislature.

8

10.

GIFTS.

Except

as

otherwise

provided

in

section

9

68B.22,

a

senator,

or

that

person’s

immediate

family

10

member,

shall

not,

directly

or

indirectly,

accept

or

11

receive

any

gift

or

series

of

gifts

from

a

restricted

12

donor.

13

11.

DISCLOSURE

REQUIRED

BY

SENATORS.

Each

senator

14

shall

file

with

the

secretary

of

the

senate

within

ten

15

days

after

the

adoption

of

the

code

of

ethics

by

the

16

senate,

and

within

ten

days

after

the

convening

of

the

17

second

session

of

the

general

assembly,

a

financial

18

statement

under

section

68B.35

on

forms

provided

by

19

the

secretary

of

the

senate

setting

forth

the

following

20

information:

21

The

nature

of

each

business

in

which

the

senator

22

is

engaged

and

the

nature

of

the

business

of

each

23

company

in

which

the

senator

has

a

financial

interest.

24

A

senator

shall

not

be

required

to

file

a

financial

25

statement

or

be

assumed

to

have

a

financial

interest

26

if

the

annual

income

derived

from

the

investment

27

in

stocks,

bonds,

bills,

notes,

mortgages,

or

other

28

securities

offered

for

sale

through

recognized

29

financial

brokers

is

less

than

one

thousand

dollars.

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Disclosures

required

under

this

rule

shall

be

as

1

of

the

date

filed

unless

provided

to

the

contrary,

2

and

shall

be

amended

to

include

interests

and

changes

3

encompassed

by

this

rule

that

occur

while

the

general

4

assembly

is

in

session.

All

filings

under

this

rule

5

shall

be

open

to

public

inspection

in

the

office

of

the

6

secretary

of

the

senate

at

all

reasonable

times.

7

The

secretary

of

the

senate

shall

inform

the

ethics

8

committee

of

the

financial

statements

which

are

filed

9

and

shall

report

to

the

ethics

committee

the

names

10

of

any

senators

who

appear

not

to

have

filed

complete

11

financial

statements.

The

chairperson

of

the

ethics

12

committee

shall

request

in

writing

that

a

senator

13

who

has

failed

to

complete

the

financial

statement

or

14

appears

to

have

filed

an

incomplete

financial

statement

15

do

so

within

five

days,

and,

upon

the

failure

of

the

16

senator

to

comply,

the

ethics

committee

shall

require

17

the

senator

to

appear

before

the

committee.

18

11A.

DISCLOSURE

REQUIRED

BY

CANDIDATES

FOR

SENATE.

19

Each

candidate

for

senate

shall

file

with

the

secretary

20

of

the

senate

within

fourteen

days

after

the

deadline

21

for

the

filing

of

nomination

papers

or

fourteen

days

22

after

the

nominating

convention,

as

applicable,

a

23

financial

statement

under

section

68B.35

on

forms

24

provided

by

the

secretary

of

the

senate

setting

forth

25

the

following

information:

26

The

nature

of

each

business

in

which

the

candidate

27

for

senate

is

engaged

and

the

nature

of

the

business

28

of

each

company

in

which

the

candidate

for

senate

has

a

29

financial

interest.

A

candidate

for

senate

shall

not

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be

required

to

file

a

financial

statement

or

be

assumed

1

to

have

a

financial

interest

if

the

annual

income

2

derived

from

the

investment

in

stocks,

bonds,

bills,

3

notes,

mortgages,

or

other

securities

offered

for

sale

4

through

recognized

financial

brokers

is

less

than

one

5

thousand

dollars.

6

Disclosures

required

under

this

rule

shall

be

for

7

the

year

preceding

the

year

in

which

the

election

is

to

8

be

held.

All

filings

under

this

rule

shall

be

open

to

9

public

inspection

in

the

office

of

the

secretary

of

the

10

senate

at

all

reasonable

times.

11

The

secretary

of

the

senate

shall

provide

12

information

to

persons

interested

in

becoming

13

candidates

for

senate

of

the

duty

to

file

financial

14

statements

under

this

rule

and

the

applicable

15

deadlines.

16

The

secretary

of

the

senate

shall

inform

the

ethics

17

committee

of

the

financial

statements

that

are

filed

18

and

shall

report

to

the

ethics

committee

the

names

19

of

any

candidates

for

senate

who

appear

not

to

have

20

filed

complete

financial

statements.

The

secretary

of

21

the

senate

shall

request

that

a

candidate

for

senate

22

who

has

failed

to

complete

the

financial

statement

23

or

appears

to

have

filed

an

incomplete

financial

24

report

to

do

so

within

five

days.

