This bill focuses on enhancing child welfare and mental health services in Iowa 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 patients who are involuntarily hospitalized and clarifies the responsibilities of foster care providers, including individual licensees and approved kinship caregivers. Significant amendments include the removal of outdated terminology, such as replacing "licensed foster care providers" with "individual licensee or approved kinship caregiver," to better reflect current practices and ensure these caregivers are included in decision-making processes regarding the children in their care.

Additionally, the bill establishes new training requirements for individual licensees and approved kinship caregivers, mandates background checks for applicants, and enhances the responsibilities of HHS in relation to these caregivers. It also creates a foster family home insurance fund and outlines the department's obligations to provide improved child foster care services. The bill further strengthens confidentiality provisions regarding child and dependent adult abuse information and mandates HHS to adopt rules for administering child protection programs. It appropriates funds to support the transition of services to the behavioral health services system and modifies the tax rate for health maintenance organizations involved in the medical assistance program. Overall, the bill aims to improve the regulatory framework surrounding foster care and kinship caregiving, ensuring the safety and well-being of children in these care settings.

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