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 a serious risk of physical or emotional harm to the child.

The key modification in the bill is the shift from a general finding of detriment to a more stringent requirement for substantial evidence of serious risk before limiting family interactions. This change aims to ensure that family connections are preserved during CINA proceedings unless there is clear and compelling evidence of potential harm to the child.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.102A