If

a

candidate

for

25

senate

does

not

file

a

complete

financial

statement

26

within

five

days,

the

candidate

shall

be

fined

fifty

27

dollars,

payable

to

the

Iowa

senate

for

deposit

in

the

28

general

fund,

and

the

ethics

committee

may

require

the

29

candidate

to

appear

before

the

committee.

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12.

STATUTORY

VIOLATIONS.

Members

of

the

general

1

assembly

are

urged

to

familiarize

themselves

with

2

chapters

68B,

721,

and

722.

3

12A.

HARASSMENT

——

RETALIATION.

Senators,

4

lobbyists,

and

clients

of

lobbyists

shall

not

engage

5

in

conduct

that

constitutes

harassment

or

retaliation

6

as

provided

in

the

personnel

guidelines

for

the

Iowa

7

Senate.

8

12B.

DISCRIMINATION

——

HARASSMENT

——

ABUSE.

As

9

provided

and

defined

in

the

personnel

guidelines

of

the

10

Iowa

Senate,

a

senator

shall

not

engage

in

any

act

of

11

discrimination,

harassment,

or

abuse

of

any

person.

12

13.

CHARGE

ACCOUNTS.

Senators

shall

not

charge

any

13

amount

or

item

to

any

charge

account

to

be

paid

for

by

14

any

lobbyist

or

any

client

the

lobbyist

represents.

15

14.

TRAVEL

EXPENSES.

A

senator

shall

not

charge

16

to

the

state

of

Iowa

amounts

for

travel

and

expenses

17

unless

the

senator

actually

has

incurred

those

mileage

18

and

expense

costs.

Senators

shall

not

file

the

19

vouchers

for

weekly

mileage

reimbursement

required

20

by

section

2.10,

subsection

1,

unless

the

travel

21

was

actually

incurred

at

commensurate

expense

to

the

22

senator.

23

15.

COMPLAINTS.

Complaints

or

charges

against

24

any

senator,

candidate

for

senate,

lobbyist,

or

25

client

of

a

lobbyist

shall

be

in

writing,

made

under

26

penalty

of

perjury,

and

filed

with

the

secretary

of

27

the

senate.

When

filed

with

the

secretary

of

the

28

senate,

the

secretary

shall

immediately

advise

the

29

chairperson

of

the

ethics

committee

of

the

receipt

of

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1

the

complaint.

The

secretary

of

the

senate

shall,

as

1

soon

as

practicable,

send

a

copy

of

the

complaint

to

2

the

ethics

committee,

legislative

staff

assigned

to

the

3

senate

ethics

committee,

and

the

respondent.

4

Complaint

forms

shall

be

available

from

the

5

secretary

of

the

senate,

or

the

chairperson

of

the

6

ethics

committee,

but

a

complaint

shall

not

be

rejected

7

for

failure

to

use

an

approved

form

if

the

complaint

8

substantially

complies

with

senate

requirements.

9

A

complainant

may

submit

exhibits

and

affidavits

10

attached

to

the

complaint.

11

16.

FILING

OF

COMPLAINTS.

12

a.

Persons

entitled.

Complaints

may

be

filed

by

13

any

person

believing

that

a

senator,

candidate

for

14

senate,

lobbyist,

or

client

of

a

lobbyist

has

violated

15

the

senate

ethics

code,

the

joint

rules

governing

16

lobbyists,

or

chapter

68B,

as

applicable.

A

violation

17

of

the

criminal

law

may

be

considered

to

be

a

violation

18

of

this

code

of

ethics

if

the

violation

constitutes

a

19

serious

misdemeanor

or

greater,

or

a

repetitive

and

20

flagrant

violation

of

the

law.

21

b.

Committee

complaint.

The

ethics

committee

22

may,

upon

its

own

motion,

initiate

a

complaint,

23

investigation,

or

disciplinary

action.

24

17.

PERMANENT

RECORD.

The

secretary

of

the

senate

25

shall

maintain

a

permanent

record

of

all

complaints

26

filed,

evidence

received

by

the

committee,

and

any

27

transcripts

or

other

recordings

made

of

committee

28

proceedings,

including

a

separate

file

containing

29

the

date

filed,

name

and

address

of

the

complainant,

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name

and

address

of

the

respondent,

a

brief

statement

1

of

the

charges

made,

and

ultimate

disposition

of

2

the

complaint.

The

secretary

shall

keep

each

such

3

complaint

confidential

until

public

disclosure

is

made

4

by

the

ethics

committee.

5

18.

PREHEARING

PROCEDURE.

6

a.

Defective

complaint.

