Relating to vaccination exemptions for certain students in clinical rotations and the qualification of postsecondary schools as eligible institutions for Iowa tuition grants, and providing civil penalties

This bill relates to vaccination exemptions for certain students in clinical rotations and the qualification for postsecondary schools as eligible institutions for Iowa tuition grants. The bill defines “clinical rotation” (rotation) as a period of training completed for academic credit by a student in a medical, nursing, or other health care-related degree that is supervised by a health care professional in a facility. The bill also defines “postsecondary school” and “facility”. The bill requires a postsecondary school offering a degree program requiring a rotation to, upon request of a student enrolled in the degree program, identify a rotation placement where the student will be exempt from any vaccination requirements imposed by the placement during the duration of the rotation. Under the bill, a postsecondary school that fails to comply does not qualify as an eligible institution for purposes of Iowa tuition grants.183. The bill provides for student reporting of violations under the bill, and a postsecondary school must respond to the reported violation by taking corrective action or providing specific documentation to the attorney general. If an accredited private institution, as defined in the bill, violates the requirements of the bill or fails to respond to a reported violation before September 30, the school will not qualify as an eligible institution for Iowa tuition grants and the attorney general is required to notify the college student aid commission of the school’s qualification status. A postsecondary school that violates the requirements of the bill or fails to respond to a reported violation before September is also subject to a civil penalty of $5,000. A civil penalty is collected by the attorney general and deposited into the state general fund.