Iowa Code r. 351-8.17 - Ban on certain lobbying activities by government personnel

Executive branch officials and executive branch employees are prohibited by Iowa Code section 68B.5A from engaging in certain types of lobbying activities during the time in which these officials and employees serve or are employed by the state. In addition, Iowa Code section 68B.5A prohibits executive branch officials and executive branch employees from accepting, under certain situations, employment as lobbyists within two years of leaving state government.

(1) Lobbying restrictions-statewide elected officials and executive or administrative heads.

a. A person who serves as a statewide elected official, the executive or administrative head of an agency, or the deputy executive or administrative head of an agency shall not act as a lobbyist during the time in which the person serves or is employed by the state unless the person is designated to represent the official position of the person's agency.

b. A person subject to this prohibition may not accept employment as a lobbyist for two years after leaving state government except as provided in subrule 8.17(4).

(2) Lobbying restrictions-employees of statewide elected officials and other department or agency employees.

a. The head of a major subunit of a department or independent state agency whose position involves substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds or a full-time employee of an office of a statewide elected official whose position involves substantial exercise of administrative discretion or the expenditure of public funds shall not act as a lobbyist during the time in which the person is employed by the state before the agency that the person is employed by or before state agencies, officials, or employees with whom the person has substantial or regular contact as part of the person's duties, unless the person is designated to represent the official position of the person's agency.

b. A person subject to this prohibition may not accept employment as a lobbyist for two years after leaving state government if the employment involves lobbying before the agency that the person was employed by or before state agencies, officials, or employees with whom the person had substantial and regular contact as part of the person's former duties except as provided in subrule 8.17(4).

(3) Lobbying restrictions-state employees with conflicts of interest. A state employee who is not included in subrule 8.17(1) or 8.17(2) shall not act as a lobbyist in relation to any particular case, proceeding, or application with respect to which the person is directly concerned and personally participates as part of the person's employment, unless the person is designated to represent the official position of the person's agency. Persons subject to this prohibition may not accept employment as a lobbyist for two years after leaving state government if the employment involves lobbying in relation to any particular case, proceeding, or application with respect to which the person was directly concerned and personally participated as part of the person's employment.

(4) Exception. As provided in Iowa Code section 68B.5A(7), the prohibition on accepting employment as a lobbyist does not apply to a person who, within two years of leaving state service or employment, is elected to, appointed to, or employed by another office of the state, an office of a political subdivision of the state, or the federal government and represents the position of the new office or employment.

(5) Complaints. Complaints or information provided to the board alleging a violation of Iowa Code section 68B.5A by an executive branch official or an executive branch employee shall be filed with the board and governed by the procedures in Iowa Code sections 68B.32B through 68B.32D.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 68B.5A.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 351-8.17

ARC 8002B, IAB 7/29/09, effective 9/2/09

ARC 8002B, lAB 7/29/09, effective 9/2/09