SF 269 (LSB 1695XS (3) 90)

SENATE FILE 269

BY  ZAUN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to civil liability associated with secondary students participating in work-based learning programs and the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in school districts and charter schools, establishing a career and technical education teachers grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and requiring the department of education to convene a senior year plus program task force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  92.24  Employer liability in work-based learning.
   1.  For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
   a.  “Business” means any city, county, or township, including but not limited to a fire department or law enforcement office or department, public university, municipal university, community college, technical college or not-for-profit private postsecondary educational institution, corporation, association, partnership, proprietorship, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, organization or other legal entity, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, that does all of the following:
   (1)  Enters into an agreement with a school district for a work-based learning program.
   (2)  Directly supervises a student who is participating in the work-based learning program, either on the premises of the business or at another location.
   b.  “Work-based learning program” means a learning program to which all of the following apply:
   (1)  The program includes but is not limited to work-related, on-the-job training, job shadowing, internships, clinicals, practicums, registered apprenticeships, co-ops, supervised agricultural experiences, and industry-led service-learning projects.
   (2)  The program is incorporated into secondary coursework or related to a specific field of study.
   (3)  The program integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom or other school-approved setting with the practical application and development of skills and proficiencies in a professional work setting.
   2.  A business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim arising from the student’s negligent act or omission during the student’s participation in the work-based learning program on the premises of the business or at another location.
   3.  A business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or another person or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the student’s driving in between worksites or to or from the premises of the business or another location to participate in the work-based learning program.
   4.  A business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the business’s negligent act or omission during the student’s participation in the work-based learning program on the premises of the business or at another location.
   5.  This section shall not be construed to provide immunity for a student or business for civil liability arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct stemming from a work-based learning program.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph h, Code 2023, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (04)  Units of coursework that meet the requirements of any combination of coursework required under paragraph “a”, “b”, “d”, “e”, or “k” and incorporate the curriculum required under subparagraph (1) shall be deemed to satisfy the offer and teach requirements of this paragraph “h” and a student who completes such units shall be deemed to have met the graduation requirement of this paragraph “h”.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  256.20  Career and technical education teachers —— grant program.
   1.  The department shall establish a career and technical education teachers grant program to provide grants to school districts to supplement the wages of teachers providing instruction pursuant to section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “h”.
   2.  A school district may apply to the department for grants under this section to supplement the wages of teachers employed by the school district who provide instruction pursuant to section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “h”.
   3.  Moneys awarded under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, existing public funding used by a school district for similar purposes.
   4.  A career and technical education teachers grant program fund is established in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the department and shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and any other moneys received by the department for deposit in the fund. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the career and technical education teachers grant program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for the career and technical education teachers grant program for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
   5.  The department shall develop a strategy for attracting additional financial resources for the career and technical education teachers grant program from other sources, which may include the private sector and local, state, and federal government funding sources. The financial resources received shall be credited to the career and technical education teachers grant program fund.
   6.  The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section, including rules related to grant application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria.
    Sec. 4.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— SENIOR YEAR PLUS PROGRAM —— TASK FORCE.
   1.  The department of education shall convene and provide administrative support to a senior year plus program task force that shall study and make recommendations regarding all of the following:
   a.  The supplementary weighting plan that applies to school districts that send their resident high school pupils to a community college for college-level classes, or to a class taught by a community college-employed instructor, under the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program established under section 261E.8.
   b.  The policies and procedures that apply to resident high school pupils who are enrolled in a community college for college-level classes under the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program established under section 261E.8.
   2.  The task force shall include the following members:
   a.  A parent or guardian of a student who is participating in the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program established under section 261E.8.
   b.  A student who is participating in the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program established under section 261E.8.
   c.  A representative of a school district.
   d.  A representative of a community college.
   e.  A representative of the department of education.
   3.  The task force shall submit a report, including findings and recommendations for policy changes, to the general assembly by December 31, 2023.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to education, including modifying provisions relating to civil liability associated with secondary students participating in work-based learning programs and the career and technical education instruction provided to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in school districts and charter schools, establishing a career and technical education teachers grant program within the department of education (DE), and requiring DE to convene a senior year plus program task force.
   The bill provides that a business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim arising from the student’s negligent act or omission during the student’s participation in the program. The bill also provides that a business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or another person or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the student’s driving to participate in the program. Additionally, the bill provides that a business that accepts a secondary student in a work-based learning program shall not be subject to civil liability for any claim for bodily injury to the student or sickness or death by accident of the student arising from the business’s negligent act or omission during the student’s participation in the program. The bill establishes that these provisions shall not be construed to provide immunity for a student or business for civil liability arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct stemming from a work-based learning program.
   The bill provides that units of coursework that meet the requirements of the science, social studies, mathematics, or personal financial literacy instruction, and that incorporate the career and technical education curriculum, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements associated with the career and technical education curriculum.
   The bill establishes a career and technical education teachers grant program within DE to provide grants to school districts to supplement the wages of teachers providing career and technical education instruction to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12. The bill also establishes a career and technical education teachers grant program fund in the state treasury. The bill requires DE to develop a strategy for attracting additional financial resources for the program from other sources and provides that the additional financial resources are to be credited to the fund. Additionally, the bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer the program.
   The bill requires DE to convene and provide administrative support to a senior year plus program task force. The bill establishes that the task force is to study and make recommendations regarding the supplementary weighting plan that applies to school districts that send their resident high school pupils to a community college for college-level classes, or to a class taught by a community college-employed instructor, and the policies and procedures that apply to resident high school pupils who are enrolled in a community college for college-level classes under the district-to-community college sharing or concurrent enrollment program. The bill also establishes the membership of the task force. The bill requires the task force to submit a report, including findings and recommendations for policy changes, to the general assembly by December 31, 2023.