Relating to unfair practices involving access to areas of public accommodations or educational institutions

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill amends the Iowa civil rights Act of 1965 contained in Code chapter 216.9 relate to unfair practices regarding access to public accommodations and educational institutions. Current law allows a bona fide religious institution to impose qualifications for access to such accommodations and educational institutions when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose. The bill removes the requirement that the qualifications be related to a bona fide religious purpose. The bill excludes an action to refuse or deny access to a toilet facility, locker room, living facility, or other area of a public accommodation designated for use by persons of one sex to a person of the other sex from the activities which constitute unfair or discriminatory practices by a public accommodation under Code chapter 216. The bill also provides that an educational institution is not required to allow access to toilet facilities, locker rooms, or living facilities designated for use by persons of one sex to a person of the other sex and provides that the civil rights commission may not pursue administrative or legal action against an educational institution that does not provide those rooms or facilities.