This bill amends existing Iowa law to allow for the placement of a child, who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition, in a supervised apartment living arrangement (SAL) as part of a consent decree. Specifically, it introduces a new subparagraph that stipulates a child can be placed in an SAL if they have lived continuously in a qualified residential treatment program, a shelter, or a combination of both for at least six months prior to the placement decision, and if they lack the necessary family support for a successful transition to independent living.

Additionally, the bill establishes that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be responsible for funding the supervised apartment living arrangement, but only if it meets specific requirements set by HHS. This new provision aims to ensure that children in need of support during their transition to independent living can receive appropriate care while also clarifying the conditions under which state funding will be provided for such placements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.46, 234.35