Iowa-2015-SF116-Introduced
Senate File 116 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY ZAUN
A BILL FOR
1 An Act authorizing a school district to adopt a mandatory
2 uniform policy.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 279.58, subsection 1, Code 2015, is
1 2 amended by striking the subsection.
1 3 Sec. 2. Section 279.58, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended
1 4 to read as follows:
1 5 2. The board of directors of a school district may adopt,
1 6 for the district or for an individual school within the
1 7 district, a mandatory uniform policy or a dress code policy
1 8 that prohibits students from wearing gang=related or other
1 9 specific apparel if the board determines that the such a policy
1 10 is necessary for the health, safety, or positive educational
1 11 environment of students and staff in the school environment or
1 12 for the appropriate discipline and operation of the school.
1 13 3. Adoption and enforcement of a mandatory uniform policy
1 14 or a dress code policy pursuant to this section is not a
1 15 violation of section 280.22 if the policy is viewpoint neutral,
1 16 is reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns, or
1 17 protects students from sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd
1 18 speech.
1 19 EXPLANATION
1 20 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
1 21 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
1 22 This bill authorizes a school district to adopt, for the
1 23 school district or for an individual school, a mandatory
1 24 uniform policy, in addition to the dress code policy currently
1 25 authorized by the Code, if the board determines that such
1 26 a policy is necessary for the health, safety, or positive
1 27 educational environment of students and staff in the school
1 28 environment or for the appropriate discipline and operation of
1 29 the school.
1 30 The bill provides that such policies are not a violation
1 31 of Code section 280.22, which establishes that public school
1 32 students have the right to exercise freedom of speech, if
1 33 the policy is viewpoint neutral, is reasonably related to
1 34 legitimate pedagogical concerns, or protects students from
1 35 sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd speech.
2 1 The bill eliminates the general assembly's findings and
2 2 declarations regarding a dress code policy.
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