Senate
File
288
-
Enrolled
Senate
File
288
AN
ACT
RELATING
TO
STUDENTS
WHO
ARE
PREGNANT
OR
WHO
RECENTLY
GAVE
BIRTH
WHO
ATTEND
STATE
INSTITUTIONS
OF
HIGHER
EDUCATION
GOVERNED
BY
THE
BOARD
OF
REGENTS
AND
COMMUNITY
COLLEGES.
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
261K.1
Student
parents
at
institutions.
1.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section,
unless
the
context
otherwise
requires:
a.
“Institution”
means
an
institution
of
higher
education
governed
by
the
state
board
of
regents
or
a
community
college
established
under
chapter
260C.
“Institution”
also
includes
Senate
File
288,
p.
2
the
faculty,
staff,
and
other
employees
of
such
institution
of
higher
education
or
community
college
established
under
chapter
260C.
b.
“Reasonable
accommodations”
includes
but
is
not
limited
to
all
of
the
following:
(1)
Taking
additional
health
and
safety
measures.
(2)
Allowing
a
student
to
reschedule
tests
and
assignment
due
dates
that
are
missed
for
reasons
related
to
the
student’s
pregnancy.
(3)
Allowing
a
student
to
take
a
leave
of
absence.
(4)
Excusing
absences
for
reasons
deemed
medically
necessary
due
to
the
pregnancy.
c.
“Student”
means
a
biological
female.
2.
An
institution
shall
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
the
student’s
participation
in
academic
activities
solely
due
to
pregnancy.
An
institution
shall
make
reasonable
accommodations
to
a
pregnant
student
to
allow
the
student
to
complete
a
course
of
study
or
research.
3.
a.
An
institution
shall
allow
a
student
who
is
pregnant
or
has
recently
given
birth
an
additional,
reasonable
period
of
time
to
take
examinations
that
is
consistent
with
the
policies
of
the
institution
and
that
is
mutually
agreed
to
by
the
student
and
the
institution.
b.
An
institution
shall
allow
a
student
who
is
pregnant
or
has
recently
given
birth
an
additional,
reasonable
period
of
time
to
complete
a
degree
or
candidacy
for
a
degree
that
is
consistent
with
the
policies
of
the
institution
and
that
is
mutually
agreed
to
by
the
student
and
the
institution.
4.
An
institution
shall
allow
a
student
who
is
pregnant
or
has
recently
given
birth
to
take
a
leave
of
absence
for
a
reasonable
period
of
time
that
is
consistent
with
the
policies
of
the
institution
and
that
is
mutually
agreed
to
by
the
student
and
the
institution.
Following
the
leave
of
absence,
the
student
shall
be
allowed
to
return
to
the
student’s
program
with
the
same
standing
as
the
student
left
to
the
extent
reasonably
possible.
Senate
File
288,
p.
3
5.
The
institution
employee
charged
with
coordination
of
the
institution’s
compliance
with
Title
IX
of
the
federal
Education
Amendments
Act
of
1972
shall
maintain
a
system
to
receive
and
investigate
complaints
from
students
alleging
a
violation
of
this
section.
6.
An
institution
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
a.
Maintain
a
written
policy
for
students
on
pregnancy
discrimination
and
procedures
for
addressing
pregnancy
discrimination
complaints
under
this
section
and
the
federal
Higher
Education
Act
of
1965,
as
amended,
20
U.S.C.
§1681
et
seq.
The
institution
shall
provide
a
copy
of
the
policy
to
institution
faculty,
staff,
and
employees
in
required
training.
The
institution
shall
provide
a
copy
of
the
policy
to
all
students
attending
orientation
at
the
institution.
b.
Prominently
post
notice
of
the
protections
afforded
to
pregnant
students
and
students
who
have
recently
given
birth
under
the
federal
Higher
Education
Act
of
1965,
as
amended,
20
U.S.C.
§1681
et
seq.,
on
the
institution’s
internet
site.
c.
Provide
information
concerning
the
protections
afforded
to
pregnant
students
and
students
who
have
recently
given
birth
under
the
federal
Higher
Education
Act
of
1965,
as
amended,
20
U.S.C.
§1681
et
seq.,
through
the
institution’s
medical
center
and
health
center
to
a
student
upon
the
student’s
request
and
when
otherwise
appropriate.
d.
Assign
responsibility
for
pregnancy
and
parenting
support
and
protection
to
an
office
of
the
institution
other
than
the
office
responsible
for
coordination
of
the
institution’s
compliance
with
Title
IX
of
the
federal
Education
Amendments
Act
of
1972.
The
institution
shall
post
the
name,
location,
and
contact
information
of
the
responsible
office
on
the
institution’s
internet
site.
Responsibilities
assigned
to
the
office
pursuant
to
this
paragraph
shall
include
but
not
be
limited
to:
(1)
Maintaining
current
knowledge
of
the
provisions
of
this
section.
(2)
Overseeing
institution
compliance
with
this
section.
(3)
Understanding
and
publicizing
topics
related
to
pregnancy
and
parenting,
including
but
not
limited
to
child
care
availability,
breastfeeding
accommodations,
and
pregnancy
Senate
File
288,
p.
4
and
parenting
assistance
from
public
and
private
providers,
in
order
to
enhance
campus
life
and
academic
performance.
7.
This
section
does
not
apply
to
a
student
with
respect
to
the
student’s
employment
by
an
institution.
______________________________
AMY
SINCLAIR
President
of
the
Senate
______________________________
PAT
GRASSLEY
Speaker
of
the
House
I
hereby
certify
that
this
bill
originated
in
the
Senate
and
is
known
as
Senate
File
288,
Ninety-first
General
Assembly.
______________________________
W.
CHARLES
SMITHSON
Secretary
of
the
Senate
Approved
_______________,
2025
______________________________
KIM
REYNOLDS
Governor