SENATE FILE 337

BY  SODDERS

A BILL FOR

An Act authorizing the establishment of a philanthropy account within a student activity fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 298A.8, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   298A.8  Student activity fund.
   1.  The student activity fund is a special revenue fund. A student activity fund must be established in any school corporation receiving money from student-related activities such as admissions, activity fees, student dues, student fund-raising events, or other student-related cocurricular or extracurricular activities. Moneys in this fund, other than funds in a philanthropy account established under subsection 2, shall be used to support only the cocurricular program defined in department of education administrative rules.
   2.  A philanthropy account may be established within a student activity fund. A philanthropy account shall only consist of voluntary donations raised by the students or school district employees for a specified purpose. Moneys in the account shall be used to support philanthropic purposes. For purposes of this section,“philanthropic purpose” means an educational, charitable, humane, scientific, patriotic, social welfare or advocacy, public health, environmental, conservation, civic, or other similar objective defined in department of education rules. The philanthropic purposes for which moneys in the account may be used shall not be limited to purposes relating to the school or to students enrolled in the school.
EXPLANATION
   This bill authorizes the creation of a philanthropy account within a school district’s student activity fund established under Code section 298A.8. The bill provides that a philanthropy account shall only consist of voluntary donations raised by the students or school district employees for a specified purpose. Moneys in the philanthropy account shall be used to support philanthropic purposes. The bill defines “philanthropic purpose” to be an educational, charitable, humane, scientific, patriotic, social welfare or advocacy, public health, environmental, conservation, civic, or other similar objective defined in department of education rules. The bill specifies that philanthropic purposes for which moneys in the account may be used are not limited to purposes relating to the school or to students.