Section 8A.416. Discrimination, political activity, use of official influence prohibited.

  1.  A person shall not be appointed or promoted to, or demoted or discharged from, any position in the merit system, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to employment in the merit system because of the person’s political or religious opinions or affiliations or race or national origin or sex, or age.

  2.  A person holding a position in the classified service shall not, during the person’s working hours or when performing the person’s duties or when using state equipment or at any time on state property, take part in any way in soliciting any contribution for any political party or any person seeking political office, and such employee shall not engage in any political activity that will impair the employee’s efficiency during working hours or cause the employee to be tardy or absent from work. This section does not preclude any employee from holding any office for which no pay is received or any office for which only token pay is received.

  3.  A person shall not seek or attempt to use any political endorsement in connection with any appointment to a position in the merit system.

  4.  A person shall not use or promise to use, directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence, whether possessed or anticipated, to secure or attempt to secure for any person an appointment or advantage in appointment to a position in the merit system, or an increase in pay or other advantage in employment in any such position, for the purpose of influencing the vote or political action of any person or for any consideration.

  5.  An employee shall not use the employee’s official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the results thereof.

  6.  Any officer or employee who violates this section shall be subject to suspension, dismissal, or demotion subject to the right of appeal provided in this subchapter.

  7.  The director shall adopt any rules necessary for further restricting political activities of employees in the executive branch, but only to the extent necessary to comply with federal standards. Employees retain the right to vote as they please and to express their opinions on all subjects.

2003 Acts, ch 145, §64

See also chapters 39A and 721