This bill amends the definition of "grooming behavior" in Iowa law concerning mandatory reporting to the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) for licensed school employees. The current law requires various educational authorities to report any disciplinary actions against employees for inappropriate conduct with students, including grooming behavior. The bill clarifies that grooming behavior refers to a "pattern of behavior" aimed at enticing or entrapping a student, with the intent to take advantage of them for the benefit of the individual engaging in such behavior. This includes, but is not limited to, engaging in a sex act with the student.

The amendments to the definition of grooming behavior include the insertion of the phrase "pattern of" and the rephrasing of the intent from "make" to "take advantage of" the student. Additionally, the language has been refined to specify that the actions are for the benefit of the individual engaging in the behavior, thereby emphasizing the manipulative nature of grooming. The bill aims to strengthen the reporting requirements and ensure that grooming behavior is clearly defined and understood within the context of protecting students from exploitation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.160