The bill amends Section 235A.15 of the Iowa Code to enhance public access to information regarding founded reports of child abuse involving sexual offenses. It establishes a new section, 235A.15A, which mandates the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create an internet site that allows the public to search for information about individuals who are subjects of founded child abuse reports that would qualify as tier II or tier III offenses under section 692A.102, provided the individual has been convicted. The site must be searchable by various criteria, including name and geographic location, and HHS is required to make the relevant information available within five business days of determining the allegation is founded or receiving the information.

The bill specifies the types of information that will be disclosed on the internet site, such as the alleged perpetrator's name, date of birth, photographs, and physical description, while also outlining what information will be excluded from public disclosure, including details about victims and individuals under the age of eighteen at the time of the alleged offense. Additionally, the bill allows HHS to disseminate the information through other means and requires the department to provide instructions for individuals seeking to correct information on the site. HHS is also tasked with adopting rules to implement these provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 235A.15