Upon

receipt

of

a

7

complaint,

the

chairperson

and

ranking

member

of

the

8

ethics

committee

shall

determine

whether

the

complaint

9

substantially

complies

with

the

requirements

of

this

10

code

of

ethics

and

section

68B.31,

subsection

6.

If

11

the

complaint

does

not

substantially

comply

with

12

the

requirements

for

formal

sufficiency

under

the

13

code

of

ethics,

the

complaint

may

be

returned

to

the

14

complainant

with

a

statement

that

the

complaint

is

not

15

in

compliance

with

the

code

and

a

copy

of

the

code.

If

16

the

complainant

fails

to

amend

the

complaint

to

comply

17

with

the

code

within

a

reasonable

time,

the

chairperson

18

and

ranking

member

may

dismiss

the

complaint

with

19

prejudice

for

failure

to

prosecute.

20

b.

Service

of

complaint

on

respondent

Respondent’s

21

notice

to

respond

.

Upon

receipt

of

any

complaint

22

substantially

complying

with

the

requirements

of

this

23

code

of

ethics,

the

chairperson

of

the

ethics

committee

24

shall

cause

a

copy

of

the

complaint

and

any

supporting

25

information

to

be

delivered

promptly

to

the

respondent,

26

requesting

a

written

response

to

be

filed

within

ten

27

days.

At

the

time

delivery

is

made

to

the

respondent,

28

delivery

of

copies

of

the

complaint

and

any

supporting

29

information

shall

be

made

to

legislative

staff

assigned

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to

the

ethics

committee.

Upon

receipt

of

a

complaint

1

that

the

chairperson

and

ranking

member

of

the

2

ethics

committee

determine

substantially

complies

3

with

the

requirements

of

this

code

of

ethics,

the

4

respondent

shall

be

notified

of

that

determination.

5

The

respondent

shall

be

requested

to

file

a

written

6

response

within

ten

days

of

the

notice.

The

response

7

may

do

any

of

the

following:

8

(1)

Admit

or

deny

the

allegation

or

allegations.

9

(2)

Object

that

the

allegation

fails

to

allege

a

10

violation

of

chapter

68B,

the

joint

rules

governing

11

lobbyists,

or

the

code

of

ethics.

12

(3)

Object

to

the

jurisdiction

of

the

committee.

13

(4)

Request

a

more

specific

statement

of

the

14

allegation

or

allegations.

15

c.

Objection

to

member.

In

addition

to

the

16

items

which

may

be

included

in

a

response

pursuant

17

to

paragraph

“b”,

the

response

may

also

include

an

18

objection

to

the

participation

of

any

member

of

the

19

committee

in

the

consideration

of

the

allegation

or

20

allegations

on

the

grounds

that

the

member

cannot

21

render

an

impartial

and

unbiased

decision.

22

d.

Extension

of

time.

At

the

request

of

the

23

respondent

and

upon

a

showing

of

good

cause,

the

24

committee,

or

the

chairperson

and

ranking

member,

25

may

extend

the

time

for

response,

not

to

exceed

ten

26

additional

days.

27

e.

Confidentiality.

If

a

complaint

is

not

28

otherwise

made

public

by

the

complainant,

the

members

29

of

the

committee

and

legislative

staff

assigned

to

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the

ethics

committee

shall

treat

the

complaint

and

1

all

supporting

information

as

confidential

until

the

2

written

response

is

received

from

the

respondent.

3

f.

Communications

with

ethics

committee.

After

a

4

complaint

has

been

filed

or

an

investigation

has

been

5

initiated,

a

party

to

the

complaint

or

investigation

6

shall

not

communicate,

or

cause

another

to

communicate,

7

as

to

the

merits

of

the

complaint

or

investigation

with

8

a

member

of

the

committee,

except

under

the

following

9

circumstances:

10

(1)

During

the

course

of

any

meetings

or

other

11

official

proceedings

of

the

committee

regarding

the

12

complaint

or

investigation.

13

(2)

In

writing,

if

a

copy

of

the

writing

is

14

delivered

to

the

adverse

party

or

the

designated

15

representative

for

the

adverse

party.

16

(3)

Orally,

if

adequate

prior

notice

of

the

17

communication

is

given

to

the

adverse

party

or

the

18

designated

representative

for

the

adverse

party.

19

(4)

As

otherwise

authorized

by

statute,

the

senate

20

code

of

ethics,

the

joint

rules

governing

lobbyists,

or

21

vote

of

the

committee.

22

g.

Scheduling

hearing

Committee

meeting

.

