S.F. 172 Section 1. Section 279.58, subsection 1, Code 2011, is 1 amended by striking the subsection. 2 Sec. 2. Section 279.58, subsection 2, Code 2011, is amended 3 to read as follows: 4 2. The board of directors of a school district may adopt, 5 for the district or for an individual school within the 6 district, a mandatory uniform policy or a dress code policy 7 that prohibits students from wearing gang-related or other 8 specific apparel if the board determines that the such a policy 9 is necessary for the health, safety, or positive educational 10 environment of students and staff in the school environment or 11 for the appropriate discipline and operation of the school. 12 3. Adoption and enforcement of a mandatory uniform policy 13 or a dress code policy pursuant to this section is not a 14 violation of section 280.22 if the policy is viewpoint neutral, 15 is reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns, or 16 protects students from sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd 17 speech . 18 EXPLANATION 19 This bill authorizes a school district to adopt, for the 20 school district or for an individual school, a mandatory 21 uniform policy, in addition to the dress code policy currently 22 authorized by the Code, if the board determines that such 23 a policy is necessary for the health, safety, or positive 24 educational environment of students and staff in the school 25 environment or for the appropriate discipline and operation of 26 the school. 27 The bill provides that such policies are not a violation 28 of Code section 280.22, which establishes that public school 29 students have the right to exercise freedom of speech, if 30 the policy is viewpoint neutral, is reasonably related to 31 legitimate pedagogical concerns, or protects students from 32 sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd speech. 33 -1- LSB 1697XS (3) 84 kh/sc 1/ 1