This bill amends Section 232.102A of the Iowa Code regarding family interactions during ongoing child in need of assistance (CINA) proceedings. The current law mandates that family interactions must continue unless a court or the Department of Health and Human Services determines that such interactions would be detrimental to the child. The proposed changes stipulate that interactions should continue unless a court finds substantial evidence indicating that these interactions, whether supervised or unsupervised, pose an imminent risk to the child's life or health.

The key change in the bill is the removal of the requirement for a court or department finding of detriment, replacing it with a more stringent standard that focuses on imminent risk. This shift aims to ensure that family interactions are preserved unless there is clear and substantial evidence of potential harm to the child, thereby promoting family unity during CINA proceedings while still prioritizing the child's safety.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.102A