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

1. The provisions of sections 216.8 and 216.8A shall not apply to: a. Any bona fide religious institution with respect to any qualifications it may impose based on religion or sexual orientation when the qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose, unless the reli…

Sections 216.8 and 216.8A do not prohibit a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real estate from taking into consideration factors other than race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status in appraisin…

The provisions of this chapter relating to discrimination because of age do not apply to a retirement plan or benefit system of an employer unless the plan or system is a mere subterfuge adopted for the purpose of evading this chapter . 1. However, a retirement plan or benefit sy…

After a person with a disability is employed, the employer shall not be required under this chapter to promote or transfer the person to another job or occupation, unless, prior to the transfer, the person with the disability, by training or experience, is qualified for the job o…

1. Any person claiming to be aggrieved by a discriminatory or unfair practice may, in person or by an attorney, make, sign, and file with the agency a verified, written complaint, which shall state the name and address of the person, employer, employment agency, or labor organiza…

1. a. The agency may join a person not named in the complaint as an additional or substitute respondent if in the course of the investigation, the agency determines that the person should be alleged to have committed a discriminatory housing or real estate practice. b. In additio…

1. A mediator may be designated in writing by the agency to conduct formal mediation of a complaint filed under this chapter . The written designation must specifically refer to this section . 2. If formal mediation is conducted by a mediator pursuant to this section , the confid…

1. A person claiming to be aggrieved by an unfair or discriminatory practice must initially seek an administrative relief by filing a complaint with the agency in accordance with section 216.15 . This provision also applies to persons claiming to be aggrieved by an unfair or disc…

1. a. A complainant, a respondent, or an aggrieved person on whose behalf the complaint was filed may elect to have the charges asserted in the complaint decided in a civil action as provided by section 216.17A . b. The election must be made not later than twenty days after the d…

1. a. Judicial review of the actions of the agency or commission may be sought in accordance with the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A . Notwithstanding the terms of said Act, petition for judicial review may be filed in the district court in which an e…

1. a. If timely election is made under section 216.16A, subsection 1 , the agency shall authorize, and not later than thirty days after the election is made, the attorney general shall file a civil action on behalf of the aggrieved person in a district court seeking relief. b. Ve…

1. This chapter shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purposes. 2. This chapter shall not be construed to allow marriage between persons of the same sex, in accordance with chapter 595 . [C66, 71, §105A.11; C73, §601A.11; C75, 77, §601A.16; C79, 81, §601A.18 ] C93, §216.18…

Local laws implementing chapter . 1. All cities shall, to the extent possible, protect the rights of the citizens of this state secured by the Iowa civil rights Act. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as indicating any of the following: a. An intent on the part of the gen…

When used in this chapter , unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Agency” means the administrative function of the Iowa office of civil rights, including the director and staff. “Agency” does not include a member of the Iowa state civil rights commission. 2. “Commission” mea…

1. This chapter does not affect: a. A reasonable local or state restriction on the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling. b. Tenancy of an individual that would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or tenancy that would resu…

If a party is represented by an attorney during the proceedings of the agency or commission, with permission of the attorney for the party or of the party, the agency or commission shall provide copies of all relevant documents including an order or decision to either the attorne…

1. For purposes of this section , “franchisee” and “franchisor” mean the same as defined in section 523H.1 . 2. For purposes of this chapter , a franchisor shall not be considered to be an employer of a franchisee or of an employee of a franchisee unless any of the following cond…

1. The Iowa state civil rights commission is created consisting of five members appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate. Appointments shall be made to provide geographical area representation insofar as practicable. No more than three members of the commis…

Commissioners shall be paid a per diem as specified in section 7E.6 and shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while on official commission business. All per diem and expense moneys paid to commissioners shall be paid from funds appropriated to the office.…

The agency shall have the following powers and duties: 1. To receive, investigate, mediate, conciliate, and determine the merits of complaints alleging illegal discriminatory practices. The agency shall not disclose the filing of a complaint, the information gathered during the i…

The commission shall have the following powers and duties: 1. To adopt, amend, or rescind procedures as necessary for the conduct of commission meetings. 2. To sit as the final reviewing body for decisions issued by an administrative law judge following an appeal from a contested…

1. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any: a. Person to refuse to hire, accept, register, classify, or refer for employment, to discharge any employee, or to otherwise discriminate in employment against any applicant for employment or any employee because of the…

1. a. The general assembly finds that the practice of discriminating against any employee because of the age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or disability of such employee by paying wages to such employee at a rate less than the rate paid …

1. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any owner, lessee, sublessee, proprietor, manager, or superintendent of any public accommodation or any agent or employee thereof: a. To refuse or deny to any person because of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, na…

1. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any person, owner, or person acting for an owner, of rights to housing or real property, with or without compensation, including but not limited to persons licensed as real estate brokers or salespersons, attorneys, auctione…

1. A person shall not induce or attempt to induce another person to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of a person of a particular race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disabili…

1. For purposes of this section , unless the context otherwise requires: a. “Assistance animal” means an animal that qualifies as a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act , 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq. , as amended, or section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act…

1. Upon a request for documentation pursuant to section 216.8B, subsection 3 , a licensee under chapter 148 , 148C , 152 , 154B , 154C , or 154D , or a licensee of another state who is licensed under a similar law and who is in good standing with that state, shall make a written …

1. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or disability in any program or activity. Such discriminatory practices shall include but not be l…

It shall not be an unfair or discriminatory practice for a school to require a single or multiple occupancy restroom or changing area to be designated only for and used by persons of the same biological sex as provided in section 280.33 . It shall not be an unfair or discriminato…

1. The department of health and human services shall be responsible for all of the following: a. Community advocacy and services on behalf of underrepresented populations in the state. b. Community action agencies. c. Criminal and juvenile justice planning. 2. The purpose of the …

1. An energy crisis fund is created in the state treasury. Moneys deposited in the fund shall be used to assist low-income families who qualify for the low-income home energy assistance program to avoid loss of essential heating. 2. The fund may receive moneys including, but not …

1. The general assembly finds that provision of assistance to prevent utility disconnections will also prevent the development of public health risks due to such disconnections. The department shall establish an energy utility assessment and resolution program administered by eac…

1. The council on health and human services shall do all of the following: a. Identify the factors and conditions that place Iowa families at risk of dependency upon the family investment program. The council shall seek to use relevant research findings and national and Iowa-spec…

For purposes of this subchapter , unless the context otherwise requires, “commission” means the commission of deaf services. 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1250 C87, §601K.111 C93, §216A.111 2010 Acts, ch 1031, §136, 137, 170 ; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §307 ; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §452

1. The commission of deaf services is established, and shall consist of seven voting members appointed by the governor. Membership of the commission shall include at least four members who are deaf or hard of hearing, and three members who are representatives of telephone compani…

The commission shall have the following powers and duties: 1. Study the changing needs and opportunities for the deaf and hard-of-hearing people in this state. 2. Serve as a liaison between the department and the public, sharing information and gathering constituency input. 3. Re…

For the purpose of this subchapter , unless the context otherwise requires, “department” means the department of health and human services. 88 Acts, ch 1277, §14 C89, §601K.131 90 Acts, ch 1124, §1 C93, §216A.131 2010 Acts, ch 1193, §151 ; 2019 Acts, ch 156, §2 ; 2023 Acts, ch 19…

The department shall fulfill the responsibilities of this subchapter , including the duties specified in sections 216A.135 , 216A.136 , 216A.137 , 216A.138 , and 216A.140 . 2010 Acts, ch 1031, §141, 170 ; 2019 Acts, ch 156, §3 ; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §309

1. The department shall do all of the following: a. Develop short-term and long-term goals to improve the criminal and juvenile justice systems. b. Identify and analyze justice system issues, including the impact of present criminal and juvenile justice policy, and make recommend…

1. The department shall submit a three-year criminal and juvenile justice plan for the state, beginning December 1, 2020, and every three years thereafter, by December 1. The three-year plan shall be updated annually. Each three-year plan and annual updates of the three-year plan…

The department shall maintain an Iowa statistical analysis center for the purpose of coordinating with data resource agencies to provide data and analytical information to federal, state, and local governments, and assist agencies in the use of criminal and juvenile justice data.…

1. The department shall maintain an Iowa correctional policy project for the purpose of conducting analyses of major correctional issues affecting the criminal and juvenile justice system. The department shall identify and prioritize the issues and studies to be addressed through…

1. The department shall coordinate the development of a multiagency database to track the progress of juveniles through various state and local agencies and programs. The department shall develop a plan which utilizes existing databases, including the Iowa court information syste…

1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section , unless the context otherwise requires: a. “Youth” means children and young persons who are ages six through twenty-one years. b. “Youth advisory council” means the state of Iowa youth advisory council created by this section . 2.…

1. The board and department shall not have the authority to do any of the following: a. Implement or administer the duties of the state of Iowa under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act , shall not have any authority to recommend, negotiate, administer, or enforce any agreem…