Rep. Carter Nordman Photo courtesy of ballotpedia.org

A bill is ready to be debated by the full Iowa House because of an incident with one of the state regent universities.

The University of Iowa recently settled out of court for $4.2 million on an alleged racial discrimination lawsuit from some of the former football players. House District 47 Representative Carter Nordman tells Raccoon Valley Radio the university was going to have taxpayers pay about $2 million of the settlement. However, Nordman points out the university reverted back and voluntarily is going to pay the full amount.

Nordman notes that this incident sparked a bill that quickly went through a subcommittee and committee in the House and the legislation requires athletic departments at the regent universities to reimburse the state for those kinds of lawsuits. 

“For the most part these athletics departments are self-sustaining and so again we (the House Republicans) just didn’t feel like it was the burden of the taxpayers to have to deal with personnel issues when it comes to these athletic departments.”   

Nordman adds the bill can be considered by the full House and must also get through the Senate before the governor can sign it into law. He was unsure if the bill will get through both chambers this legislative session.