SF 2235 (LSB 5598XS (9) 84)

SENATE FILE 2235

BY  BOETTGER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to high school examinations on the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  FINDINGS.  The general assembly finds all of the following:
   1.  The purpose of education is to develop a knowledgeable and well-informed citizenry.
   2.  Education is the foundation upon which a free democratic society is based.
   3.  Citizens must know the basis of how their government operates in order to maintain their liberties and rights.
    Sec. 2.  Section 280.9A, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  The board of directors of each local public school district operating a high school and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school operating a high school shall require that prior to the completion of grade twelve all students pass, as a condition of graduation, an examination on the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
    Sec. 3.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires each student at a public or nonpublic high school, as a condition of graduation, to pass prior to the completion of grade 12 an examination on the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.