Relating to the payment of dependent care expenses from campaign funds, and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to the payment of dependent care expenses with campaign funds. The bill permits a candidate to pay for dependent care expenses using campaign funds if the expense is incurred as a direct result of a campaign activity or official duty if the candidate wins election, the candidate would not have needed the dependent care but for the candidate’s candidacy or election, the payment to the dependent care provider is reasonable, and the dependent care provider is not the spouse or dependent child of the candidate. The bill requires the candidate to keep logs relating to payment for any such services, which shall be provided to the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board upon request during the course of an audit. The bill requires the candidate’s committee to preserve a dependent care log for five years following the submission of a report relating to the log, or for three years following the dissolution of the committee. A person who violates a provision of Code chapter 68A is subject to civil penalties imposed by the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board, including remedial action, a reprimand, and a civil penalty up to $2,000. In addition, a person who willfully violates a provision of Code chapter 68A is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.