Bill > SF579

This bill modifies existing Iowa law concerning local civil rights protections, aiming to standardize and clarify the relationship between local civil rights commissions and the state's Iowa office of civil rights. Key provisions include prohibiting cities and local governments from enacting ordinances or laws that are broader or include different categories of discriminatory practices than those already established by the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, ensuring a uniform baseline for civil rights protections across the state. The bill also changes the requirement for cities to maintain local civil rights agencies or commissions from mandatory for those with a population of twenty-nine thousand or greater to optional, allowing any city to establish one. Furthermore, it introduces new procedures for handling complaints, stipulating that complaints involving a political subdivision must be sent to the Iowa office of civil rights, and any local complaint that remains unresolved after twelve months can be transferred to the state office upon request by a party, with local agencies required to notify parties of this right and cross-file with the state office if the complaint involves a violation of state law. The bill also sets a two-year term for commissioners appointed to local agencies and requires local agencies to inform individuals filing complaints that they can also file directly with the Iowa office of civil rights. Finally, it addresses complaints already pending for over twelve months by requiring local agencies to notify parties of their right to transfer to the state office and to inform the state office of these pending cases.

Government Affairs

Local Government (Senate)

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF579