Iowa Public Information Board maps out open record training, votes on executive director

DES MOINES — As of Tuesday, newly appointed and elected government officials in Iowa are required to comply with new legislation that requires them to attend training on Iowa’s public meetings and open records laws.

The training is one requirement of House File 706, which also increases penalties for public officials who violate the state’s open meetings laws. The legislation, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June, was inspired by government transparency-related episodes in the Quad Cities.

Republican Rep. Gary Mohr, of Bettendorf, introduced the legislation after two incidents. The first was the difficulty members of the public and media faced when seeking access to public records, including inspection reports, related to the 2023 partial building collapse in Davenport. The second was the city of Davenport approving a $1.6 million departure agreement with its city administrator without a vote in front of the public.

On Tuesday, members of the Iowa Public Information Board discussed the law’s implementation and what training requirements for government officials will look like.

Under the new requirement, all government officials elected or appointed after July 1 must complete a training administered or approved by the board 90 days after taking an oath of office or assuming responsibilities. If they fail to complete it by then, they will have 60 more days to complete it before being fine an amount between $500 and $12,500.

Board members said the new legislation will help lighten the office’s caseload, which saw an uptick last month.

“The new legislation that has come out, I think should help the board, because a lot of the issues that we have are people don't know the law,” said board member Monica McHugh.

“Government officials“ include those elected or appointed to boards, councils and commissions. Employees of the Iowa judicial or legislative branches, the office of the governor and the governor would not be required to complete the training.

The new law was amended by the Iowa Senate to bar members of the public from accessing Iowa Capitol security camera footage and identification card access system data. Backers of the amendment argue it is necessary for the safety of lawmakers and legislative staff, while critics say it limits transparency in state government.

Hiring a new executive director

The board at Tuesday’s meeting also interviewed and voted to offer the position of executive director to Charlotte Miller, who currently serves as legal counsel at the Iowa Legislative Services Agency.

Two applicants were offered interviews by the board, but the second one declined.

The position opened up after the board’s current executive director, Erika Eckley, resigned to head the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Zach Goodrich, the former executive director and legal counsel for the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, resigned in May.

Created in 2012, the Iowa Public Information Board oversees the state’s open records and open meetings laws.

At LSA, Miller helps draft legislation, including multiple bills relating to open meetings and public records. Before working at LSA, Miller worked as a law clerk in the First Judicial District of Iowa after completing her law degree at Drake University.

During a round of questioning from board members, Miller said she believes she has gained a good understanding of state government operations and public records laws from her experience working at the legislature and as a law clerk

“I'm ready for new challenges, and I think this job lends itself to a lot of the skills I've already been acquiring just based off the topic area, because I have been drafting it for five sessions, so I understand the subject area,” Miller said. “It helps continue public service, which I think is really important.”

Following Miller’s interview, members voted to offer her the role, agreeing she is qualified.

“I am just extremely happy with the qualifications of this candidate,” board member Barry Lindahl said. “It just seems to be perfect in every sense. You know, she's got the background, she's got the education, she's got the personality. As far as I could tell, that seems like it's just going to be a great fit.”

If Miller accepts the position, she will head the implementation of open records training for public officials. She said she would be confident in doing so, given her experience drafting the new open records law that the board discussed Tuesday.

The board agreed to offer Miller a starting salary of $97,000 with a review for a potential pay increase in 12 months. Eckley’s annual salary as executive director of the Public Information Board was $103,313.60 in the 2024 state budget year, according to state salary records.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy contributed to this report.