HF 522 (LSB 2184HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 522

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 114)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the therapeutic classroom incentive program by authorizing the expenditure of moneys for certain nutritional items.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.25, subsection 7, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   7.  For purposes of this section, “therapeutic classroom” means a classroom designed for the purpose of providing support for any student whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful in the current educational environment, with or without supports, until the student is able to successfully return to the student’s current education environment, with or without supports, including but not limited to the general education classroom.  The support provided by a therapeutic classroom may include all of the following:
   a.  Supporting student access to micronutrients, vitamin supplementation, and mineral supplementation, including vitamin “D” and vitamin “K2”.
   b.  Assessing the macro-nutritional needs of students.
   c.  Providing minimally processed whole foods, including fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and healthy animal-derived fats and proteins, including eggs, full-fat dairy products, beef, and bacon.
   d.  Restricting the use and availability of artificial or synthetic food additives that may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in students.
   e.  Remediating the negative impacts of excessive use of digital screens and devices on human biology.
   f.  Increasing student exposure to natural light or the light emitted by full spectrum lighting fixtures.
   g.  Carrying out any other scientifically supported initiative that a school district reasonably believes will improve emotional, social, and behavioral health outcomes among students.
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 the therapeutic classroom incentive program by authorizing the expenditure of moneys for certain nutritional items. The therapeutic classroom incentive program, administered by the department of education, provides competitive grants to school districts to establish classrooms that are designed for the purpose of providing support for any student whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful in the current educational environment, with or without supports, until the student is able to successfully return to the student’s current education environment, with or without supports, including the general education classroom. The bill provides that the support provided by a therapeutic classroom may include supporting student access to micronutrients and vitamins, assessing the macro-nutritional needs of students, providing minimally processed whole foods, restricting the use and availability of certain artificial or synthetic food additives, remediating the negative impacts of excessive use of digital screens, increasing student exposure to natural light or the light emitted by full spectrum lighting fixtures, and carrying out any other scientifically supported initiative that a school district reasonably believes will improve student health.