SF 88 (LSB 2213XS (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 88

BY  DONAHUE

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring boards of directors of school districts and the authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to excusing the absences of students enrolled in grades nine through twelve for civic or political events.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 299.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  a.  The board of directors of each public school district and the governing body of each accredited nonpublic school shall adopt a policy that requires the school district or accredited nonpublic school to grant a student who is enrolled in grades nine through twelve at least one excused absence each school year when the student is absent from school because of the student’s participation in a civic or political event. The policy shall require all of the following:
   (1)  The board of directors of the school district or the governing body of the accredited nonpublic school shall not grant the student an excused absence to participate in the civic or political event unless the student gives notice of the student’s intent to participate in the civic or political event to an administrator employed by the board of directors of the school district or the governing body of the accredited nonpublic school in advance of the civic or political event.
   (2)  The student shall demonstrate the student’s knowledge of the civic or political event in which the student participated by preparing a short essay, presenting information related to the civic or political event, or through any other means the school determines will demonstrate a proper representation of what the student learned during the civic or political event.
   b.  For purposes of this subsection, “civic or political event” includes all of the following:
   (1)  Voting in an election.
   (2)  Serving as a poll worker.
   (3)  Participating in a strike.
   (4)  Participating in a public comment period before any public body.
   (5)  Attending a speech by a candidate for a public office.
   (6)  Attending a political forum.
   (7)  Attending a civic forum.
   (8)  Attending a town hall meeting.
    Sec. 2.  Section 299.1, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (7)  While participating in a civic or political event in accordance with a policy adopted under subsection 3A.
    Sec. 3.  Section 299.12, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  “Chronically absent” means any absence from school for more than ten percent of the days or hours in the grading period established by a public school; provided, however, that an absence from school that is related to participation in a civic or political event in accordance with a policy adopted under section 299.1, subsection 3A, shall not count toward this amount.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires boards of directors of school districts and the authorities in charge of accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies related to excusing the absences of students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 for civic or political events.
   The bill requires the board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school to adopt a policy that requires the school district or accredited nonpublic school to grant a student who is enrolled in grades 9 through 12 at least one excused absence each school year when the student is absent from school because of the student’s participation in a civic or political event. The bill establishes that such policy is to include a requirement that the student give notice of the student’s intent to participate in the civic or political event in advance and a requirement that the student demonstrate what the student learned during the student’s participation in the civic or political event.
   The bill defines “civic or political event” to include voting in an election, serving as a poll worker, participating in a strike, participating in a public comment period before any public body, attending a speech by a candidate for a public office, attending a political forum, attending a civic forum, or attending a town hall meeting.
   The bill provides that a student’s absence from school that is related to participation in a civic or political event shall not be considered an absence from school for purposes of truancy or the enforcement of standards related to chronic absenteeism.