Print
Senate File 252 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1 relating to students who are pregnant or who recently
2gave birth who attend state institutions of higher education
3governed by the board of regents and community colleges.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 261J.1 Student parents at
2institutions.
31. For the purposes of this section:
4a. “Institution” means an institution of higher education
5governed by the state board of regents or a community college
6established under chapter 260C. “Institution” also includes
7the faculty, staff, and other employees of such institution of
8higher education or community college established under chapter
9260C.
10b. “Reasonable accommodations” includes but is not limited
11to all of the following:
12(1) Taking additional health and safety measures.
13(2) Allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment
14due dates that are missed for reasons related to the student’s
15pregnancy.
16(3) Allowing a student to take a leave of absence.
17(4) Excusing absences for reasons deemed medically
18necessary due to the pregnancy.
192. An institution shall not require a student enrolled
20in a course of study or research activity to take a leave
21of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the student’s
22participation in academic activities solely due to pregnancy.
23An institution shall make reasonable accommodations to a
24pregnant student to allow the student to complete a course of
25study or research.
263. a. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
27or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to
28take examinations up to the longer of a period consistent with
29the policies of the institution or twelve months from the
30originally scheduled examination date, unless a longer period
31is medically necessary.
32b. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
33or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to
34complete a degree or candidacy for a degree up to the longer
35of a period consistent with the policies of the institution
-1-1or twelve months from the date originally scheduled for
2completion, unless a longer period is medically necessary.
34. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
4or has recently given birth a period of up to twelve months to
5take a leave of absence unless there is a medically necessary
6reason for a longer leave of absence. Following the leave
7of absence, the student shall be allowed to return to the
8student’s program with the same standing as the student left to
9the degree reasonably possible.
105. a. The attorney general shall maintain a system to
11receive and investigate complaints from students alleging a
12violation of this section.
13b. The attorney general shall forward complaints it
14has determined as founded to the United States department
15of education’s office for civil rights to allow for an
16investigation into the institution’s compliance with the
17federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C.
18§1681 et seq.
196. An institution shall do all of the following:
20a. Maintain a written policy for students on pregnancy
21discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy
22discrimination complaints under this section and the federal
23Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et
24seq. The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to
25institution faculty, staff, and employees in required training.
26The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to all
27students attending orientation at the institution.
28b. Prominently post notice of the protections afforded to
29pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
30under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
31U.S.C. §1681 et seq., on the institution’s internet site.
32c. Provide information concerning the protections afforded
33to pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
34under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
35U.S.C. §1681 et seq., through the institution’s medical center
-2-1and student health center to a student upon the student’s
2request and when otherwise appropriate.
3d. Assign responsibility for pregnancy and parenting support
4and protection to a staff member of the institution. The
5institution shall post the responsible staff member’s name,
6title, and contact information on the institution’s internet
7site. Responsibilities assigned to a staff member pursuant to
8this paragraph shall include but not be limited to:
9(1) Maintaining current knowledge of the provisions of this
10section.
11(2) Overseeing institution compliance with this section.
12(3) Understanding and publicizing topics related to
13pregnancy and parenting, including but not limited to child
14care availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy
15and parenting assistance from public and private providers, in
16order to enhance campus life and academic performance.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to students who are pregnant or who
21recently gave birth who attend state institutions of higher
22education governed by the board of regents.
23The bill defines the term “institution” as an institution of
24higher education governed by the state board of regents or a
25community college. “Institution” also includes the faculty,
26staff, and other employees of such institution of higher
27education or community college.
28The bill defines “reasonable accommodations” as including
29but not being limited to taking additional health and safety
30measures; allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment
31due dates that are missed for reasons related to the student’s
32pregnancy; allowing a student to take a leave of absence; and
33excusing absences for reasons deemed medically necessary due
34to the pregnancy.
35The bill prohibits an institution from requiring a student
-3-1enrolled in a course of study or research activity to take
2a leave of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the
3student’s participation in academic activities solely due to
4pregnancy.
5The bill requires an institution to make reasonable
6accommodations to a pregnant student to allow the student to
7complete a course of study or research.
8The bill requires an institution to allow a student who is
9pregnant or has recently given birth an additional amount of
10time to take examinations, complete a degree, or complete a
11candidacy for a degree up to the longer of a period consistent
12with the policies of the institution or 12 months from the date
13originally scheduled for examination or completion, unless a
14longer period is medically necessary.
