(1)Prohibition. An official shall not sell, either directly or indirectly, any goods or services to individuals, associations, or corporations subject to the regulatory authority of the department unless the department consents as provided in this rule."Association " means any profit or nonprofit entity that is not a "corporation" or an "individual" as defined in this rule, but does not include any "unit of government" as defined in this rule.
"Commission " means the natural resource commission.
"Corporation " means "corporation" and "foreign corporation" as defined in Iowa Code sections 490.140 and 504A.2, but does not include any "unit of government" as defined in this rule.
"Department" means the department of natural resources.
"Goods" means personal property, tangible and intangible.
"Individual" means a human being and includes any individual doing business as a sole proprietorship.
"Official" means a member of the natural resource commission.
"Sale " or"sell" means the process in which goods or services are provided in exchange for money or other valuable consideration. The term does not include purchases of goods or services, nor outside employment activities that constitute an employer-employee relationship.
"Services" means action, conduct or performance which furthers some end or purpose or which assists or benefits someone or something.
"Unit of government" means "United States," "state" and "governmental subdivision" as defined in Iowa Code section 490.140.
(3)Application for consent. An application for consent must be signed by the official requesting consent and submitted as specified in subrule 1. 11 (4). The application must provide a clear statement of all relevant facts concerning the sale, specify the amount of compensation and how compensation is to be determined, and indicate the time period or number of transactions for which consent is requested. The application must also explain why the sale would not create a conflict of interest or provide financial gain by virtue of the applicant's position within the department.(4)Consent procedure. Applications for consent must be submitted to the director who will schedule the matter as an informational item at a meeting of the commission. When the informational item is considered, the applicant may explain the application and entertain questions. The director shall schedule the matter to be decided at the second meeting following its consideration as an informational item, at which time the commission shall consider written comments which have been filed with the director and entertain any oral comments. The commission shall approve or deny the application by voting in the same manner as it determines other matters, except that the applicant shall not vote.(5)General conditions of consent. Consent shall not be given to an official unless all of the following conditions are met: a. This condition is satisfied if either of the following paragraphs is met: (1)The duties or functions performed by the official are not related to the regulatory authority of the department over the individual, association or corporation; or(2)The duties or functions performed by the official are not affected by the selling of goods or services to the individual, association or corporation.b. The selling of the goods or services by the official does not include acting as an advocate to the department on behalf of the individual, association or corporation receiving the goods or services.c. The selling of goods or services does not result in the official selling a good or service to the department on behalf of the individual, association or corporation.(6)Class prohibitions and consent.a. The commission concludes that the sales of goods and services described in this paragraph, as a class, constitute the sale of a good or service which affects an official's functions. The department will not consent to sales which fall within the following categories unless there are unique facts surrounding a particular sale which clearly satisfy the conditions listed in subrule 1.11(5). Sales which are prohibited by rule:
(1) Sales of department information or the sale of services necessary to gather department information, including but not limited to solicitation lists.(2) Services utilized in the preparation of applications, reports, or other documents which may be approved or reviewed by the commission.b. The commission concludes that sales of goods or services described in this paragraph do not, as a class, constitute the sale of a good or service which affects an official's functions. Application and department approval are not required for these sales unless there are unique facts surrounding a particular sale which would cause that sale to affect the official's duties or functions, would give the buyer an advantage in its dealings with the department, or otherwise present a conflict of interest. Sales for which consent is granted by rule:
(1) Nonrecurring sales of goods and services if the official is not engaged for profit in the business of selling those goods or services.(2) Sale of farm products at market prices to a buyer ordinarily engaged in the business of purchasing farm products.(3) Sales of goods to general public at an established retail or consignment shop.(4) Sale of legal, mechanical, or other services at market or customary prices. However, if an official's client or customer has a matter for decision before the commission, the official shall not participate in the discussion and voting on that matter unless consent has been obtained pursuant to subrules 1.11(3) and 1.11(4).(5) Sale of goods at wholesale prices to a buyer ordinarily engaged in the business of purchasing wholesale goods for retail sale.(6) Sale of creative works of art, including but not limited to sculpture and literary products, at market, auction, or negotiated prices. However, if an official's customer has a matter for decision, directly or indirectly involving that good, before the commission, the official shall not participate in the discussion and voting on that matter unless consent has been obtained pursuant to subrules 1.11(3) and 1.11(4).(7)Effect of consent. The consent must be in writing. The consent is valid only for the activities and period described in it and only to the extent that material facts have been disclosed and the actual facts are consistent with those described in the application. Consent can be revoked at any time by written notice to the official.(8)Public information. The application and consent are public records, open for public examination, except to the extent that disclosure of details would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or trade secrets and the record is exempt from disclosure under Iowa law.(9)Effect of other laws. Neither this rule nor any consent provided under it constitutes consent for any activity which would constitute a conflict of interest at common law or which violates any applicable statute or rule. Despite department consent under these rules, a sale of goods or services to someone subject to the jurisdiction of the agency may violate the gift law, bribery and corruption laws, etc. It is the responsibility of the official to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and to avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-1.11