Upon

23

receipt

of

the

response,

the

committee

shall

schedule

24

a

public

meeting

to

review

the

complaint

and

available

25

information,

and

shall

do

one

of

the

following:

26

(1)

Notify

the

complainant

that

no

further

27

action

will

be

taken,

and

that

the

complaint

will

28

be

dismissed

without

further

consideration

by

the

29

committee

unless

further

substantiating

information

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1

is

produced

within

one

hundred

twenty

days

from

the

1

date

of

the

public

meeting

.

Any

complaint,

including

2

every

complaint

filed

prior

to

the

adoption

of

this

3

resolution,

that

has

been

on

file

with

the

senate

4

and

awaiting

further

substantiating

information

for

5

longer

than

one

hundred

twenty

days

from

the

date

of

6

the

public

meeting

shall

be

dismissed

without

further

7

consideration

by

the

committee.

The

secretary

of

the

8

senate

shall

send

notice

of

a

dismissal

for

lack

of

9

further

substantiating

information

to

the

complainant.

10

(2)

Dismiss

the

complaint

for

failure

to

meet

the

11

statutory

and

code

of

ethics

requirements

for

valid

12

complaints.

13

(3)

Take

action

on

the

complaint

without

requesting

14

the

appointment

of

an

independent

special

counsel

15

if

the

committee

determines

the

complaint

is

valid

16

and

determines

no

dispute

exists

between

the

parties

17

regarding

the

material

facts

that

establish

a

18

violation.

The

committee

may

do

any

of

the

following:

19

(a)

Issue

an

admonishment

to

advise

against

the

20

conduct

that

formed

the

basis

for

the

complaint

and

to

21

exercise

care

in

the

future.

22

(b)

Issue

an

order

to

cease

and

desist

the

conduct

23

that

formed

the

basis

for

the

complaint.

24

(c)

Make

a

recommendation

to

the

senate

that

25

the

person

subject

to

the

complaint

be

censured

or

26

reprimanded.

27

(4)

Request

that

the

chief

justice

of

the

supreme

28

court

appoint

an

independent

special

counsel

to

conduct

29

an

investigation

of

the

complaint

and

supporting

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information,

to

make

a

determination

of

probable

cause,

1

and

to

report

the

findings

to

the

committee,

which

2

shall

be

received

within

a

reasonable

time.

3

h.

Public

hearing.

If

independent

special

counsel

4

is

appointed,

upon

receipt

of

the

report

of

independent

5

special

counsel’s

findings,

the

committee

shall

6

schedule

a

public

meeting

to

review

the

report

and

7

shall

do

either

of

the

following:

8

(1)

Cause

the

complaint

to

be

scheduled

for

a

9

public

hearing.

10

(2)

Dismiss

the

complaint

based

upon

a

11

determination

by

independent

special

counsel

and

the

12

committee

that

insufficient

evidence

exists

to

support

13

a

finding

of

probable

cause.

14

19.

HEARING

PROCEDURE.

15

a.

Notice

of

hearing.

If

the

committee

causes

a

16

complaint

to

be

scheduled

for

a

public

hearing,

notice

17

of

the

hearing

date

and

time

shall

be

given

to

the

18

complainant

and

respondent

in

writing,

and

of

the

19

respondent’s

right

to

appear

in

person,

be

represented

20

by

legal

counsel,

present

statements

and

evidence,

and

21

examine

and

cross-examine

witnesses.

The

committee

22

shall

not

be

bound

by

formal

rules

of

evidence,

but

23

shall

receive

relevant

evidence,

subject

to

limitations

24

on

repetitiveness.

Any

evidence

taken

shall

be

under

25

oath.

26

b.

Subpoena

power.

The

committee

may

require,

by

27

subpoena

or

otherwise,

the

attendance

and

testimony

of

28

witnesses

and

the

production

of

such

books,

records,

29

correspondence,

memoranda,

papers,

documents,

and

any

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other

things

it

deems

necessary

to

the

conduct

of

the

1

inquiry.

2

c.

Ex

post

facto.

An

investigation

shall

not

be

3

undertaken

by

the

committee

of

a

violation

of

a

law,

4

rule,

or

standard

of

conduct

that

is

not

in

effect

at

5

the

time

of

violation.

6

d.

Disqualification

of

member.

Members

of

the

7

committee

may

disqualify

themselves

from

participating

8

in

any

investigation

of

the

conduct

of

another

person

9

upon

submission

of

a

written

statement

that

the

member

10

cannot

render

an

impartial

and

unbiased

decision

11

in

a

case.

A

member

may

also

be

disqualified

by

a

12

unanimous

vote

of

the

remaining

eligible

members

of

the

13

committee.

