House File 2357 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2357 BY SHAW A BILL FOR An Act limiting the authority of a governing board of an 1 accredited public or private college or university in Iowa 2 from adopting or enforcing any policy or rule that prohibits 3 the carrying, transportation, or possession of any dangerous 4 weapon in the buildings or on the grounds of such colleges 5 or universities and including penalties. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 5812YH (3) 84 rh/rj

H.F. 2357 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 260C.14A Limitation on authority —— 1 dangerous weapons. 2 The board of directors of a community college shall comply 3 with the requirements of section 724.8A regarding policies and 4 rules relating to the carrying, transportation, or possession 5 of dangerous weapons in the building or on the grounds of the 6 community college. 7 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 262.9D Limitation on authority —— 8 dangerous weapons. 9 The state board of regents shall comply with the 10 requirements of section 724.8A regarding policies and rules 11 relating to the carrying, transportation, or possession of 12 dangerous weapons in the building or on the grounds of a 13 university under the control of the state board of regents. 14 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 724.8A Limitation on authority —— 15 dangerous weapons —— colleges and universities. 16 1. The governing board of an accredited public or 17 private college or university, including but not limited to 18 a university under the control of the state board of regents 19 as provided in chapter 262, or a community college under 20 the jurisdiction of a board of directors for a merged area 21 as provided in chapter 260C, shall not adopt or enforce any 22 policy or rule that prohibits the carrying, transportation, 23 or possession of any dangerous weapon, as defined in section 24 702.7, in the buildings or on the grounds of such colleges or 25 universities by a person who possesses a valid permit to carry 26 weapons pursuant to section 724.6 or 724.7. 27 2. A governing board found to be in violation of subsection 28 1 shall be assessed a civil penalty of between two thousand 29 five hundred dollars and five thousand dollars and shall be 30 ordered to pay the plaintiff’s reasonable attorney fees and 31 court costs. 32 EXPLANATION 33 This bill provides that the governing board of an accredited 34 public or private college or university, including but not 35 -1- LSB 5812YH (3) 84 rh/rj 1/ 2

H.F. 2357 limited to a university under the control of the state board 1 of regents as provided in Code chapter 262, or a community 2 college under the jurisdiction of a board of directors for a 3 merged area as provided in Code chapter 260C, shall not adopt 4 or enforce any policy or rule that prohibits the carrying, 5 transportation, or possession of any dangerous weapon, as 6 defined in Code section 702.7, in the buildings or on the 7 grounds of such colleges or universities by a person who 8 possesses a valid permit to carry weapons pursuant to Code 9 section 724.6 (professional permit to carry weapons) or Code 10 section 724.7 (nonprofessional permit to carry weapons). 11 The bill provides that a governing board found to be in 12 violation of the bill shall be assessed a civil penalty 13 of between $2,500 and $5,000 and shall pay the plaintiff’s 14 reasonable attorney fees and court costs. 15 A dangerous weapon is any instrument or device designed 16 primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human 17 being or animal, and which is capable of inflicting death 18 upon a human being when used in the manner for which it was 19 designed, except a bow and arrow when possessed and used 20 for hunting or any other lawful purpose. Additionally, any 21 instrument or device of any sort whatsoever which is actually 22 used in such a manner as to indicate that the defendant intends 23 to inflict death or serious injury upon the other, and which, 24 when so used, is capable of inflicting death upon a human 25 being, is a dangerous weapon. Dangerous weapons include but 26 are not limited to any offensive weapon, pistol, revolver, or 27 other firearm, dagger, razor, stiletto, switchblade knife, 28 knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length, or any 29 portable device or weapon directing an electric current, 30 impulse, wave, or beam that produces a high-voltage pulse 31 designed to immobilize a person. 32 -2- LSB 5812YH (3) 84 rh/rj 2/ 2