IA
Iowa Senate Bill SSB1120

Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SSB1120

Introduced
2/13/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations; exemptions from children's residential facility certification; the director of juvenile court services and chief juvenile court officers; and suspension of Hawki eligibility for public institution inmates.(See SF 474.)

Impact

One significant impact of SSB1120 is the modification of existing laws regarding the Hawki program, whereby a child who is an inmate in a public institution may have their eligibility suspended under certain conditions, particularly if they were previously enrolled. This change addresses legal and health service provisions for youth in the juvenile justice system, ensuring that while they are committed, they do not lose access to healthcare benefits through the Hawki program, albeit temporarily. The bill also emphasizes the need for comprehensive care plans, assessment protocols, and ongoing communication between the institutions and health services programs.

Summary

Senate Study Bill 1120 (SSB1120) focuses on enhancing services and support for youth in Iowa, particularly concerning treatment and evaluations related to mental health and substance use disorders. The bill proposes a framework for administering treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations tailored to support children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances or substance use disorders. A core aspect of the bill is its aim to streamline operations and regulations governing psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), ensuring they can provide effective rehabilitation without unnecessary licensing barriers.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SSB1120 revolve around the implications of exempting specific facilities from children's residential facility certification. Critics argue that such exemptions could potentially lower standards for care and oversight, creating concerns about the quality of services provided to vulnerable populations. Furthermore, while the streamlining of operational protocols for PMICs presents opportunities for improved service delivery, stakeholders in child welfare and mental health advocate for careful oversight to ensure that these changes do not compromise the quality and safety of care. Overall, the bill seeks a balance between facilitating access to care and maintaining necessary protections for children and youth.

Latest IA SSB1120 Activity

View All Events: IA 2025-2026 Regular Session SSB1120

Companion Bills

IA SF474

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions. (Formerly SSB 1120.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

IA HF833

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in involuntary commitment, juvenile delinquency, child in need of assistance, and family in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.(Formerly HSB 153; See HF 984.)

IA HSB153

Related A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations; exemptions from children's residential facility certification; the director of juvenile court services and chief juvenile court officers; and suspension of Hawki eligibility for public institution inmates.(See HF 833, HF 984.)

IA HF984

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.(Formerly HF 833, HSB 153.)

Previously Filed As

IA SSB3146

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See SF 2354, SF 2420.)

IA HSB653

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 2509, HF 2673.)

IA SF2354

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 3146; See SF 2420.)

IA HF2509

A bill for an act relating to the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, and the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 653; See HF 2673.)

IA HF2402

A bill for an act relating to behavioral health services for children including psychiatric medical institutions for children. (Formerly HSB 502.) Effective date: 07/01/2024.

IA HF2673

A bill for an act related to state behavioral health, disability, and addictive disorder services and related programs, including the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, the elimination of the commission on aging, the elimination of special intellectual disability units at state mental health institutes, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly HF 2509, HSB 653.) Effective date: 05/15/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025.

IA SF2420

A bill for an act related to state behavioral health, disability, and addictive disorder services and related programs, including the transition of behavioral health services from a mental health and disability services system to a behavioral health service system, the transfer of disability services to the division of aging and disability services of the department of health and human services, the elimination of the commission on aging, the elimination of special intellectual disability units at state mental health institutes, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SF 2354, SSB 3146.)

IA HF2671

A bill for an act relating to aid, processes, services, and support staff for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care, including the establishment of a legal representation for juvenile cases interim study committee, and making appropriations.(Formerly HF 2242.)

IA SSB3124

A bill for an act relating to processes overseen by the department of health and human services, including internal adoption information sharing, dependent adult abuse matters, juvenile justice court filings, and mandatory reporter training.(See SF 2355.)

IA HSB625

A bill for an act relating to processes overseen by the department of health and human services, including internal adoption information sharing, dependent adult abuse matters, juvenile justice court filings, and mandatory reporter training.(See HF 2404.)

Similar Bills

IA SF474

A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions. (Formerly SSB 1120.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

IA HSB153

A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations; exemptions from children's residential facility certification; the director of juvenile court services and chief juvenile court officers; and suspension of Hawki eligibility for public institution inmates.(See HF 833, HF 984.)

IA HF984

A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.(Formerly HF 833, HSB 153.)

IA HF833

A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in involuntary commitment, juvenile delinquency, child in need of assistance, and family in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.(Formerly HSB 153; See HF 984.)

CA AB2317

Children’s psychiatric residential treatment facilities.

CA AB226

Children’s crisis psychiatric residential treatment facilities.

KS HB2580

Including mental, emotional and behavioral health treatment to medical services that may be provided to a child alleged or adjudicated to be a child in need of care.

KY SB88

AN ACT relating to physician assistants.