House File 204 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 204 BY MITCHELL A BILL FOR An Act providing that public postsecondary institutions 1 are prohibited from requiring students or employees to 2 wear face masks or social distance off campus and only 3 accredited private institutions that do not require students 4 or employees to wear face masks or social distance off 5 campus can qualify for the Iowa tuition grant program, and 6 including effective date provisions. 7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 8 TLSB 1711YH (6) 89 kh/jh

H.F. 204 Section 1. Section 260C.14, Code 2021, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 25. Prohibit the community college from 3 requiring a student or employee who is off campus to wear 4 a face mask to cover the nose and mouth for the purpose of 5 blocking or reducing the spread of respiratory droplets or to 6 social distance by maintaining a physical distance of at least 7 six feet from any other individual to prevent the spread of 8 COVID-19 or any other infectious disease. 9 Sec. 2. Section 261.9, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 10 1, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows: 11 “Accredited private institution” means an institution of 12 higher learning located in Iowa which is operated privately 13 and not controlled or administered by any state agency or 14 any subdivision of the state and which meets the criteria in 15 paragraphs “a” and “b” and all of the criteria in paragraphs “d” 16 through “i” “j” , except that institutions defined in paragraph 17 “c” of this subsection are exempt from the requirements of 18 paragraphs “a” and “b” : 19 Sec. 3. Section 261.9, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended 20 by adding the following new paragraph: 21 NEW PARAGRAPH . j. Does not require a student or employee 22 who is off campus to wear a face mask to cover the nose and 23 mouth for the purpose of blocking or reducing the spread of 24 respiratory droplets or to social distance by maintaining 25 a physical distance of at least six feet from any other 26 individual to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or any other 27 infectious disease. 28 Sec. 4. Section 262.9, Code 2021, is amended by adding the 29 following new subsection: 30 NEW SUBSECTION . 39. Prohibit an institution of higher 31 learning under its control from requiring a student or employee 32 who is off campus to wear a face mask to cover the nose and 33 mouth for the purpose of blocking or reducing the spread of 34 respiratory droplets or to social distance by maintaining 35 -1- LSB 1711YH (6) 89 kh/jh 1/ 2

H.F. 204 a physical distance of at least six feet from any other 1 individual to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or any other 2 infectious disease. 3 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate 4 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 5 EXPLANATION 6 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 7 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 8 This bill relates to face mask and social distance 9 requirements imposed by community colleges, accredited private 10 institutions, or regents universities on students and employees 11 who are off campus. 12 The bill directs the state board of regents to prohibit 13 the universities under its control, and directs the board of 14 directors of a community college to prohibit the community 15 college, from requiring a student or employee who is off campus 16 to wear a face mask for the purpose of blocking or reducing 17 respiratory droplets or to social distance by maintaining 18 a physical distance of at least six feet from any other 19 individual to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or any other 20 infectious disease. 21 The bill amends the definition of “accredited private 22 institution” to add to the criteria an institution must meet 23 in order for its students to qualify for an Iowa tuition 24 grant awarded by the college student aid commission. Under 25 the new criterion, only accredited private institutions that 26 do not require a student or employee who is off campus to 27 wear a face mask to cover the nose and mouth for the purpose 28 of blocking or reducing the spread of respiratory droplets 29 or to social distance by maintaining a physical distance of 30 at least six feet from any other individual to prevent the 31 spread of COVID-19 or any other infectious disease can meet the 32 definition. 33 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 34 -2- LSB 1711YH (6) 89 kh/jh 2/ 2