Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF638

Introduced
2/28/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to child placements, and making an appropriation.(Formerly HSB 146; See HF 1003.)

Impact

The bill includes an appropriation of $275,000 for the fiscal year 2025-2026 meant to fund the addition of five employees within the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These employees will be assigned to various child protective services areas to handle identification and notification duties related to child custody cases. This initiative is expected to enhance the effectiveness of child protective services and align operations with national standards, ultimately improving outcomes for children involved in these processes.

Summary

House File 638 is a legislative proposal aimed at modifying regulations surrounding child placements within the state of Iowa. The bill specifically addresses the criteria used by courts when determining a child's placement after a dispositional hearing. Under the proposed changes, if a child has been placed with a licensed foster parent for at least nine months prior to the dispositional hearing, the court cannot transfer the child to another individual without specifically finding that such a move is in the child's best interests. This change aims to provide stability for children in foster care and emphasize the value of existing relationships with caregivers.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HF638 include concerns about the potential implications for children's immediate family members and their involvement in custody decisions. Critics may argue that placing additional restrictions on court discretion could hinder the ability to act swiftly and appropriately in urgent situations. Moreover, there may be debates on whether the funding allocated for new employees in HHS is sufficient to meet the demands of the child placement system, given the existing challenges faced by social workers and the complexities of family dynamics.

Additional_comments

Overall, HF638 reflects a shift towards prioritizing stable placements for children in care while also promoting the well-being and involvement of family members. As discussions around the bill progress, stakeholders will need to address potential drawbacks and nuances to ensure the best outcomes for the children affected by these new regulations.

Companion Bills

IA HSB146

Related A bill for an act relating to child placements, including the prioritization of certain persons for child placement and the implementation of the 30 days to family model, and making an appropriation.(See HF 638, HF 1003.)

IA HF1003

Similar To A bill for an act relating to child placements.(Formerly HF 638, HSB 146.)

Previously Filed As

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 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 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 HF2242

A bill for an act relating to aid, processes, services, and support staff for children in, adopted from, or in need of foster care, and making appropriations.(See HF 2671.)

IA SF2437

A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations for veterans and health and human services, including other related provisions and appropriations, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SSB 3205.)

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 HF471

A bill for an act relating to mental health and disability services provided by the state and judicial procedures relating to child in need of assistance proceedings, adoptions, and the confinement of persons found incompetent to stand trial. (Formerly HSB 176.) Effective date: 07/01/2023.

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 SF471

A bill for an act relating to mental health and disability services provided by the state and judicial procedures relating to child in need of assistance proceedings, adoptions, and the confinement of persons found incompetent to stand trial.(Formerly SSB 1166.)

IA HF2134

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.(Formerly HSB 513.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.