Senate File 298 - Introduced SENATE FILE 298 BY LOFGREN A BILL FOR An Act relating to the burden of proof in certain judicial 1 proceedings involving school boards and rules adopted by the 2 department of education. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2256XS (2) 88 je/jh
S.F. 298 Section 1. Section 274.3, Code 2019, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 5. Notwithstanding section 17A.19, 3 subsection 8, paragraph “a” , in any proceeding initiated by the 4 board of directors of a school district for judicial review 5 of a rule adopted by the department of education pursuant to 6 chapter 17A or any proceeding for enforcement of such a rule 7 against the board of directors of a school district initiated 8 by the department, the burden of proof shall be on the 9 department to establish that the rule is explicitly authorized 10 by the laws of the general assembly. Notwithstanding section 11 17A.19, subsection 8, paragraph “a” , if the court determines 12 that the rule is not explicitly authorized by the laws of 13 the general assembly, the burden of proof shall be on the 14 department in regard to any of the grounds specified in section 15 17A.19, subsection 10, that are alleged by the board in the 16 proceeding. 17 EXPLANATION 18 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 19 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 20 This bill provides that in any proceeding initiated by a 21 school board for judicial review of a rule adopted by the 22 department of education or any proceeding for enforcement of 23 such a rule against a school board initiated by the department, 24 the burden of proof shall be on the department to establish 25 that the rule is explicitly authorized by the laws of the 26 general assembly. If the court determines that the rule is 27 not explicitly authorized by the laws of the general assembly, 28 the bill provides that the burden of proof shall be on the 29 department in regard to any of the legal grounds authorized 30 by the Iowa administrative procedure Act that are alleged by 31 the school board in the proceeding. These provisions apply 32 notwithstanding language in the Iowa administrative procedure 33 Act that specifies that the burden of proof in such proceedings 34 is on a party asserting invalidity of agency action. 35 -1- LSB 2256XS (2) 88 je/jh 1/ 1