This bill mandates the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to establish seven peer-run respite programs across the state. These programs are designed to provide voluntary, short-term support for individuals facing emotional distress, behavioral health issues, mental health crises, or life-altering challenges, which are defined in the bill as significant personal stressors that disrupt an individual's well-being. The programs must be independent from clinical, medical, or mental health facilities and cannot be located on their campuses.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least 51 percent of the board of directors for each program must consist of individuals with personal experience related to psychiatric or behavioral health conditions, or those who have faced life-altering challenges. If any of the programs offer clinical mental health services, these services must account for less than 10 percent of the total services provided. The Department is also required to adopt rules to effectively administer these programs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 225A.1