Capitol Update - March 10, 2022

School Complaint Procedures (Teacher Misconduct) in House Ways and Means

HF 2505 School Complaint Procedures: this bill, previously approved by the House Education Committee on party lines, requires school districts to form a local committee to investigate teacher misconduct, creates civil penalties for administrators who do not report teacher misconduct, changes the BOEE make-up to include more public members and only four licensed members of whom only 1 can be an administrator, and sets some investigation expectations. The bill also requires school districts to check with BOEE if there are any complaints filed, including unfounded complaints, before hiring a teacher. The subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Hite, the Chair of the subcommittee and floor manager of the bill, stated his intention to remove the local committee and make other amendments, inviting stakeholders to reach out to him with suggestions. UEN is registered opposed to this bill.

Floor Debate and Committee Action this Week

HF 2495 Para-Educator Substitutes: this bill allows schools to use para-educators as substitutes, except for driver’s education, if the school makes a good-faith effort to find a qualified sub. Requires the district to seek a BOEE waiver. Requires the para-educator to be paid at the higher of the regular sub or para-educator rate. The bill is effective on enactment. Authorizes the BOEE to adopt rules. The House approved the bill 99-0 (3/2), the Senate approved it 47-0; sending it to the Governor. UEN is registered in support.

HF 2412 Radon Testing and Mitigation: this bill Requires school boards to conduct a short-term test (2 to 7-day test) for radon in school buildings at least once by July 2027 and at least once every five years afterwards, by certified testers or district employees trained by an approved course. Requires the results to be published. Requires a second test if the results are above 4 picocuries per liter and requires mitigation efforts by certified mitigation person if the results are still high with two years of testing. Does not require mitigation if the district intends to remodel or stop using the building. Requires new buildings to be built with radon-resistant construction. Requires DE and DPH to adopt rules. Allows use of SAVE for the costs of testing and mitigation. The House passed it 93-2, sending it to the Senate. A subcommittee on the Senate side met and recommended the bill move forward to the full Senate Education Committee. Subcommittee members expressed concern about the cost to school districts and are looking for some relief for high-cost mitigations. UEN is registered in support.

SF 2357 School Board Meetings: this bill requires school board members to cast a vote during meetings, either yea or nay on issues, except in cases of a personal conflict of interest. The Senate approved the bill, 48-0, sending it to the House. UEN is registered as undecided.

SF 2080 Student Health Screenings: this bill prohibits school districts from administering or conducting invasive physical health screenings not required by state or federal law without written parent permissions. The bill does not prohibit a health screening in an emergent care situation or from cooperating in a child abuse assessment. The Senate passed it 47:0, sending it to the House Education Committee. UEN is registered as undecided.

SF 2359 Cognitive Impact of Technology Work Group: this bill requires DE and DPH to convene a workgroup to study the impact of technology on cognitive function of students. The workgroup is required to submit findings by Dec. 31, 2022, and the report is required to include recommendations on best practices related to the use of technology in educational settings with a focus on ways to mitigate tech’s negative impact on social and behavioral development, attention span, and other cognitive functions. The Senate passed it 46:0, sending it to the House Education Committee. UEN is registered as undecided.

Subcommittee Action this Week

• HF 2505 School Complaint Procedures: local committee to investigate teacher misconduct (that will come out), civil penalties for administrators who do not report, change in BOEE make-up and some investigation expectations, etc. Subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Ways and Means Committee. UEN is registered opposed.
• SF 2322 Copying Records Costs: limits costs to copying costs if it takes less than 30 minutes to copy the records, requires fees to be reasonable, and limits legal fees for redacting information be limited to the redacting of confidential information. Subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Ways and Means Committee. UEN is registered as undecided.
• HF 2081 Teacher Assessment (Praxis): eliminates the praxis test requirement for either entry to a teacher prep program or to get a teaching license. Subcommittee approved 3:0 to move forward to the full Senate Education Committee. UEN is registered in support.
• SF 2356 Volunteer Substitute Teachers: Subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Education Committee. UEN is registered as undecided.
• SF 2362 Electronic Notice, E-Signatures and Health Trainings Work Group: Subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Education Committee. (Used to include a seizure disorder training mandate, but those provisions were removed.) UEN is now registered in support with the removal of the seizure disorder training mandate.
• HF 2412 Radon Testing and Mitigation: Requires testing and mitigation, allows SAVE to pay for both, exempts buildings if construction/renovation/building closer will happen in the next 5 years. Subcommittee approved 2:0 to move forward to the full House Education Committee. UEN is registered in support.
• HF 771 Bronchodilators: Allows students to self-administer with parent permission, allows (does not mandate) districts to stock and administer for an asthma or other breathing emergency and protects district employees who administer the bronchodilators from liability. Subcommittee approved to move forward to the full House Education Committee. UEN is registered as undecided since this is permissive language, however, we have concerns about potential litigation if a district does not provide for the storage and administration of bronchodilators.

