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House
File
2487
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
2487
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
HIGHER
EDUCATION
(SUCCESSOR
TO
HSB
542)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
concerning
restrictions
on
certain
activities
relating
1
to
diversity,
equity,
inclusion,
and
critical
race
theory
by
2
state
entities
and
public
institutions
of
higher
education.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
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5247HV
(2)
91
je/ns
H.F.
2487
Section
1.
Section
19.3,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
1
to
read
as
follows:
2
1.
a.
Any
person
may
notify
the
attorney
general
of
a
state
3
entity’s
potential
violation
of
section
19.2
.
The
attorney
4
general
may
bring
an
action
against
a
state
entity
for
a
writ
5
of
mandamus
to
compel
the
state
entity
to
comply
with
section
6
19.2
.
7
b.
The
attorney
general
may
conduct
an
inquiry
or
8
investigation
regarding
a
violation
of
this
chapter.
As
part
9
of
that
inquiry
or
investigation,
and
in
accordance
with
the
10
Iowa
rules
of
civil
procedure,
the
attorney
general
may
issue
11
a
subpoena
for
the
production
of
records,
including
but
not
12
limited
to
books,
accounts,
papers,
correspondence,
memoranda,
13
files,
or
other
documents
in
a
print
or
electronic
format.
If
14
a
person
refuses
compliance,
the
attorney
general
may
seek
15
enforcement
by
the
district
court.
16
c.
Notwithstanding
section
13.7,
the
attorney
general
may
17
contract
with
special
counsel
to
assist
in
either
or
both
the
18
investigation
and
legal
action
against
a
state
entity
for
an
19
alleged
violation
of
this
chapter.
The
state
entity
shall
20
reimburse
the
attorney
general
for
the
costs,
expenses,
and
21
fees
incurred
by
special
counsel.
22
Sec.
2.
Section
261J.5,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
23
follows:
24
261J.5
Enforcement.
25
1.
Any
person
may
notify
the
attorney
general
of
a
public
26
institution
of
higher
education’s
potential
violation
of
27
section
261J.2
.
The
attorney
general
may
bring
an
action
28
against
a
public
institution
of
higher
education
for
a
writ
of
29
mandamus
to
compel
the
public
institution
of
higher
education
30
to
comply
with
section
261J.2
.
31
2.
The
attorney
general
may
conduct
an
inquiry
or
32
investigation
regarding
a
violation
of
this
chapter.
As
part
33
of
that
inquiry
or
investigation,
and
in
accordance
with
the
34
Iowa
rules
of
civil
procedure,
the
attorney
general
may
issue
35
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1/
3
H.F.
2487
a
subpoena
for
the
production
of
records,
including
but
not
1
limited
to
books,
accounts,
papers,
correspondence,
memoranda,
2
files,
or
other
documents
in
a
print
or
electronic
format.
If
3
a
person
refuses
compliance,
the
attorney
general
may
seek
4
enforcement
by
the
district
court.
5
3.
Notwithstanding
section
13.7,
the
attorney
general
may
6
contract
with
special
counsel
to
assist
in
either
or
both
the
7
investigation
and
legal
action
against
a
public
institution
8
of
higher
education
for
an
alleged
violation
of
this
chapter.
9
The
public
institution
of
higher
education
shall
reimburse
the
10
attorney
general
for
the
costs,
expenses,
and
fees
incurred
by
11
special
counsel.
12
Sec.
3.
REVIEW
OF
UNDERGRADUATE
GENERAL
EDUCATION
13
REQUIREMENTS
AND
CORE
CURRICULA.
By
the
semester
beginning
14
fall
2028,
the
state
board
of
regents
shall
conduct
a
review
15
of
all
undergraduate
general
education
requirements
and
16
core
curricula
at
institutions
of
higher
education
governed
17
by
the
board.
For
the
review,
the
board
shall
direct
the
18
institutions
to
review
and
identify
any
required
courses
or
19
course
requirements
that
include
diversity,
equity,
inclusion,
20
and
critical
race
theory-related
content.
The
board
in
its
21
discretion
shall
direct
an
institution
to
eliminate
such
a
22
course
or
course
requirement.
23
Sec.
4.
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
POLICIES
——
DATE.
The
board
of
24
regents
shall
establish
all
policies
required
by
this
Act
no
25
later
than
December
31,
2026.
26
EXPLANATION
27
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
28
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
29
This
bill
concerns
restrictions
on
certain
activities
30
relating
to
diversity,
equity,
inclusion,
and
critical
race
31
theory
by
state
entities
and
public
institutions
of
higher
32
education.
33
The
bill
authorizes
the
attorney
general
to
conduct
an
34
inquiry
or
investigation
regarding
a
violation
of
current
law
35
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3
H.F.
2487
prohibiting
regents
institutions,
community
colleges,
and
state
1
entities,
defined
under
current
law
to
include
local
government
2
entities,
from
engaging
in
certain
practices
regarding
3
diversity,
equity,
and
inclusion.
The
attorney
general
is
4
authorized
to
issue
subpoenas,
seek
enforcement
in
district
5
court,
and
contract
with
special
counsel.
The
bill
requires
6
reimbursement
of
the
attorney
general
by
the
institution,
7
community
college,
or
state
entity
for
the
costs,
expenses,
and
8
fees
incurred
by
special
counsel.
9
The
bill
requires
the
state
board
of
regents,
by
the
semester
10
beginning
fall
2028,
to
conduct
a
review
of
all
undergraduate
11
general
education
requirements
and
core
curricula
at
regents
12
institutions.
For
the
review,
the
board
shall
direct
the
13
institutions
to
review
and
identify
any
required
courses
or
14
course
requirements
that
include
diversity,
equity,
inclusion,
15
and
critical
race
theory-related
content.
The
board
in
its
16
discretion
shall
direct
an
institution
to
eliminate
such
a
17
course
or
course
requirement.
The
bill
requires
the
board
18
to
establish
all
policies
required
by
the
bill
no
later
than
19
December
31,
2026.
20
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3