14

A

member

of

the

committee

is

ineligible

to

15

participate

in

committee

meetings,

as

a

member

of

the

16

committee,

in

any

proceeding

relating

to

the

member’s

17

own

official

conduct.

18

If

a

member

of

the

committee

is

disqualified

or

19

ineligible

to

act,

the

majority

or

minority

leader

who

20

appointed

the

member

shall

appoint

a

replacement

member

21

to

serve

as

a

member

of

the

committee

during

the

period

22

of

disqualification

or

ineligibility.

23

e.

Hearing.

At

the

hearing,

the

chairperson

shall

24

open

the

hearing

by

stating

the

charges,

the

purpose

of

25

the

hearing,

and

its

scope.

The

burden

of

proof

rests

26

upon

the

complainant

to

establish

the

facts

as

alleged,

27

by

clear

and

convincing

evidence.

However,

questioning

28

of

witnesses

shall

be

conducted

by

the

members

of

the

29

committee,

by

independent

special

counsel,

or

by

a

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senator.

The

chairperson

shall

also

permit

questioning

1

by

legal

counsel

representing

the

complainant

or

2

respondent.

3

The

chairperson

or

other

member

of

the

committee

4

presiding

at

a

hearing

shall

rule

upon

procedural

5

questions

or

any

question

of

admissibility

of

evidence

6

presented

to

the

committee.

Rulings

may

be

reversed

by

7

a

majority

vote

of

the

committee

members

present.

8

The

committee

may

continue

the

hearing

to

a

future

9

date

if

necessary

for

appropriate

reasons

or

purposes.

10

f.

Committee

action.

Upon

receipt

of

all

relevant

11

evidence

and

arguments,

the

committee

shall

consider

12

the

same

and

recommend

to

the

senate

any

of

the

13

following:

14

(1)

That

the

complaint

be

dismissed.

15

(2)

That

the

senator,

candidate

for

senate,

16

lobbyist,

or

client

of

a

lobbyist

be

censured

or

17

reprimanded,

and

recommend

the

appropriate

form

of

18

censure

or

reprimand.

19

(3)

Any

other

appropriate

sanction,

including

20

suspension

or

expulsion

from

membership

in

the

senate,

21

or

suspension

of

lobbying

privileges.

22

g.

Disposition

resolution.

By

appropriate

23

resolution,

the

senate

may

amend,

adopt,

or

reject

24

the

report

of

the

ethics

committee,

including

the

25

committee’s

recommendations

regarding

disciplinary

26

action.

27

20.

COMMITTEE

AUTHORIZED

TO

MEET.

The

senate

28

ethics

committee

is

authorized

to

meet

at

the

29

discretion

of

the

chairperson

to

conduct

hearings

and

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1

other

business

that

properly

may

come

before

it.

If

1

the

committee

submits

a

report

seeking

senate

action

2

against

a

senator,

candidate

for

senate,

lobbyist,

or

3

client

of

a

lobbyist

after

the

second

regular

session

4

of

a

general

assembly

has

adjourned

sine

die,

the

5

report

shall

be

submitted

to

and

considered

by

the

6

subsequent

general

assembly.

However,

the

report

7

may

be

submitted

to

and

considered

during

any

special

8

session

which

may

take

place

after

the

second

regular

9

session

of

a

general

assembly

has

adjourned

sine

die,

10

but

before

the

convening

of

the

next

general

assembly.

11

21.

ADVISORY

OPINIONS.

12

a.

Requests

for

formal

opinions.

A

request

for

a

13

formal

advisory

opinion

may

be

filed

by

any

person

who

14

is

subject

to

the

authority

of

the

ethics

committee.

15

The

ethics

committee

may

also

issue

a

formal

advisory

16

opinion

on

its

own

motion,

without

having

previously

17

received

a

formal

request

for

an

opinion,

on

any

issue

18

that

is

within

the

jurisdiction

of

the

committee.

19

Requests

shall

be

filed

with

either

the

secretary

of

20

the

senate

or

the

chairperson

of

the

ethics

committee.

21

b.

Form

and

contents

of

requests.

A

request

for

22

a

formal

advisory

opinion

shall

be

in

writing

and

23

may

pertain

to

any

subject

matter

that

is

related

24

to

the

application

of

the

senate

code

of

ethics,

the

25

joint

rules

governing

lobbyists,

or

chapter

68B

to

26

any

person

who

is

subject

to

the

authority

of

the

27

ethics

committee.

Requests

shall

contain

one

or

28

more

specific

questions

and

shall

relate

either

to

29

future

conduct

or

be

stated

in

the

hypothetical.

