Iowa Admin. Code r. 351-4.52 - Corporate involvement with political committee funds

(1) Corporate payroll deductions. For purposes of interpretation of Iowa Code section 68A.503, the administrative functions performed by a corporation (profit or nonprofit corporation including, but not limited to, a bank, savings and loan institution, credit union or insurance company) to make payroll deductions for an employee organization's political committee and to transmit the deductions in lump sum to the treasurer of the political committee shall not be a prohibited corporate activity so long as the corporate entity is serving only as a conduit for the contributions.

(2) Electronic transfer of deposits. A corporation, financial institution, or insurance company may receive and deposit checks that include both dues and PAC contributions. Contributions for the PAC shall be transferred as soon as possible into the PAC checking account and all disclosure, record-keeping, and record-retention requirements of Iowa Code chapter 68A shall be followed.

(3) Allowable costs of administration. For the purposes of interpreting Iowa Code section 68A.503(3), which permits an entity otherwise forbidden from contributing to a candidate or a candidate's committee for "financing the administration of a political committee sponsored by that entity," the following are considered to be allowable costs of administration:

a. Full or partial compensation for political committee staff, which may include both wages and benefits.

b. Expenses of transportation and travel incurred by political committee staff; however, this does not include expenses of transportation or travel if provided by a political committee or a staff member to a candidate, nor does this include expenses of meals or events held on behalf of a candidate.

c. Printing and office supplies related to routine office administration so long as the printing and supplies are not used to expressly advocate for or against any candidate.

d. Postage and stationery, including that necessary for mailing contributions to specific candidates. Postage and stationery necessary for distributing political material expressly advocating a specific candidate to persons other than the committee membership are not permitted.

e. Expenses of maintaining committee records and preparing financial disclosure reports, including costs associated with services provided by an accountant or other professional.

f. Promotional materials, such as stickers, pens, and coffee cups, so long as the items promote the political committee itself, but not a specific candidate.

An item which is excluded by this subrule from being an allowable cost of administration may still be provided by the committee, so long as that cost is paid for from contributions or other sources of funds other than the parent entity.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 68A.503.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 351-4.52

Amended by IAB March 24, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 20, effective 4/28/2021