HF 168 (LSB 1892YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 168

BY  CROKEN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to notices that nonpublic schools receiving tuition payments from the education savings account program must provide to parents and guardians.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  69.  a.  Develop, in consultation with a statewide organization representing teachers, a statewide organization representing school boards, and area education agencies, a list of the rights and services that are available to students who are enrolled in school districts, and the parents or guardians of such students, that are not available to students who are enrolled in nonpublic schools, or the parents or guardians of such students.
   b.  Distribute to nonpublic schools the list developed pursuant to paragraph “a”.
   c.  For purposes of this subsection, “nonpublic school” means the same as defined in section 285.16.
    Sec. 2.  Section 257.11B, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  12.  Each nonpublic school that accepts payment from a parent or guardian using funds from a pupil’s individual account in the education savings account fund must provide the parent or guardian with a copy of the list developed by the director of the department of education and distributed to the nonpublic school pursuant to section 256.9, subsection 69.
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 notices that nonpublic schools receiving tuition payments from the education savings account program must provide to parents and guardians.
   The bill requires the director of the department of education to develop, in consultation with a statewide organization representing teachers, a statewide organization representing school boards, and area education agencies, a list of the rights and services that are available to students who are enrolled in school districts, and the parents or guardians of such students, that are not available to students who are enrolled in nonpublic schools, or the parents or guardians of such students. The director is required to distribute the list to nonpublic schools. The bill requires nonpublic schools that accept payment from a parent or guardian using funds from a pupil’s individual account established under Code section 257.11B (education savings account program) to provide the parent or guardian with a copy of the list.