HF 2138 (LSB 5593YH (4) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2138

BY  HAYES and GOLDING

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the human growth and development curriculum provided by school districts, including enrollment of students in grades seven through twelve in human growth and development courses and information provided to parents and guardians.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 279.50, subsections 4 and 6, Code 2024, are amended to read as follows:
   4.  Each school board shall annually provide to a parent or guardian of any pupil enrolled in the school district, information all of the following:
   a.  Information about the human growth and development curriculum used in the pupil’s grade level and the.
   b.  The procedure for inspecting the human growth and development course instructional materials prior to their use in the classroom.
   c.  Information about human growth and development that may be provided to pupils at an educational conference or seminar for which the school district facilitates pupil attendance.
   d.  Information regarding the requirements for consent described in subsection 6, if the student is enrolled in grades seven through twelve.
   6.  A school district shall not enroll a pupil shall not be required to take who is in grades seven through twelve in a course of instruction in human growth and development if or facilitate the attendance of a pupil in grades seven through twelve at an educational conference or seminar that provides information about human growth and development unless the pupil’s parent or guardian files with the appropriate principal a written request that the pupil be excused from the instruction informed consent acknowledging receipt of the information required in subsection 4. Notification that the written request may be made shall be included in the information provided by the school district.
    Sec. 2.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the human growth and development curriculum provided by school districts, including enrollment of students in grades 7 through 12 in human growth and development courses and information provided to parents and guardians.
   The bill prohibits a school district from enrolling a pupil who is in grades 7 through 12 in a course of instruction in human growth and development, and from facilitating such pupil’s attendance at an educational conference or seminar that includes information on human growth and development, unless the pupil’s parent or guardian files written informed consent with the appropriate principal. The bill also requires the board of directors of a school district to annually provide to a parent or guardian of a pupil enrolled in the district information about human growth and development that may be provided to pupils at an educational conference or seminar for which the school district facilitates pupil attendance.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a school district from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, school districts are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.