HOUSE FILE 2109

BY  SCHULTE

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to student enrollment following reorganization or dissolution of a school district and including effective date and applicability provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  275.42  Attendance in other district.
   1.  A student enrolled in grades kindergarten through eleventh grade during the school year preceding the effective date of a school reorganization under this chapter, who was a resident of a school district affected, may enroll in any reorganized school district to which territory of the school district affected is now included until the student’s graduation from high school, unless the student was expelled or suspended from school and the conditions of expulsion or suspension have not been met. The student under expulsion or suspension shall not be enrolled until the board of directors of the school district to which territory of the school district affected was attached approves, by majority vote, the enrollment of the student. 
   2.  Notwithstanding section 282.24, the district of residence of the student, determined in the reorganization proposal, shall pay tuition to the school district selected by the student in an amount not to exceed the district cost per pupil of the district of residence, and the school district selected by the student shall accept that tuition payment and enroll the student.
    Sec. 2.  Section 275.55A, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   275.55A  Attendance in other district.
   1.  A student enrolled in ninth, tenth, or
 
grades kindergarten through eleventh grade during the school year preceding the effective date of a dissolution proposal, who was a resident of the school district that dissolved, may enroll in a school district to which territory of the school district that dissolved was attached until the student’s graduation from high school, unless the student was expelled or suspended from school and the conditions of expulsion or suspension have not been met. The student under expulsion or suspension shall not be enrolled until the board of directors of the school district to which territory of the dissolved school district was attached approves, by majority vote, the enrollment of the student.
   2.  Notwithstanding section 282.24, the district of residence of the student, determined in the dissolution proposal, shall pay tuition to the school district selected by the student in an amount not to exceed the district cost per pupil of the district of residence and the school district selected by the student shall accept that tuition payment and enroll the student.
    Sec. 3.  Section 282.9, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Notwithstanding sections
 
275.42, 275.55A, 256F.4, and 282.18, or any other provision to the contrary, prior to knowingly enrolling an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A, but who is otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school, the board of directors of a school district shall determine the educational placement of the individual. Upon receipt of notice that a student who is enrolled in the district is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A, the board shall determine the educational placement of the student. The tentative agenda for the meeting of the board of directors at which the board will consider such enrollment or educational placement shall specifically state that the board is considering the enrollment or educational placement of an individual who is required to register as a sex offender under chapter 692A. If the individual is denied enrollment in a school district under this section, the school district of residence shall provide the individual with educational services in an alternative setting.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 5.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school district reorganizations and dissolutions that take effect under chapter 275 on or after the effective date of this Act.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides that a student enrolled in grades kindergarten through eleventh grade during the school year preceding the effective date of a school reorganization under Code chapter 275, who was a resident of a school district affected by the reorganization, may enroll in any reorganized school district to which territory of the school district affected is now included until the student’s graduation from high school, unless the student was expelled or suspended from school and the conditions of expulsion or suspension have not been met. Under the bill, a student under expulsion or suspension shall not be enrolled until the board of directors of the reorganized school district approves, by majority vote, the enrollment of the student. 
   The bill modifies similar existing enrollment provisions applicable to school district dissolutions in Code section 275.55A by applying such enrollment options to students enrolled in kindergarten through eleventh grade during the school year preceding the dissolution. Current Code section 275.55A only applies to students enrolled in ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to school district reorganizations and dissolutions that take effect under Code chapter 275 on or after the effective date of the bill.