Bill requiring athletic departments to cover settlements advances

DES MOINES — Athletic departments at Iowa’s public universities would be forced to repay the state for the costs of any judgment or settlement under a bill advanced by lawmakers Tuesday.

The House Appropriations Committee unanimously passed House Study Bill 229, making it eligible for debate by the full House.

The bill would require reimbursement for any award or judgment tied to “conduct or actions of an employee of an athletic department” of Iowa’s public universities. Money used to cover the reimbursement could not come from state dollars allocated to Iowa’s regent universities, unless appropriated for that specific purpose.

University of Iowa officials announced last week that UI Athletics will repay the $2 million that taxpayers covered of a $4.2 million deal to settle a discrimination lawsuit that 12 former football players filed against UI Athletics and its coaches.

Epilepsy training in schools

The Iowa House gave broad support to a bill that would require at least one staff member in each Iowa school to be trained on recognizing and providing first aid for seizures. The legislation was proposed by the Epilepsy Foundation.

The House approved House File 608 with a 96-1 vote, making it eligible for consideration in the Senate.

More than 300,000 school-age children in the U.S. have epilepsy, according to the foundation.