Senate File 143 - Introduced SENATE FILE 143 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1015) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the state public defender pilot project for 1 child welfare legal representation. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1185SV (2) 90 as/rh
S.F. 143 Section 1. Section 13B.13, Code 2023, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 13B.13 State public defender pilot project child welfare 3 legal representation. 4 Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the 5 contrary, for each fiscal year for the period beginning July 1, 6 2020, and ending June 30, 2024 2025 , the state public defender 7 may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models 8 of legal representation in order to assist families involved 9 in the child welfare system. The state public defender shall 10 have sole discretion to establish and implement the pilot 11 project. The state public defender may implement the new 12 pilot project in up to six sixteen counties throughout the 13 state. The purpose of the pilot project is to implement and 14 study innovative ways, through a team approach or through other 15 methods, to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce 16 trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to 17 families and their communities. The state public defender 18 may coordinate with other agencies and organizations to 19 implement the pilot project, seek grant funding, and measure 20 the results. The state public defender may appoint an attorney 21 to represent an indigent person prior to initiation of formal 22 proceedings, without court order, if such representation is 23 deemed appropriate by the state public defender and relates to 24 the purposes of the pilot project. 25 EXPLANATION 26 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 27 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 28 This bill relates to the state public defender pilot project 29 for child welfare legal representation. 30 The bill extends the ending date for a state public 31 defender pilot project to implement innovative models of legal 32 representation in order to assist families involved in the 33 child welfare system from June 30, 2024, through June 30, 2025. 34 The bill increases the number of counties in which a pilot 35 -1- LSB 1185SV (2) 90 as/rh 1/ 2
S.F. 143 project may be implemented from 6 counties to 16 counties. 1 -2- LSB 1185SV (2) 90 as/rh 2/ 2