This bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Iowa is responsible for covering all costs associated with a child's placement in shelter care. The current law stipulates that if HHS is not authorized to pay the full costs, the custodial parent's county of residence must cover the difference. The bill amends Section 232.141, subsection 8, by deleting the existing language and inserting a new provision that explicitly states that all costs for a child's shelter care shall be paid by HHS.

Additionally, the bill requires HHS to amend its rules in accordance with Chapter 17A to ensure that the department's obligation to pay for shelter care costs is clearly defined. Shelter care is described as temporary care for a child in a non-restrictive facility during the period between their initial contact with juvenile authorities and the final judicial resolution of their case. This legislation aims to alleviate the financial burden on custodial parents and counties by ensuring that HHS assumes full financial responsibility for shelter care placements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 232.141