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House File 367 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1prohibiting school districts and charter schools from
2taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors,
3or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to
4use personal pronouns in official communications.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2023, is
2amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0j. Be subject to and comply with the
4requirements of section 279.77 relating to the prohibition on
5disciplinary action for the use of legal names and for the
6failure to use personal pronouns in official communications in
7the same manner as a school district.
8 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 279.77 Prohibition on disciplinary
9action — use of legal names — failure to use personal pronouns.
101. The board of directors of each school district shall
11not take any disciplinary action against an employee of the
12school district, a contractor hired by the school district,
13or a student enrolled in the school district for addressing
14other employees, contractors, or students using the employee’s,
15contractor’s, or student’s legal name.
162. The board of directors of each school district shall not
17take any disciplinary action against an employee of the school
18district, a contractor hired by the school district, or a
19student enrolled in the school district for failing to disclose
20or use any personal pronouns in the greeting or signature block
21of any form of official communication, including letters,
22forms, notes, or electronic mail.
233. For purposes of this section, “disciplinary action”
24includes termination of employment, suspension from employment,
25demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school,
26detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal
27reprimands.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31This bill prohibits school districts and charter schools
32from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors,
33or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use
34personal pronouns in official communications.
35The bill prohibits the board of directors of school
-1-1districts and the governing boards of charter schools from
2taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor,
3or student for addressing other employees, contractors, or
4students using the employee’s, contractor’s, or student’s legal
5name.
6The bill prohibits the board of directors of school
7districts and the governing boards of charter schools from
8taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor,
9or student for failing to disclose or use any personal pronouns
10in the greeting or signature block of any form of official
11communication.
12The bill defines “disciplinary action” to include
13termination of employment, suspension from employment,
14demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school,
15detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal
16reprimands.
-2-jda/jh
2taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors,
3or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to
4use personal pronouns in official communications.
5BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2023, is
2amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 NEW PARAGRAPH. 0j. Be subject to and comply with the
4requirements of section 279.77 relating to the prohibition on
5disciplinary action for the use of legal names and for the
6failure to use personal pronouns in official communications in
7the same manner as a school district.
8 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 279.77 Prohibition on disciplinary
9action — use of legal names — failure to use personal pronouns.
101. The board of directors of each school district shall
11not take any disciplinary action against an employee of the
12school district, a contractor hired by the school district,
13or a student enrolled in the school district for addressing
14other employees, contractors, or students using the employee’s,
15contractor’s, or student’s legal name.
162. The board of directors of each school district shall not
17take any disciplinary action against an employee of the school
18district, a contractor hired by the school district, or a
19student enrolled in the school district for failing to disclose
20or use any personal pronouns in the greeting or signature block
21of any form of official communication, including letters,
22forms, notes, or electronic mail.
233. For purposes of this section, “disciplinary action”
24includes termination of employment, suspension from employment,
25demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school,
26detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal
27reprimands.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31This bill prohibits school districts and charter schools
32from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors,
33or students for the use of legal names or for the failure to use
34personal pronouns in official communications.
35The bill prohibits the board of directors of school
-1-1districts and the governing boards of charter schools from
2taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor,
3or student for addressing other employees, contractors, or
4students using the employee’s, contractor’s, or student’s legal
5name.
6The bill prohibits the board of directors of school
7districts and the governing boards of charter schools from
8taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor,
9or student for failing to disclose or use any personal pronouns
10in the greeting or signature block of any form of official
11communication.
12The bill defines “disciplinary action” to include
13termination of employment, suspension from employment,
14demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school,
15detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal
16reprimands.
-2-jda/jh