Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 2344 – Juvenile Consent Decrees, Supervised Adult Living Programs (LSB5439SV)
Staff Contact: Molly Kilker (515.725.1286) molly.kilker@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 2344 provides that, pursuant to a consent decree, a child who is the subject of a
petition alleging that the child has committed a delinquent act may be placed in a supervised
apartment living arrangement if the court determines that such a placement is the least
restrictive option for the child. Placement is paid by the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
Background
Under Iowa Code section 232.46, after a petition has been filed that alleges a child has
committed a delinquent act and prior to an entry of adjudication on the matter, a court may
suspend the proceedings on motion of the child’s counsel and enter a consent decree. Once
the consent decree has been entered, the case can be continued under the terms and
conditions determined by the court. Under a consent decree, the court may place the child in a
group or family foster care setting funded by the HHS if the court determines that to be the least
restrictive option.
Assumptions
• Five newly eligible juveniles per year will participate in supervised apartment living.
• The annual cost per individual in the first year of supervised apartment living is $38,600 and
the recurring annual cost is $1,600 per individual for the State cost of Medicaid. The HHS
will pay the State Medicaid cost per individual for five fiscal years after the participation in
the supervised apartment living arrangement.
• Juveniles who enter supervised apartment living will become eligible for Iowa aftercare
services and the Education and Training Voucher Program upon turning 18 years of age.
• A juvenile who is placed in a supervised living arrangement will “age out” after one year.
• The HHS assumes that after one year in the supervised apartment living arrangement, the
juvenile will qualify for additional programs under the HHS’s purview, including aftercare and
the Education and Training Voucher Program. Participation in these programs may create
additional costs to the HHS.
Fiscal Impact
At a rate of five newly eligible juveniles per fiscal year, the HHS estimates an FY 2025 fiscal
impact of $193,000. If the rate of newly eligible juveniles remains constant, costs to the State
are anticipated to increase every year until the Program is fully implemented in year six
(FY 2030). Figure 1 shows the estimated fiscal impact to the HHS in the next six fiscal years.
Figure 1 — Estimated State Costs Under SF 2344
FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 FY 2030
State Cost $ 193,000 $ 201,000 $ 209,000 $ 217,000 $ 225,000 $ 233,000
1
Sources
Department of Health and Human Services
Legislative Services Agency
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 19, 2024
Doc ID 1448171
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.46, 234.35