Senate File 288 - Reprinted SENATE FILE 288 BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 12) (As Amended and Passed by the Senate March 19, 2025 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to students who are pregnant or who recently 1 gave birth who attend state institutions of higher education 2 governed by the board of regents and community colleges. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 SF 288 (4) 91 je/jh/mb
S.F. 288 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 261K.1 Student parents at 1 institutions. 2 1. For the purposes of this section: 3 a. Institution means an institution of higher education 4 governed by the state board of regents or a community college 5 established under chapter 260C. Institution also includes 6 the faculty, staff, and other employees of such institution of 7 higher education or community college established under chapter 8 260C. 9 b. Reasonable accommodations includes but is not limited 10 to all of the following: 11 (1) Taking additional health and safety measures. 12 (2) Allowing a student to reschedule tests and assignment 13 due dates that are missed for reasons related to the students 14 pregnancy. 15 (3) Allowing a student to take a leave of absence. 16 (4) Excusing absences for reasons deemed medically 17 necessary due to the pregnancy. 18 2. An institution shall not require a student enrolled 19 in a course of study or research activity to take a leave 20 of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the students 21 participation in academic activities solely due to pregnancy. 22 An institution shall make reasonable accommodations to a 23 pregnant student to allow the student to complete a course of 24 study or research. 25 3. a. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant 26 or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to 27 take examinations up to the longer of a period consistent with 28 the policies of the institution or twelve months from the 29 originally scheduled examination date, unless a longer period 30 is medically necessary. 31 b. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant 32 or has recently given birth an additional amount of time to 33 complete a degree or candidacy for a degree up to the longer 34 of a period consistent with the policies of the institution 35 -1- SF 288 (4) 91 je/jh/mb 1/ 3
S.F. 288 or twelve months from the date originally scheduled for 1 completion, unless a longer period is medically necessary. 2 4. An institution shall allow a student who is pregnant or 3 has recently given birth a period of up to twelve months to 4 take a leave of absence unless there is a medically necessary 5 reason for a longer leave of absence. Following the leave 6 of absence, the student shall be allowed to return to the 7 students program with the same standing as the student left to 8 the degree reasonably possible. 9 5. The institution employee charged with coordination 10 of the institutions compliance with Title IX of the federal 11 Education Amendments Act of 1972 shall maintain a system to 12 receive and investigate complaints from students alleging a 13 violation of this section. 14 6. An institution shall do all of the following: 15 a. Maintain a written policy for students on pregnancy 16 discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy 17 discrimination complaints under this section and the federal 18 Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et 19 seq. The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to 20 institution faculty, staff, and employees in required training. 21 The institution shall provide a copy of the policy to all 22 students attending orientation at the institution. 23 b. Prominently post notice of the protections afforded to 24 pregnant students and students who have recently given birth 25 under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 26 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., on the institutions internet site. 27 c. Provide information concerning the protections afforded 28 to pregnant students and students who have recently given birth 29 under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 30 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., through the institutions medical center 31 and student health center to a student upon the students 32 request and when otherwise appropriate. 33 d. Assign responsibility for pregnancy and parenting support 34 and protection to an office of the institution other than 35 -2- SF 288 (4) 91 je/jh/mb 2/ 3
S.F. 288 the office responsible for coordination of the institutions 1 compliance with Title IX of the federal Education Amendments 2 Act of 1972. The institution shall post the name, location, 3 and contact information of the responsible office on the 4 institutions internet site. Responsibilities assigned to the 5 office pursuant to this paragraph shall include but not be 6 limited to: 7 (1) Maintaining current knowledge of the provisions of this 8 section. 9 (2) Overseeing institution compliance with this section. 10 (3) Understanding and publicizing topics related to 11 pregnancy and parenting, including but not limited to child 12 care availability, breastfeeding accommodations, and pregnancy 13 and parenting assistance from public and private providers, in 14 order to enhance campus life and academic performance. 15 7. This section does not apply to a student with respect to 16 the students employment by an institution. 17 -3- SF 288 (4) 91 je/jh/mb 3/ 3