This was the sixth week of the legislative session, and we remain focused on our work as we are only a couple weeks out from our first legislative deadline of the year.
On Tuesday, the Iowa Senate passed SF 278 to support students on robotics teams. This bill helps provide more resources and technical assistance to school districts starting career and technical student organizations related to robotics by allowing them to access federal funding for their teams.
The Senate Education Committee this week passed SSB 1065, the Governor’s school cellphone policy. This bill requires, starting with the next school year, each school board to adopt policies regarding the student use of personal electronic devices during school hours and restrict use of such devices during classroom instructional time.
Teaching the science of life in Iowa schools
Over the last several years, our state has made great strides in protecting life and enacting pro-family policies for Iowans. One of our most important pieces of legislation is the Heartbeat Bill, protecting life at the sound of a heartbeat.
This week the Senate built on these successes and ensured the use of non-biased, research-based information on human growth and development be taught in Iowa schools. Senate File 175 requires schools use technology like high-definition ultrasound videos to teach students about human development from conception. The bill, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 31-13, utilizes science and technology to show when life actually starts and uses research to teach students important milestones in human development and growth.
While we have been working on policies to protect those who cannot yet protect themselves, this bill is a great way to start showing students when life starts and how important it is.
BILLS OF INTEREST ON THE MOVE
STUDENT-PARENT ACCOMMODATIONS
This bill, as amended, was passed 16-0 in committee on a voice vote. This bill, as amended, provides for reasonable accommodations to be available for students attending an institution of higher education governed by the Board of Regents or a community college who are pregnant or recently gave birth. Accommodations for eligible students include but are not limited to the following:
Taking additional health and safety measures
Allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment due dates missed due to the student’s pregnancy
Allowing a student to take a leave of absence
Excusing absences for reasons deemed medically necessary due to pregnancy
Institutions must not require a student enrolled in a course of study or research activity to take a leave of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit participation in academic activities due to pregnancy.
Institutions must allow students who are pregnant or have recently given birth to have extra time to take examinations and complete a degree or candidacy for a degree (at least 12 months, as determined by the institution). Institutions must allow the student to take a leave of absence for up to 12 months, and to allow the student to return to their program with the same standing.
ADVANCED DYSLEXIA ENDORSEMENT COMPETITIVE SCHOLAR PROGRAM
This bill, as amended, was passed out of committee 16-0 on a voice vote. The bill, as amended, establishes an Advanced Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Competitive Scholar Program to be administered by the College Student Aid Commission (CSAC). The purpose of the program is to provide tuition reimbursement to teachers to offset the cost associated with obtaining an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement issued by the Board of Educational Examiners.
A teacher is to be eligible for the program if they are employed by a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or charter school and are working toward obtaining the endorsement. Each applicant to the program must do the following:
Complete and file an application for tuition reimbursement. The applicant is responsible for timely submission of any information required by CSAC.
File a new application and submit information as required by CSAC annually for eligibility to be renewed.
Complete and return, on forms approved by CSAC, an affidavit of practice verifying the applicant is teaching in an Iowa school.
CSAC will determine the number of awards and award amounts based on funding available and number of applicants. Eligible applicants will be eligible for an award in up to two years while in the program, and the total award amount must not exceed the total program cost for the endorsement.
The bill establishes an advanced dyslexia specialist endorsement competitive scholar program fund in the state treasury. The fund is to be administered by CSAC and consist of funds appropriated by the General Assembly and other moneys received for deposit in the fund. Moneys remaining in the fund at the close of a fiscal year are to remain available for future program expenditures. The bill specifies that unused funds from the national board certification program will be deposited in the fund instead of reverting to the general fund.
The bill requires CSAC to incorporate information on the below into their annual report to the general assembly:
Number of individuals who received tuition reimbursement through the program
Where recipients taught.
Amount paid to each recipient.
Other information identified by CSAC as indicators of outcomes of the program.
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL INITIATIVE
This bill was passed out of committee 16-0 on a voice vote. The bill is a Department of Education bill that requires the director of the Dept. of Education to develop and administer a purple star school initiative that recognizes applicant schools that have demonstrated a commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families with the goal of increasing the amount of support that schools in Iowa make available to military-connected students and their families.
CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
This bill was passed out of committee 16-0 on a voice vote. The bill makes several adjustments and clarifications to the chronic absenteeism policy passed last year. The bill requires the Dept. of Education director to consult with the Iowa County Attorneys Association to develop and distribute to county attorneys, school districts, and accredited nonpublic schools a model policy that county attorneys may reference when determining whether and to what extent to enforce the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 299 (truancy and chronic absenteeism policies).
The bill adds several items to the list of exceptions to schools’ chronic absenteeism policies. The policies are not to apply to students who are absent for military entrance processing, military services, or travel to a wedding or funeral.
The absenteeism policy adopted by a school board is to describe how exceptions may be met and give reasonable consideration to travel time.
The bill removes the requirement that a school send a letter by certified mail to notify a student’s parent or guardian when a student becomes chronically absent. Instead, the notice may be sent by ordinary mail, electronic mail, electronic message, or in person. The school is to keep a copy of the notice.
The bill also gives schools some discretion in school engagement meetings. Currently, if a child is absent for school for at least 15% of the days/hours in a grading period, the school official is to initiate a school engagement meeting to create an absenteeism prevention plan. The bill changes this provision so that it is only if the child’s absences are negatively affecting the child’s academic progress that such meetings are required.
HANDS FREE
This bill passed out of committee 19-1 on a voice vote. Under current law, the use of an “electronic communication device or an electronic entertainment device” while driving is prohibited, with some exceptions. “Electronic communication devices” are defined as “a mobile telephone or other portable electronic communication device capable of being used to write, send, or view an electronic message.” However, “electronic entertainment devices” are not defined in law.
This bill prohibits the use of “electronic devices” while driving, unless using it in a voice-activated or hands-free mode. These devices include devices “powered by electricity, including a battery, and that is capable of being used to compose, send, receive, or read an electronic message, or that is capable of storing, retrieving on-demand, or displaying videos, movies, broadcast television images, visual images, or audio or video data files.” These devices do not include technology installed in the vehicle.
This bill provides for a number of exceptions:
If the vehicle is stopped and off the traveled portion of a road.
Members of public safety agencies performing official duties.
Health care professionals during an emergency situation.
The reception of safety-related alerts, including emergency and weather alerts.
Reporting an emergency situation, including continued communication with emergency personnel.
Public transit personnel responding to a transit-specific situation.
People operating an implement of husbandry.
People using two-way radios who are licensed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Members of a public transit system that are performing official duties while not in motion.
Utility maintenance employees or contractors providing utility services within the scope of their employment.
Transportation network drivers while the vehicle is not in motion.
People accessing a fleet management system.
Under current law, using an electronic device is not a moving violation and is not considered for habitual offender statuses. Under the bill, this violation becomes a moving violation and can be considered for habitual offender statuses.
Upcoming forums:
February 22nd 10:00am at the Cherokee Farm Bureau Office
March 15th at King’s Pointe in Storm Lake
March 29th at Spencer City Hall
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