A

30

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1

request

for

an

advisory

opinion

shall

not

specifically

1

name

any

individual

or

contain

any

other

specific

2

identifying

information,

unless

the

request

relates

3

to

the

requester’s

own

conduct.

However,

any

request

4

may

contain

information

which

identifies

the

kind

5

of

individual

who

may

be

affected

by

the

subject

6

matter

of

the

request.

Examples

of

this

latter

kind

7

of

identifying

information

may

include

references

8

to

conduct

of

a

category

of

individuals,

such

as

but

9

not

limited

to

conduct

of

legislators,

legislative

10

staff,

candidates

for

senate,

lobbyists,

or

clients

of

11

lobbyists.

12

c.

Confidentiality

of

formal

requests

and

opinions.

13

Requests

for

formal

opinions

are

not

confidential

and

14

any

deliberations

of

the

committee

regarding

a

request

15

for

a

formal

opinion

shall

be

public.

Opinions

issued

16

in

response

to

requests

for

formal

opinions

are

not

17

confidential,

shall

be

in

writing,

and

shall

be

placed

18

on

file

in

the

office

of

the

secretary

of

the

senate.

19

Persons

requesting

formal

opinions

shall

personally

20

receive

a

copy

of

the

written

formal

opinion

that

is

21

issued

in

response

to

the

request.

22

22.

CALCULATION

OF

TIME

——

DAYS.

For

purposes

of

23

these

rules,

unless

the

context

otherwise

requires,

24

the

word

“day”

or

“days”

shall

mean

a

calendar

day

25

except

that

if

the

day

is

the

last

day

of

a

specific

26

time

period

and

falls

upon

a

Saturday,

Sunday,

or

legal

27

holiday,

the

time

prescribed

shall

be

extended

so

as

to

28

include

the

whole

of

the

next

day

in

which

the

offices

29

of

the

senate

and

the

general

assembly

are

open

for

30

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1

official

business.

1

23.

COMPLAINT

FILING

FORM.

The

following

form

2

shall

be

used

to

file

a

complaint

under

these

rules:

3

THE

SENATE

4

Ethics

Complaint

Form

5

Re:

______________________________

(Senator/Candidate

6

for

Senate/Lobbyist/Client

of

Lobbyist),

of

7

_____________________,

Iowa.

8

I,

________________________

(Complainant),

residing

9

at

____________________,

in

the

City

of

______________,

10

State

of

________________________,

hereby

complain

11

that

_____________________________

(Senator/Candidate

12

for

Senate/Lobbyist/Client

of

Lobbyist),

whose

address

13

is

___________________________________________,

has

14

violated

the

Senate

Code

of

Ethics,

chapter

68B,

or

15

Joint

Rules

Governing

Lobbyists

in

that:

16

(Explain

the

basis

for

the

complaint

here.

Use

17

additional

pages,

if

necessary.)

18

Under

penalty

of

perjury,

I

certify

that

the

above

19

complaint

is

true

and

correct

as

I

verily

believe.

20

___________________________

21

Signature

of

Complainant

22

SUBSCRIBED

AND

AFFIRMED

to

before

me

this

__________

23

day

of

________________________,

_______.

24

________________________________

25

Notary

Public

in

and

for

the

26

State

of

______________________

27

24.

COMPLAINT

NOTICE

FORM.

The

following

form

28

shall

be

used

for

notice

of

a

complaint

under

these

29

rules:

30

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1

STATE

OF

IOWA

1

THE

SENATE

2

COMMITTEE

ON

ETHICS

)

3

IOWA

STATE

SENATE

)

4

)

5

On

The

Complaint

Of

)

NOTICE

OF

COMPLAINT

6

)

7

___________________________

)

8

)

9

And

Involving

)

10

)

11

___________________________

)

12

)

13

TO

________________________________,

14

Senator

or

Candidate

for

Senate

or

Lobbyist

or

15

Client

of

Lobbyist

named

above:

16

You

are

hereby

notified

that

there

is

now

on

file

17

with

the

Secretary

of

the

Senate,

State

Capitol,

Des

18

Moines,

Iowa,

a

complaint

which

alleges

that

you

have

19

committed

a

violation

of

the

Senate’s

Code

of

Ethics,

20

chapter

68B,

or

Joint

Rules

Governing

Lobbyists.

21

A

copy

of

the

complaint

and

the

Senate

rules

for

22

processing

the

same

are

attached

hereto

and

made

a

part

23

of

this

notice.

