The bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code to enhance the consideration of a minor child's educational setting during child custody proceedings. A new definition of "educational setting" is introduced, which encompasses various forms of education, including public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and private instruction, without specifying a particular school or location. Additionally, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interest of the child to remain in the educational setting they were enrolled in during the previous school year, unless evidence suggests otherwise.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that if parents disagree on a child's educational setting, the court must take this into account when issuing temporary custody orders. It also requires that custody orders specify each parent's rights and responsibilities concerning the child's educational setting, including access to the child during school hours and decision-making authority. Notably, parents are restricted from accessing the other parent's home during private instruction sessions, and legal custodians must provide a copy of the custody order to the child's educational setting and school district.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 598.1, 598.10, 598.41
Reprinted: 598.1, 598.10, 598.41