House File 113 - Enrolled House File 113 AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER PILOT PROJECT FOR CHILD WELFARE LEGAL REPRESENTATION. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: Section 1. Section 13B.13, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows: 13B.13 State public defender pilot project child welfare legal representation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, for each fiscal year for the period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2024 2025 , the state public defender may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation in order to assist families involved in the child welfare system. The state public defender shall have sole discretion to establish and implement the pilot project. The state public defender may implement the new pilot project in up to six sixteen counties throughout the state. The purpose of the pilot project is to implement and study innovative ways, through a team approach or through other methods, to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. The state public defender may coordinate with other agencies and organizations to implement the pilot project, seek grant funding, and measure the results. The state public defender may appoint an attorney to represent an indigent person prior to initiation of formal
House File 113, p. 2 proceedings, without court order, if such representation is deemed appropriate by the state public defender and relates to the purposes of the pilot project. ______________________________ PAT GRASSLEY Speaker of the House ______________________________ AMY SINCLAIR President of the Senate I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 113, Ninetieth General Assembly. ______________________________ MEGHAN NELSON Chief Clerk of the House Approved _______________, 2023 ______________________________ KIM REYNOLDS Governor