Iowa Senate Bill SF517

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/5/25
• Refer: 6/16/25

Caption

A bill for an act relating to child abuse and employees and agents of public schools and nonpublic schools.(Formerly SF 221.)

Impact

The bill is expected to have significant implications for state laws concerning child safety and employee conduct within educational environments. It requires schools to adopt clear procedures for reporting child abuse, develop guidelines in consultation with the Department of Education, and ensure that employees under investigation for abuse are placed on administrative leave during assessments. Moreover, if a finding by HHS establishes that an employee committed founded child abuse, the bill necessitates the termination of that employee's contract with the school. This creates a stringent accountability framework aimed at protecting children while simultaneously requiring schools to act decisively when allegations arise.

Summary

Senate File 517 (SF517) addresses the procedures and requirements for reporting and handling child abuse allegations involving employees and agents of both public and nonpublic schools in Iowa. The bill expands the existing definition of individuals responsible for child care to include employees and agents of schools, which places a greater emphasis on the accountability of staff in these educational institutions. Specifically, it mandates that allegations of child abuse must be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and, if present, also to law enforcement when the allegations pertain to criminal acts that harm a child. This establishes a formal protocol for addressing such serious concerns in educational settings.

Contention

While proponents of SF517 argue that it strengthens child protection measures and clarifies responsibilities for school employees, there are potential concerns regarding the implications for educator privacy and due process. Critics may question whether the mandatory reporting and the swift imposition of administrative leave might compromise the rights of employees who are wrongfully accused. Furthermore, the bill’s requirements regarding data access by licensing boards and the revocation of licenses for individuals on the abuse registry add an additional layer of contention, raising debates about the balance between child safety and fair treatment of educators.