Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HSB651

Introduced
2/5/24  
Introduced
2/5/24  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to health examinations, surveys, and screenings conducted by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.(See HF 2393.)

Impact

The implications of HSB651 on state law are significant as it modifies existing regulations related to how schools manage health screenings. By broadening the exemptions to include dental assessments, the bill ensures that these screenings can be conducted seamlessly within educational settings. Proponents may argue that this promotes better health outcomes for students since it facilitates necessary dental care without the bureaucratic hurdles of obtaining consent. However, the allowance for such assessments raises considerations about student privacy and parental rights, particularly in matters of health-related decision-making.

Summary

House Study Bill 651 seeks to amend regulations regarding health examinations, surveys, and screenings conducted in educational settings including school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in Iowa. The bill stipulates that currently existing prohibitions against conducting invasive physical examinations without parental consent be updated to explicitly include dental examinations alongside the existing exemptions for hearing and vision tests. The core intent of the amendment is to clarify and expand the types of health assessments that schools can perform without needing to secure written consent from parents or guardians.

Contention

During discussions surrounding HSB651, some points of contention may arise from concerns over parental authority and student autonomy in health-related decisions. Critics of the bill could argue that broadening the scope of exemptions undermines the necessity for parental consent and awareness regarding their children's health matters. Finally, the potential implications for how schools monitor and report health assessments could spark debates regarding transparency in school health practices.

Companion Bills

IA HF2393

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to health examinations, surveys, and screenings conducted by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. (Formerly HSB 651.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

Previously Filed As

IA HF2393

A bill for an act relating to health examinations, surveys, and screenings conducted by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. (Formerly HSB 651.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA SF2049

A bill for an act relating to trainings, examinations, surveys, and screenings provided by governmental agencies and entities, school districts, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and public postsecondary educational institutions, including racism or sexism trainings, diversity and inclusion efforts, physical examinations, student health screenings, and surveys administered to students or related to students, and including civil penalties.

IA SF2223

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

IA SF113

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including by modifying provisions related to a parent's or guardian's rights to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, the educational program and human growth and development curriculum provided to students enrolled in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, student health screenings, school district library programs, special education, and other duties of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools.

IA SF2138

A bill for an act relating to the administration of social, academic, and emotional behavior risk screener tools by school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.

IA SF496

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, authorizing the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school district to enroll the student in another attendance center within the same school district in certain specified circumstances, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in kindergarten through grade six, and modifying provisions related to student health screenings, school district library programs, the educational program provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, the department of education, the board of educational examiners, and the governing boards of charter schools and innovation zone schools, competent private instruction, and special education, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 1145.) Effective date: 05/26/2023, 07/01/2023.

IA SF159

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying the responsibilities of the state board of education and school districts, prohibiting instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation in school districts and charter schools in kindergarten through grade eight, modifying provisions associated with the human growth and development instruction and health screenings provided in school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and providing civil penalties.

IA SSB1145

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.(See SF 496.)

IA HSB222

A bill for an act relating to children and students, including establishing a parent's or guardian's right to make decisions affecting the parent's or guardian's child, modifying provisions related to student health screenings and the curriculum in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools, other duties of school districts, competent private instruction, and special education, making appropriations, and providing civil penalties.

IA HSB217

A bill for an act requiring school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies related to carrying out a reduction in force.(See HF 859.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.