A bill for an act relating to child abuse and employees and agents of public schools and nonpublic schools.

SF 517 requires public and nonpublic schools in Iowa to report suspected child abuse by staff to child welfare authorities and law enforcement if the abuse would be a criminal act. Schools must also cooperate with child protection assessments, including allowing confidential interviews with children. The bill mandates that the state child welfare department notify school boards and the board of educational examiners when abuse by a staff member is confirmed. This triggers potential license denial or revocation for licensed educators if they have a founded abuse report on file in the state's central registry. The law updates school procedures for handling abuse reports and ties educator licensing decisions directly to confirmed abuse findings.