Title VI, HUMAN SERVICES (Ch. 216 - 255A)

For purposes of this subchapter , unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Community action agency” means a public agency or a private nonprofit agency which is authorized under its charter or bylaws to receive funds to administer community action programs and is designated by …

1. The department shall strengthen, supplement, and coordinate efforts to develop the full potential of each citizen by recognizing certain community action agencies and supporting certain community-based programs delivered by community action agencies. 2. The department shall do…

The department shall recognize and assist in the designation of certain community action agencies to assist in the delivery of community action programs. These programs shall include but not be limited to outreach, community services block grant, low-income energy assistance, and…

1. A recognized community action agency shall be governed by a board of directors composed of at least nine members. The board membership shall be as follows: a. One-third of the members of the board shall be elected public officials currently holding office or their representati…

1. The governing board or advisory board shall fully participate in the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs to serve low-income communities. 2. The governing board may: a. Own, purchase, and dispose of property necessary for the operation of the comm…

A community action agency shall: 1. Plan and implement strategies to alleviate the conditions of poverty and encourage self-sufficiency for citizens in its service area and in Iowa. In doing so, an agency shall plan for a community action program by establishing priorities among …

A community action agency may administer the components of a community action program when the program is consistent with plans and purposes and applicable law. The community action programs may be projects which are eligible for assistance from any source. The programs shall be …

Each community action agency shall be audited annually but shall not be required to obtain a duplicate audit to meet the requirements of this section . In lieu of an audit by the auditor of state, the community action agency may contract with or employ a certified public accounta…

1. The department shall provide financial assistance for community action agencies to implement community action programs, as permitted by the community service block grant, administer the low-income energy assistance block grants, department of energy funds for weatherization re…

For purposes of this chapter , unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Commission” means the commission for the blind. 2. “Department” means the department for the blind. 3. “Director” means the director of the department for the blind. 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1256 C87, §601K.121 8…

1. The commission for the blind is established consisting of three members appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. Members of the commission shall serve three-year terms beginning and ending as provided in section 69.19 . A majority of the members of the…

The commission shall: 1. Prepare and maintain a complete register of the blind of the state which shall describe the condition, cause of blindness, ability to receive education and industrial training, and other facts the commission deems of value. 2. Assist in marketing of produ…

1. The director of the department shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The governor shall set the salary of the director within the applicable salary range established by section 8A.461 . 2. Th…

1. The director may accept financial aid from the government of the United States for carrying out rehabilitation and physical restoration of the blind and for providing library, news, and information services to persons who are blind and persons with disabilities. 2. A contribut…

The commission may employ staff who shall be qualified by experience to assume the responsibilities of the offices. 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1259 C87, §601K.125 88 Acts, ch 1277, §31 C89, §601L.5 C93, §216B.5 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2473, 2475

The commission shall have all powers necessary to carry out the functions and duties specified in this chapter , including, but not limited to the power to establish advisory committees on special studies, to solicit and accept gifts and grants, to adopt rules according to chapte…

The commission shall make a detailed report of its activities, studies, conclusions and recommendations to the general assembly not later than February 15 of each odd-numbered year. 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1261 C87, §601K.127 88 Acts, ch 1277, §31 C89, §601L.7 C93, §216B.7

A bidder awarded a contract with the department shall disclose the names of all subcontractors, who will work on the project being bid, within forty-eight hours after the award of the contract. If a subcontractor named by a bidder awarded a contract is replaced, or if the cost of…

1. It is the policy of this state to encourage and enable persons who are blind or partially blind and persons with disabilities to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state and to engage in remunerative employment. 2. To encourage participation by persons wi…

1. A deaf or hard-of-hearing person has the right to be accompanied by a hearing dog, under control and especially trained to assist the deaf or hard-of-hearing by responding to sound, in any place listed in sections 216C.3 and 216C.4 without being required to make additional pay…

1. A person with a disability, a person assisting a person with a disability by controlling a service animal or a service-animal-in-training, or a person training a service animal has the right to be accompanied by a service animal or service-animal-in-training, under control, in…

1. For purposes of this section , unless the context otherwise requires: a. “Owner” means the owner of real property, a contract for deed vendee, receiver, personal representative, trustee, lessor, lessee, agent, or other person directly or indirectly in control of the real prope…

For purposes of this chapter , unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Disability” means the physical or mental condition of a person which constitutes a substantial disability, and the condition of a person with a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result, a diagnosis…

