HF 2274 (LSB 5608YH (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2274

BY  SHIPLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act requesting an interim study committee on gender identity, the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, and suicide by transgender individuals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON GENDER IDENTITY, THE IOWA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, AND TRANSGENDER SUICIDE.
   1.  The legislative council is requested to establish a study committee for the 2020 interim to examine the outcomes of the inclusion of “gender identity” as a protected class under chapter 216, the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, in 2007. In recognition that each and every human being is afforded dignity and valued as a child of God, the goal of the study committee shall be to engage in rigorous examination and expansive dialogue regarding issues relating to gender identity in order to end the tragedy of suicide by transgender individuals in this state.
   2.  The study committee shall explore the application of gender identity as a protected class as it relates to prisons, schools, private enterprise, freedom of expression, and other areas of relevance to determine if statutory changes pertaining to the terms “gender”, “gender identity”, “woman”, “sex”, or to other matters under chapter 216 are necessary or advisable. The study committee shall seek input from affected stakeholders.
   3.  The study committee shall have access to aggregate information on and copies of complaints filed with the Iowa civil rights commission regarding violations of chapter 216 relating to gender identity. All information provided to the study committee pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential. The Iowa civil rights commission shall redact all personally identifiable information of any party or witness to a complaint prior to providing a copy of the complaint to the study committee.
   4.  The study committee shall consist of five members of the senate, three of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate and two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, and five members of the house of representatives, three of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. Any other member of the general assembly may participate in the study committee’s activities as a nonvoting member.
   5.  The interim committee shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the general assembly by January 11, 2021.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requests that the legislative council establish a study committee of 10 members for the 2020 interim to examine the outcomes of the inclusion of “gender identity” as a protected class under Code chapter 216, the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965, in 2007. The goal of the study committee shall be to engage in rigorous examination and expansive dialogue regarding issues relating to gender identity in order to end the tragedy of suicide by transgender individuals in Iowa.
   The study committee shall explore the application of gender identity as a protected class as it relates to prisons, schools, private enterprise, freedom of expression, and other areas of relevance to determine if statutory changes pertaining to the terms “gender”, “gender identity”, “woman”, “sex”, or to other matters under Code chapter 216 are necessary or advisable.
   The study committee shall have access to aggregate information on and copies of complaints filed with the Iowa civil rights commission regarding violations of Code chapter 216 relating to gender identity. Such information shall be confidential, and the commission shall redact personally identifiable information.
   The interim committee shall submit its findings and recommendations in a report to the general assembly by January 11, 2021.