House File 2309 will receive a 7:30 a.m. subcommittee in the Iowa House on Thursday morning. The bill relates to student eligibility requirements in school district and accredited non public school athletics.
An inter scholastic athletic team, sport or athletic event sponsored or sanctioned by an accredited non public school, school district, or athletic organization must be designated as females, women or girls; males, men or boys; or coeducational or mixed based on the sex at birth of the participating students.
Only female students, based on their sex, may participate in any team, sport or athletic event designated as being for females, women or girls. Sex is defined as a person’s biological sex — either female or male — and provides the sex listed on the student’s birth certificate or certificate issued upon adoption may be relied upon if the certificate was issued at or near the time of the student’s birth.
Protections of Code Chapter 670 (tort liability of governmental subdivisions) wil not apply to a district employee or district not complying with the requirements of the bill.
Students who suffer direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of the bill’s requirements will have a private cause of action for injunctive, mandamus, damages and declaratory relief against the school district, accredited nonpublic school or high school athletic organization.
Students subjected to retaliation or other adverse action as a result of reporting a violation of the bill will also have private cause of action for injunctive, mandamus, damages and declaratory relief against the accredited nonpublic school, school district or organization.
The Attorney General is required to provide legal representation at no cost to an accredited nonpublic school, school district or employee, board of directors member, or a member of the authorities in charge of a nonpublic school for any lawsuit brought or any complaint filed against the entity as a result of complying with the bill.
