Ethics – Week of Jan. 25, 2010

STAFF CONTACT:  Eric Bakker

SSB 3035

COMMITTEE ACTION

SSB 3035 updates the Senate’s disclosure requirements and allows for certain procedures in resolving ethics complaints. The bill now allows 28 calendar days (previously five days) to file a report following a reception so that sponsors would be able to receive all the bills from the event. SSB 3035 also gives the Legislative Ethics Committees authority over clients as well as legislators and lobbyists, causing clients to file reports rather than lobbyists. Legislative Ethics Committees can now take action without going to an independent special counsel. The committee can adopt rules to take action only if there is no dispute between the parties regarding the material facts. Finally, the bill requires clients to file a yearly report by July 31 that includes the total amount of all salaries, fees, retainers and any other money paid to a lobbyist for lobbying both the legislative and executive branches. This gives Iowans a better picture of how much a client spends to lobby for the passage or defeat of legislation. [1/20: voice vote]