This bill amends the definition of "government body" in Iowa's open records law to include "instrumentalities" of counties, cities, or townships. The new legal language specifies that an instrumentality is an entity that serves a governmental purpose, operates on behalf of political subdivisions, and is controlled by members of those subdivisions. Examples of such instrumentalities include the Iowa League of Cities and the Iowa State Association of Counties. The bill also clarifies that certain insurance and employee benefits groups are excluded from this definition.

By including these instrumentalities under the open records requirements, the bill ensures they are subject to the same civil penalties as other government bodies. This change aims to enhance transparency and public access to information regarding these entities. Additionally, the bill reinforces the penalties for public officers or employees who falsify records, classifying such actions as a class D felony, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years and significant fines.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22.1, 468.3