Advocacy Actions This Week:

• Always start with a thank you! See the 2021 Legislative Session Successes on the UEN website and find one you are grateful for them accomplishing. Weigh in your support on the bills above that are moving that might benefit your districts. Tell your legislators and the Governor thank you for getting SSA decided at the beginning of Session so you can work on your budgets within the mandated timelines.
• Funding: now that SSA is done, advocate with the Senate to approve HF 2315, which provides $19.2 million in supplemental funding to help schools with inflationary costs. Explain that federal pandemic funds are (pick the one or two that apply to your district): 1) already exhausted, 2) obligated but waiting for labor/materials/other supply chain issues that have slowed HVAC construction or simply no applicants for instructional positions, 3) local district must have the funds to expend first, and then seek reimbursement, which can take time to properly document and obtain approval and for all districts, the federal pandemic funds are to be used through Sept. 2024, but then are gone. Adequate state funding would provide sustainability for many of the programs districts have been able to fund with the pandemic funds, but only for a limited time.

• Shore up Voucher Opposition: Circle back with all House legislators, but especially those on the House Appropriations Committee and reiterate key messages:
  • Taxpayer dollars should not support private, religious schools.
  • Public funds require public accountability and transparency.
  • Private and public schools do not have a level playing field. If privates are to receive public money, they must have the same regulations and requirements.
  • This is a slippery slope toward a costly an expansive voucher program.
  • Iowa already has many parent choice options and financial support for private schools, scholarships and tax credits to help parents making that choice.
  • The state has not been able to adequately fund one education system and should not commit to the hefty price tag of funding another.
     

House Appropriations Committee Members: Next stop for HSB 672 Voucher bill after the subcommittee meeting

The following links will take you to each committee member’s legislative page, with email address and often home or cell phone number so you can easily connect with them. Remember to be respectful and explain the impact these bills would have on your school and education for your students. Please be sensitive to using school email when contacting legislators who may prefer you use your personal email rather than school property for advocacy purposes.

• Gary M. Mohr (R, District 94), Chair
• Shannon Latham (R, District 54), Vice Chair
• Jo Oldson (D, District 41), Ranking Member
• Michael R. Bergan (R, District 55)
• Jacob Bossman (R, District 6)
• Holly Brink (R, District 80)
• Timi Brown-Powers (D, District 61)
• Dave Deyoe (R, District 49)
• Tracy Ehlert (D, District 70)
• John Forbes (D, District 40)
• Joel Fry (R, District 27)
• Chris Hall (D, District 13)
• Steven Holt (R, District 18)
• David Kerr (R, District 88)
• Ann Meyer (R, District 9)
• Brian Meyer (D, District 33)
• Norlin Mommsen (R, District 97)
• Todd Prichard (D, District 52)
• Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D, District 69)
• Ray Sorensen (R, District 20)
• Phyllis Thede (D, District 93)
• Phil Thompson (R, District 47)
• Dave Williams (D, District 60)
• John H. Wills (R, District 1)
• Gary Worthan (R, District 11)

To call and leave a message at the Statehouse, the House switchboard operator number is 515.281-3221. You can ask if they are available, leave a message for them to call you back, or just leave a short message such as “Oppose HSB 672 Governor’s School Choice Vouchers and Unfunded Mandate on Transparency.” (Legislators typically return to the Capitol by noon on Monday).

Connecting with Legislators: To call and leave a message for a Senator, call the Senate switchboard operator number is 515.281.3371. You can ask if they are available or leave a message for them to call you back. You can also ask them what’s the best way to contact them during session. They may prefer email or text message or phone call based on their personal preferences.

UEN Advocacy Resources: Check out the UEN Website at www.uen-ia.org to find Advocacy Resources such as Issue Briefs, UEN Weekly Legislative Reports and video updates, UEN Calls to Action when immediate advocacy action is required, testimony presented to the State Board of Education, the DE or any legislative committee or public hearing, and links to fiscal information that may inform your work. The latest legislative actions from the Statehouse will be posted at: www.uen-ia.org/blogs-list. See the 2022 UEN Advocacy Handbook, which is also available from the subscriber section of the UEN website.