House File 706 amends existing laws related to open meetings and open records in Iowa, introducing new penalties for violations by members of governmental bodies. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum damages for violations from $2,500 to $12,500 for members who knowingly participate in such violations, while also establishing a minimum damage amount of $5,000. Additionally, the bill mandates that newly elected or appointed public officials complete a training course on their responsibilities under the open meetings and records laws within 90 days of taking office. Failure to complete this training within 60 days may result in the assessment of damages as outlined in the bill.

The bill also adds new subsections to the law, specifying that information obtained from security camera systems and state employee identification card access systems is exempt from public records requirements. Furthermore, it allows the Iowa public information board to impose civil penalties for violations of open meetings and records laws, aligning these penalties with those established in the amended sections. Overall, House File 706 aims to enhance compliance with open meetings and records laws while providing necessary training for public officials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21.6
Reprinted: 21.6
Enrolled: 21.6, 23.6