24

You

are

further

notified

and

requested

to

file

your

25

written

answer

to

the

complaint

within

ten

days

of

the

26

date

upon

which

the

notice

was

caused

to

be

delivered

27

to

you,

(date)

________________________,

________.

28

Your

answer

is

to

be

filed

with

the

Secretary

of

the

29

Senate,

State

Capitol,

Des

Moines,

Iowa.

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1

Dated

this

________

day

of

________________,

______.

1

________________________________

2

Chairperson,

Senate

Ethics

3

Committee,

4

or

Secretary

of

the

Senate

5

25.

HEARING

NOTICE

FORM.

The

following

form

shall

6

be

used

for

notice

of

a

hearing

under

these

rules:

7

STATE

OF

IOWA

8

THE

SENATE

9

COMMITTEE

ON

ETHICS

)

10

IOWA

STATE

SENATE

)

11

)

12

On

The

Complaint

Of

)

NOTICE

OF

HEARING

13

)

14

___________________________

)

15

)

16

And

Involving

)

17

)

18

___________________________

)

19

)

20

TO

________________________________,

21

Senator

or

Candidate

for

Senate

or

Lobbyist

or

22

Client

of

Lobbyist

named

above:

23

You

are

hereby

notified

that

there

is

now

on

file

24

with

the

Secretary

of

the

Senate,

State

Capitol,

Des

25

Moines,

Iowa,

a

complaint

which

alleges

that

you

have

26

committed

a

violation

of

the

Senate’s

Code

of

Ethics,

27

chapter

68B,

or

Joint

Rules

Governing

Lobbyists.

28

A

copy

of

the

complaint

and

the

Senate

rules

for

29

processing

the

same

are

attached

hereto

and

made

a

part

30

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1

of

this

notice.

1

You

are

further

notified

that,

after

preliminary

2

review,

the

committee

has

caused

a

public

hearing

to

be

3

scheduled

on

(date)___________________,

________,

at

4

(hour)

___________

(a.m.)

(p.m.),

in

Room

____,

State

5

Capitol,

Des

Moines,

Iowa.

6

At

the

hearing,

you

will

have

the

right

to

appear

7

in

person,

be

represented

by

legal

counsel

at

your

own

8

expense,

present

statements

and

evidence,

and

examine

9

and

cross-examine

witnesses.

The

committee

shall

10

not

be

bound

by

formal

rules

of

evidence,

but

shall

11

receive

relevant

evidence,

subject

to

limitations

on

12

repetitiveness.

Any

evidence

taken

shall

be

under

13

oath.

14

The

committee

may

continue

the

hearing

to

a

future

15

date

if

necessary

for

appropriate

reasons

or

purposes.

16

You

are

further

notified

that

the

committee

will

17

receive

such

evidence

and

take

such

action

as

warranted

18

by

the

evidence.

19

Dated

this

_____

day

of

________________,

______.

20

________________________________

21

Chairperson,

Senate

Ethics

22

Committee,

23

or

Secretary

of

the

Senate

24

26.

PERSONAL

FINANCIAL

DISCLOSURE

FORM.

The

25

following

form

shall

be

used

for

disclosure

of

economic

26

interests

under

these

rules

and

section

68B.35:

27

STATEMENT

OF

ECONOMIC

INTERESTS

28

Name:________________________________________________

29

(Last)

(First)

(Middle

Initial)

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1

Address:_____________________________________________

1

(Street

Address,

Apt.#/P.O.

Box)

2

______________________________________________

3

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

4

Phone:(Home)

____/____-_____(Business)

____/____-_____

5

******************************************************

6

a.

Please

list

each

business,

occupation,

or

7

profession

in

which

you

are

engaged.

In

listing

8

the

business,

occupation,

or

profession,

it

is

9

not

necessary

that

your

employer

or

the

name

of

10

the

business

be

listed,

although

all

businesses,

11

occupations,

or

professions

must

be

listed,

regardless

12

of

the

amount

of

income

derived

or

time

spent

13

participating

in

the

activity.

(Examples

of

types

14

of

businesses,

occupations,

or

professions

that

may

15

be

listed:

teacher,

lawyer,

legislator,

real

estate

16

agent,

insurance

adjuster,

salesperson....)

17

(1)

__________________________________________________

18

(2)

__________________________________________________

19

(3)

__________________________________________________

20

(4)

__________________________________________________

21

(5)

__________________________________________________

22

b.

Please

list

the

nature

of

each

of

the

23

businesses,

occupations,

or

professions

which

you

24

listed

in

paragraph

“a”,

above,

unless

the

nature

of

25

the

business,

occupation,

or

profession

is

already

26

apparent

from

the

information

indicated

above.

The

27

descriptions

in

this

paragraph

should

correspond

by

28

number

to

the

numbers

for

each

of

the

businesses,

29

occupations,

or

professions

listed

in

paragraph

“a”.