Persons who are blind or partially blind and persons with disabilities shall be employed in the state service, the service of the political subdivisions of the state, the public schools, and all other employment supported in whole or in part by public funds, on the same terms and…

Persons who are blind or partially blind and persons with disabilities have the same right as other persons to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public elevators, public facilities, and other public places. [C62, 66, §351.31; C…

Persons who are blind or partially blind and persons with disabilities are entitled to full and equal accommodations, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motorbuses, streetcars, boats, other public conveyances or modes of…

Every blind or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, under control and especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in sections 216C.3 and 216C.4 without being required to make additional payment for the guide dog. A land…

A blind or partially blind pedestrian not carrying a cane or using a guide dog in any place shall have all of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other persons, and the failure of a blind or partially blind pedestrian to carry a cane or to use a guide dog in any place…

Any person, firm, or corporation, or the agent of any person, firm, or corporation, who denies or interferes with the rights of any person under this chapter shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor. [C62, 66, §351.32; C71, §93B.7; C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §601D.7 ] C93, §216C.7

The governor shall annually take suitable public notice of October 15 as “White Cane Safety Day”. The governor shall issue a proclamation commenting upon the significance of the white cane; calling upon the citizens to observe the provisions of this chapter and sections 321.332 a…

1. If a street, road, or highway in this state is newly built or reconstructed, a curb ramp or sloped area shall be constructed or installed at each intersection of the street, road, or highway with a sidewalk or path. If a sidewalk or path in this state is newly built or reconst…

It is the policy of this state to provide maximum opportunities for training blind persons, helping them to become self-supporting and demonstrating their capabilities. This chapter shall be construed to carry out this policy. [C71, §93C.1; C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §601C.1 ] C93, §21…

For the purposes of this chapter : 1. “Food service” includes restaurant, cafeteria, snack bar, vending machines for food and beverages, and goods and services customarily offered in connection with any of these. 2. “Public office building” means the state capitol, all county cou…

A governmental agency which proposes to operate or continue a food service in a public office building shall first attempt in good faith to make an agreement for the commission for the blind to operate the food service without payment of rent. The governmental agency shall not of…

With respect to all state, county, municipal, and school buildings which are not subject to section 216D.3 , the governmental agency in charge of the building shall consider allowing the commission for the blind to operate any existing or proposed food service in the building, an…

As used in this chapter , unless the context otherwise provides: 1. “Assistive device” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system which is purchased, or whose transfer is accepted in this state, and which is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabil…

1. A manufacturer or assistive device lessor who sells or leases an assistive device to a consumer, either directly or through an assistive device dealer, shall furnish the consumer with an express warranty for the assistive device, warranting the assistive device to be free of a…

1. If an assistive device does not conform to an applicable express warranty and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the assistive device lessor, or any of the manufacturer’s authorized assistive device dealers, and makes the assistive device available for…

1. Whenever an assistive device covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty is tendered by a consumer to the dealer from whom the assistive device was purchased or exchanged for the repair of any defect, malfunction, or nonconformity to which the warranty is applicable, the manu…

An assistive device returned by a consumer or assistive device lessor in this state or any other state for nonconformity shall not be sold or leased again in this state unless full written disclosure of the reason for return is made to any prospective buyer or lessee by the manuf…

1. This chapter shall not limit rights or remedies available to a consumer under any other law. 2. Any waiver of rights by a consumer under this chapter is void. 3. In addition to pursuing any other remedy, a consumer may bring an action to recover any damages caused by a violati…

This chapter does not apply to a hearing aid sold, leased, or transferred to a consumer by an audiologist licensed under chapter 154F , or a hearing aid specialist licensed under chapter 154A , if the audiologist or specialist provides either an express warranty for the hearing a…

For purposes of this chapter , “antisemitism” means the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the international holocaust remembrance alliance on May 26, 2016, and includes the contemporary examples of antisemitism identified by the international holocaust remembrance all…

This chapter shall not be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the first amendment to the United States Constitution, or the Constitution of the State of Iowa. This chapter shall not be construed to conflict with local, federal, or state discrimination…

1. In reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any relevant policy, law, or regulation prohibiting discriminatory acts, the state shall take into consideration the definition of antisemitism set forth in this chapter for purposes of determining …

For the purposes of training of state personnel related to discrimination and anti-bias training, the definition of antisemitism shall be used as an educational tool to familiarize staff and officials with antisemitism. 2022 Acts, ch 1008, §4