This bill amends existing laws regarding the delegation of custodial rights and duties for children, specifically when legal custody is transferred to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It allows HHS to delegate its custodial rights and duties to licensed individuals providing child foster care, while ensuring that these rights and duties remain subject to any residual rights of the child's parent or guardian. The bill clarifies that HHS can consent to routine medical care for children, which includes preventative care (excluding vaccinations), nonemergency medical care, and necessary medications, enabling children to participate in normal activities similar to their peers.

Additionally, the bill mandates that HHS must notify individual licensees when it delegates the right to consent to routine medical care on behalf of a child. This ensures that licensed caregivers are informed of their responsibilities regarding the child's health care, thereby promoting the child's well-being while maintaining the oversight of HHS.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.2, 237.10