HSB 679 (LSB 6865YC (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WHEELER)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to noncontact periods for students, coaches, directors, and teachers in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests and competitions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 280.13, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (5)  (a)  Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the corporation, association, or organization observes the noncontact periods described in this subparagraph, during which a coach, director, or teacher shall not have contact with students regarding extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions, including athletics, dance or cheerleading, band, show choir, and theater, and extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions do not occur. All high school students, including incoming ninth grade students, shall be subject to a noncontact period and shall not have contact, on or off school premises, with coaches, directors, or teachers, or use school facilities for extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions during a noncontact period.
   (b)  The summer noncontact period must consist of a continuous ten-day period occurring during the summer.
   (c)  The fall noncontact period must consist of a continuous seven-day period occurring in November.
   (d)  The winter noncontact period must consist of the continuous period occurring between December 25 and January 1.
   (e)  The spring noncontact period must consist of a continuous seven-day period occurring during the spring break period.
   (f)  Organizations that operate nonschool-sponsored extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions in this state shall observe the noncontact periods in this subparagraph.
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 noncontact periods for students, coaches, directors, and teachers in extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests and competitions.
   The bill requires an organization under Code section 280.13 to observe noncontact periods beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. An organization is an entity that registers with the department of education and administers, supervises, operates, adopts eligibility requirements for, and schedules extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests and competitions. During a noncontact period, a coach, director, or teacher shall not have contact with students regarding extracurricular and interscholastic athletics and extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions do not occur. All high school students, including incoming ninth grade students, shall be subject to a noncontact period and shall not have contact, on or off school premises, with coaches, directors, or teachers, or use school facilities for extracurricular and interscholastic athletics during a noncontact period.
   The bill requires the summer noncontact period to consist of a continuous 10-day period occurring during the summer. The fall noncontact period must consist of a continuous seven-day period occurring in November. The winter noncontact period must consist of a continuous period occurring between December 25 and January 1. The spring noncontact period must consist of a continuous seven-day period occurring during the spring break period.
   The bill requires organizations that operate nonschool-sponsored extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests or competitions in the state to observe the noncontact periods in the bill.