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Bill > HF167
IA HF167
IA HF167A bill for an act relating to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students.(Formerly HSB 46.)
summary
Introduced
01/30/2025
01/30/2025
In Committee
05/15/2025
05/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to mandatory reporting to the board of educational examiners (BOEE) of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students. Current law requires the board of directors of a school district or area education agency, the superintendent of a school district, the chief administrator of an area education agency, and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school, to report to the BOEE any instance of disciplinary action taken against a licensed school employee for conduct constituting soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a sexual or physical relationship with a student, grooming behavior toward a student, or an otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student. For purposes of this provision, current law defines “grooming behavior” to mean any behavior, which in light of all relevant circumstances, constitutes actions to entice or entrap a student or students with the intent to make such student or students engage in a sex act. The bill modifies “grooming behavior” to mean the process of building trust and emotional connections with a student with the intent to exploit such student.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the legal definition of "grooming behavior" in Iowa Code Section 256.160 by replacing the existing language with a broader and more comprehensive description. The original definition focused narrowly on actions intended to entice or entrap a student into engaging in a sex act, whereas the new definition describes grooming behavior as the process of systematically building trust and emotional connections with a student for the purpose of potential exploitation. By expanding the definition, the bill aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of predatory behavior that could potentially precede sexual abuse, allowing for earlier identification and intervention by educational authorities. The change suggests a proactive approach to protecting students by recognizing grooming as a deliberate psychological process of manipulation rather than solely focusing on explicit sexual actions.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Education (House)
Last Action
Rereferred to Education. H.J. 1221. (on 05/15/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF167 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF167.html |
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