This bill aims to enhance child welfare and mental health services in Iowa by amending existing laws under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It introduces new definitions for "behavioral health district" and "disability access point," which will serve as local resources for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. The bill also updates the roles of advocates for involuntarily hospitalized patients and clarifies the responsibilities of foster care providers, including individual licensees and approved kinship caregivers. Significant amendments include the removal of outdated terminology and the introduction of new criteria for foster care licensing, emphasizing timely communication between the Department and foster care providers regarding children's health and welfare.

Additionally, the bill establishes new rules for the approval of kinship caregivers, requiring applications and allowing for denial based on legal violations. It mandates training for individual licensees and criminal background checks for those seeking licensure or employment in child care settings. The bill also enhances communication requirements between HHS and caregivers, ensuring that caregivers are informed of relevant meetings and changes in laws. Furthermore, it includes provisions for the confidentiality of dependent adult abuse records and expands HHS's authority to access financial records related to suspected exploitation. Overall, the legislation seeks to strengthen protections for children and dependent adults while improving the operational efficiency of HHS.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 97B.1A, 229.1, 229.19, 229.14, 232.78, 232.95, 232.102, 234.1, 234.39, 232.2, 237.1, 237.2, 237.3, 256B.2, 237.4, 237.5A, 237.6, 237.8, 237.9, 217.30, 237.13, 16.57, 237.15, 237A.1, 237A.3A, 237C.1, 237C.3, 282.19, 414.22, 423.3, 135.118, 235A.1, 235A.15, 235B.2, 235B.3, 235B.6, 249A.4, 232.68, 432.1B