15The bill requires an institution to allow a student who
16is pregnant or has recently given birth a period of up to 12
17months to take a leave of absence unless there is a medically
18necessary reason for a longer leave of absence. Following the
19leave of absence, the student shall be allowed to return to
20the student’s program with the same standing and manner as the
21student left to the degree reasonably possible.
22The bill requires the state attorney general to maintain
23a system to receive and investigate complaints from students
24alleging a violation relating to pregnancy and recent birth
25accommodations.
26The bill requires the attorney general to forward complaints
27it has determined as founded to the United States department
28of education’s office for civil rights to allow for an
29investigation into the institution’s compliance with the
30federal Higher Education Act of 1965.
31The bill requires an institution to maintain a written
32policy for students on pregnancy discrimination and procedures
33for addressing pregnancy discrimination complaints under this
34Code section and the federal Higher Education Act of 1965. The
35institution must provide a copy of the policy to institution
-4-1faculty, staff, and employees in required training and to all
2students attending orientation at the institution.
3The bill requires an institution to prominently post
4notice of the protections afforded to pregnant students and
5students who have recently given birth under the federal Higher
6Education Act of 1965 on the institution’s internet site.
7The bill requires an institution to provide information
8concerning the protections afforded to pregnant students and
9students who have recently given birth under the federal
10Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et
11seq., through the institution’s medical center and student
12health center to a student upon the student’s request and when
13otherwise appropriate.
14The bill requires an institution to assign responsibility
15for pregnancy and parenting support and protection to a staff
16member of the institution. The institution must post the
17responsible person’s name, title, and contact information
18on the institution’s internet site. The responsibilities
19assigned to the staff member include but are not limited to
20maintaining current knowledge of Code provisions relating to
21accommodations afforded to pregnant students and students
22who recently gave birth; overseeing institution compliance
23with Code provisions relating to accommodations afforded to
24pregnant students and students who recently gave birth; and
25understanding and publicizing topics related to pregnancy
26and parenting, including but not limited to child care
27availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy and
28parenting assistance from public and private providers, in
29order to enhance campus life and academic performance.
-5-dg/jh
2gave birth who attend state institutions of higher education
3governed by the board of regents and community colleges.
4BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 261J.1 Student parents at
2institutions.
31. For the purposes of this section:
4a. “Institution” means an institution of higher education
5governed by the state board of regents or a community college
6established under chapter 260C. “Institution” also includes
7the faculty, staff, and other employees of such institution of
8higher education or community college established under chapter
9260C.
10b. “Reasonable accommodations” includes but is not limited
11to all of the following:
12(1) Taking additional health and safety measures.
13(2) Allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment
14due dates that are missed for reasons related to the student’s
15pregnancy.
16(3) Allowing a student to take a leave of absence.
17(4) Excusing absences for reasons deemed medically
18necessary due to the pregnancy.
192. An institution shall not require a student enrolled
20in a course of study or research activity to take a leave
21of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the student’s
22participation in academic activities solely due to pregnancy.
23An institution shall make reasonable accommodations to a
24pregnant student to allow the student to complete a course of
25study or research.
263. a. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
27or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to
28take examinations up to the longer of a period consistent with
29the policies of the institution or twelve months from the
30originally scheduled examination date, unless a longer period
31is medically necessary.
32b. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
33or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to
34complete a degree or candidacy for a degree up to the longer
35of a period consistent with the policies of the institution
-1-1or twelve months from the date originally scheduled for
2completion, unless a longer period is medically necessary.
34. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant
4or has recently given birth a period of up to twelve months to
5take a leave of absence unless there is a medically necessary
6reason for a longer leave of absence. Following the leave
7of absence, the student shall be allowed to return to the
8student’s program with the same standing as the student left to
9the degree reasonably possible.
105. a. The attorney general shall maintain a system to
11receive and investigate complaints from students alleging a
12violation of this section.
13b. The attorney general shall forward complaints it
14has determined as founded to the United States department
15of education’s office for civil rights to allow for an
16investigation into the institution’s compliance with the
17federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C.
18§1681 et seq.
196. An institution shall do all of the following:
20a. Maintain a written policy for students on pregnancy
21discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy
22discrimination complaints under this section and the federal
23Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et
24seq. The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to
25institution faculty, staff, and employees in required training.
