Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF804

Introduced
3/5/25  

Caption

A bill for an act requiring schools to perform criminal history checks prior to engaging any person to construct a new attendance center or to perform certain specified renovations or remodeling work.

Impact

The bill is significant as it formalizes a requirement for schools, including public and accredited nonpublic institutions, to conduct thorough background checks for construction personnel. This regulation may lead to increased accountability and safety standards in school environments, ensuring that individuals with abusive backgrounds are barred from participating in any school construction activities. The requirement for documentation of compliance further bolsters this aim by creating a clear audit trail for schools.

Summary

House File 804 requires schools in Iowa to conduct criminal history checks before engaging contractors for construction work on new attendance centers and specific renovations. The bill mandates that school boards have access to and must review sex offender registries and related child and adult abuse registries to assess potential workers involved in construction projects. This policy aims to enhance safety within school facilities, particularly during periods when students are present on-site.

Contention

Notably, while proponents of HF804 assert that such measures are necessary for protecting students, there could be potential concerns about the financial implications for schools regarding the costs of performing these background checks. Additionally, discussions surrounding the feasibility and thoroughness of the checks and how they may affect the availability of qualified contractors could arise. Another point of contention involves the balance between necessary safety precautions and the operational impact on school construction projects, particularly in regions where contractor availability is already limited.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA HF355

A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(Formerly HF 224; See HF 672.)

IA HF224

A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.(See HF 355, HF 672.)

IA HF672

A bill for an act relating to certain specified employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, including renewal requirements associated with licenses issued by the board of educational examiners to practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees, fees associated with the review of certain specified records, and background checks for employees of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools. (Formerly HF 355, HF 224.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.

IA HF535

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa school performance profiles published by the department of education, including how dropout students affect school performance grades contained in the profiles.

IA HF370

A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school districts, the department of education, the department of health and human services, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges, institutions under the control of the state board of regents, area education agencies, and election commissioners, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards. (Formerly HSB 118.)

IA HF2547

A bill for an act relating to education, including by requiring school engagement meetings and attendance cooperation proceedings when children are absent from school, requiring school districts to restrict student use of cellular phones and smartphones, modifying provisions related to open enrollment of truant students, and modifying penalties. (Formerly HF 2254.)

IA HF2496

A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the responsibilities of nonpublic schools.

IA SF2176

A bill for an act relating to obscenity, including the exposure of a minor to an obscene performance and admittance of a minor to a premises with obscene performances, establishing a private civil cause of action, and providing penalties.

IA SF390

A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school districts, the department of education, the department of health and human services, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges, institutions under the control of the state board of regents, area education agencies, election commissioners and children's residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards.(Formerly SSB 1111.)

IA SSB1111

A bill for an act relating to entities supported in whole or in part by public moneys, including the sale of public bonds, the duties and responsibilities of the directors and officers of school boards, school districts, the department of education, the department of health and human services, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, community colleges, institutions under the control of the state board of regents, area education agencies, election commissioners and children's residential facilities, and the membership and voting units of county and city conference boards.(See SF 390.)

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