Relating to open meetings and open records, providing penalties, and making penalties applicable

Under current law, a court is required to assess a person who participated in a violation of Code chapter (open meetings) damages between $100 and $500. This bill increases the damages to between $500 and $2,500. Under current law, if a violation was knowingly committed, a court is required to assess the person damages between $1,000 and $2,500. The bill increases the damages to between $5,000 and $12,500. The bill requires a court to issue an order removing a member of a governmental body from office if that member has engaged in a prior violation of Code chapter regardless of whether damages were assessed against the member during the member’s term, which is a prerequisite to removal under current law. The bill requires a newly elected or appointed public official who is a member of a governmental body to complete a course of training regarding the responsibilities of the governmental body and the governmental body’s members under Code chapters and (open records) not later than the 90th day after the date the member takes the initial oath of office or assumes responsibilities. The bill requires the Iowa public information board to ensure that the training is made available. The board may provide the training and approve any acceptable course of training offered by a governmental body or other entity. The board shall ensure that at least one course of training approved or provided by the board is available at no cost. The bill requires the board or other entity providing the training to provide a certificate of course completion, which the governmental body must make available for public inspection. The bill provides that if a member fails to complete the required training, the failure does not affect the validity of an action taken by the governmental body.6. The bill’s provisions relating to a course of training do not apply to the judicial or legislative branches of state government or any entity, officer, or employee of those branches, or to the governor or the office of the governor.