During the last General Assembly, parents across Iowa contacted members of the legislature concerned about the privacy of their children at school. There were reports of biological males using female changing rooms, bathrooms, and at least one instance of female students being forced to share a hotel room with a biological male on a school trip. To my amazement, Iowa Democrats did not care to address the concerns of parents.
Iowa Republicans know that violating the privacy of these children places them in a position that no child should have to navigate. That’s why Senate File 482 was passed to address this issue and to ensure that children are not forced to share a space with a person of the opposite sex while they are using the restroom or changing clothes.
The law has been in effect for a year, it is simple and straightforward, requiring schools to designate bathrooms and changing rooms for either boys or girls. Girls are required to use a girl’s bathroom or changing room and boys are required to use a boy’s bathroom or changing room. If there is any conflict or confusion, the sex listed on the child’s birth certificate clarifies what facility the child shall use. These requirements also apply when there are extracurricular activities outside of the school building. This ensures girls and boys each have the privacy they should expect in a school.
If a child wants greater privacy than provided by law, their parents can send a letter to the school requesting a reasonable accommodation. This does not allow a boy to use a girl’s bathroom or vice versa but does allow the child access to a single occupancy restroom or changing area, or controlled use of faculty restrooms or changing areas.
There are exceptions to the bill for parents assisting a child who cannot use the restroom or changing room by themselves, janitorial and maintenance staff if the room is empty, allowing access to anyone providing emergency medical care, and in a disaster or emergency where it is necessary to protect students from a threat.
A person who believes the law has been violated has a clear course of action provided by this law. Potential violations should be addressed to the school first, after that a person can file a complaint with the Attorney General. The complaint must include a copy of the written notice provided to the school and a signed statement describing the violation. The Attorney General must investigate the claim and can pursue legal action if it is warranted.
This should not be complicated – boys go to the boys room, and girls go to the girls room. No one should play politics with the privacy of children.
- Representative Taylor Collins
Rep. Taylor Collins resides in Mediapolis and represents Iowa House District 95, encompassing all of Louisa, and large parts of Des Moines, Henry, and Muscatine Counties.
