Senate File 209 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1to require school districts and accredited nonpublic
2schools to offer high school students an opportunity to
3take the United States citizenship and immigration services
4naturalization civics test, and including applicability
5provisions.
6BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1   Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2019, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3   NEW SUBSECTION.  60.  Approve alternative civics tests to be
4administered under section 280.9A, subsection 1A.
5   Sec. 2.  Section 280.9A, Code 2019, is amended by adding the
6following new subsection:
7   NEW SUBSECTION.  1A.  The board of directors of each school
8district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school
9shall offer to all students in grades nine through twelve at
10least one opportunity to take the latest available United
11States citizenship and immigration services naturalization
12civics test. An alternative civics test approved by the
13director of the department of education under section 256.9,
14subsection 60, may be administered to a child requiring special
15education as defined in section 256B.2, or to a student who is
16identified as limited English proficient under section 280.4,
17subsection 1.
18   Sec. 3.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies to school years
19beginning on or after July 1, 2020.
20EXPLANATION
21The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
22the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   23This bill requires school districts and accredited nonpublic
24schools to offer to all students in grades 9-12 opportunities
25to take the latest available United States citizenship and
26immigration services naturalization civics test.
   27The director of the department of education is directed to
28approve alternative civics tests which may be administered to
29a child requiring special education or to a student who is
30identified as limited English proficient.
   31The bill applies to school years beginning on or after July
321, 2020.
-1-
kh/jh