26The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to all
27students attending orientation at the institution.
28b. Prominently post notice of the protections afforded to
29pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
30under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
31U.S.C. §1681 et seq., on the institution’s internet site.
32c. Provide information concerning the protections afforded
33to pregnant students and students who have recently given birth
34under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
35U.S.C. §1681 et seq., through the institution’s medical center
-2-1and student health center to a student upon the student’s
2request and when otherwise appropriate.
3d. Assign responsibility for pregnancy and parenting support
4and protection to a staff member of the institution. The
5institution shall post the responsible staff member’s name,
6title, and contact information on the institution’s internet
7site. Responsibilities assigned to a staff member pursuant to
8this paragraph shall include but not be limited to:
9(1) Maintaining current knowledge of the provisions of this
10section.
11(2) Overseeing institution compliance with this section.
12(3) Understanding and publicizing topics related to
13pregnancy and parenting, including but not limited to child
14care availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy
15and parenting assistance from public and private providers, in
16order to enhance campus life and academic performance.
17EXPLANATION
18The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
19the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
20This bill relates to students who are pregnant or who
21recently gave birth who attend state institutions of higher
22education governed by the board of regents.
23The bill defines the term “institution” as an institution of
24higher education governed by the state board of regents or a
25community college. “Institution” also includes the faculty,
26staff, and other employees of such institution of higher
27education or community college.
28The bill defines “reasonable accommodations” as including
29but not being limited to taking additional health and safety
30measures; allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment
31due dates that are missed for reasons related to the student’s
32pregnancy; allowing a student to take a leave of absence; and
33excusing absences for reasons deemed medically necessary due
34to the pregnancy.
35The bill prohibits an institution from requiring a student
-3-1enrolled in a course of study or research activity to take
2a leave of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the
3student’s participation in academic activities solely due to
4pregnancy.
5The bill requires an institution to make reasonable
6accommodations to a pregnant student to allow the student to
7complete a course of study or research.
8The bill requires an institution to allow a student who is
9pregnant or has recently given birth an additional amount of
10time to take examinations, complete a degree, or complete a
11candidacy for a degree up to the longer of a period consistent
12with the policies of the institution or 12 months from the date
13originally scheduled for examination or completion, unless a
14longer period is medically necessary.
15The bill requires an institution to allow a student who
16is pregnant or has recently given birth a period of up to 12
17months to take a leave of absence unless there is a medically
18necessary reason for a longer leave of absence. Following the
19leave of absence, the student shall be allowed to return to
20the student’s program with the same standing and manner as the
21student left to the degree reasonably possible.
22The bill requires the state attorney general to maintain
23a system to receive and investigate complaints from students
24alleging a violation relating to pregnancy and recent birth
25accommodations.
26The bill requires the attorney general to forward complaints
27it has determined as founded to the United States department
28of education’s office for civil rights to allow for an
29investigation into the institution’s compliance with the
30federal Higher Education Act of 1965.
31The bill requires an institution to maintain a written
32policy for students on pregnancy discrimination and procedures
33for addressing pregnancy discrimination complaints under this
34Code section and the federal Higher Education Act of 1965. The
35institution must provide a copy of the policy to institution
-4-1faculty, staff, and employees in required training and to all
2students attending orientation at the institution.
3The bill requires an institution to prominently post
4notice of the protections afforded to pregnant students and
5students who have recently given birth under the federal Higher
6Education Act of 1965 on the institution’s internet site.
7The bill requires an institution to provide information
8concerning the protections afforded to pregnant students and
9students who have recently given birth under the federal
10Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et
11seq., through the institution’s medical center and student
12health center to a student upon the student’s request and when
13otherwise appropriate.
14The bill requires an institution to assign responsibility
15for pregnancy and parenting support and protection to a staff
16member of the institution. The institution must post the
17responsible person’s name, title, and contact information
18on the institution’s internet site. The responsibilities
19assigned to the staff member include but are not limited to
20maintaining current knowledge of Code provisions relating to
21accommodations afforded to pregnant students and students
22who recently gave birth; overseeing institution compliance
23with Code provisions relating to accommodations afforded to
24pregnant students and students who recently gave birth; and
25understanding and publicizing topics related to pregnancy
26and parenting, including but not limited to child care
27availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy and
28parenting assistance from public and private providers, in
29order to enhance campus life and academic performance.
-5-dg/jh