30

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1

(Examples:

If

you

indicated,

for

example,

that

you

1

were

a

salesperson

in

subparagraph

(1)

of

paragraph

2

“a”,

you

should

list

in

subparagraph

(1)

of

this

3

paragraph

the

types

of

goods

or

services

sold

in

this

4

item.

If

you

indicated

that

you

were

a

teacher

in

5

subparagraph

(2)

of

paragraph

“a”,

you

should

indicate

6

in

subparagraph

(2)

of

this

paragraph

the

type

of

7

school

or

institution

in

which

you

provide

instruction

8

or

whether

the

instruction

is

provided

on

a

private

9

basis.

If

you

indicated

that

you

were

a

lawyer

in

10

subparagraph

(3)

of

paragraph

“a”,

you

should

indicate

11

your

areas

of

practice

and

whether

you

are

in

private,

12

corporate,

or

government

practice

in

subparagraph

(3)

13

of

this

paragraph.

If

you

indicated

in

subparagraph

14

(4)

of

paragraph

“a”

that

you

were

a

consultant,

in

15

subparagraph

(4)

of

this

paragraph

you

should

indicate

16

the

kind

of

services

provided

and

types

of

clients

17

served.)

18

(1)

__________________________________________________

19

(2)

__________________________________________________

20

(3)

__________________________________________________

21

(4)

__________________________________________________

22

(5)

__________________________________________________

23

c.

Please

list

each

source,

by

general

description,

24

from

which

you

receive,

or

which

generates,

more

than

25

one

thousand

dollars

in

gross

annual

income

in

the

26

categories

listed

below.

For

purposes

of

this

item,

27

a

source

produces

gross

annual

income

if

the

revenue

28

produced

by

the

source

is

subject

to

federal

or

state

29

income

taxes.

In

completing

this

item,

it

is

not

30

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1

necessary

to

list

the

name

of

the

company,

business,

1

financial

institution,

corporation,

partnership,

or

2

other

entity

which

constitutes

the

source

of

the

income

3

and

the

amount

or

value

of

the

holding

should

not

be

4

listed.

5

(1)

Securities

(Here

for

example,

you

need

not

6

state

that

you

own

X

number

of

shares

of

any

specific

7

company

by

brand

or

corporate

name,

or

that

the

stock

8

is

of

a

certain

value,

but

may

instead

state

that

you

9

possess

stock

in

a

company

and

indicate

the

nature

of

10

the

company’s

business.):

11

______________________________________________________

12

______________________________________________________

13

______________________________________________________

14

______________________________________________________

15

______________________________________________________

16

(2)

Instruments

of

Financial

Institutions

(You

17

need

not

indicate,

for

example,

in

which

institutions

18

you

hold

certificates

of

deposit

that

produce

annual

19

income

over

the

one

thousand

dollar

threshold,

but

20

simply

listing

the

nature

of

the

institution

will

21

suffice,

e.g.,

bank,

credit

union,

or

savings

and

loan

22

association.):

23

______________________________________________________

24

______________________________________________________

25

______________________________________________________

26

______________________________________________________

27

______________________________________________________

28

(3)

Trusts

(The

name

of

the

particular

trust

need

29

not

be

listed.

However,

if

the

income

is

received

30

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1

from

a

charitable

trust/foundation,

such

as

the

Pugh

1

Charitable

Trust,

in

the

form

of

a

grant,

the

fact

that

2

the

trust

is

a

charitable

trust

should

be

noted

here.):

3

______________________________________________________

4

______________________________________________________

5

______________________________________________________

6

______________________________________________________

7

______________________________________________________

8

(4)

Real

Estate

(When

listing

real

estate,

it

is

9

not

necessary

to

list

the

location

of

the

property,

but

10

the

general

nature

of

the

real

estate

interest

should

11

be

indicated,

e.g.,

residential

leasehold

interest

or

12

farm

leasehold

interest.):

13

______________________________________________________

14

______________________________________________________

15

______________________________________________________

16

______________________________________________________

17

______________________________________________________

18

(5)

Retirement

Systems

(When

listing

retirement

19

benefits,

it

is

not

necessary

to

list

the

name

of

20

the

particular

pension

system

or

company,

but

rather

21

the

type

of

benefit

should

be

listed,

e.g.,

health

22

benefits,

life

insurance

benefits,

private

pension,

or

23

government

pension.):

24

______________________________________________________

25

______________________________________________________

26

______________________________________________________

27

______________________________________________________

28

______________________________________________________

29

(Signature

of

filer)

(Date)

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