This bill seeks to improve the delivery of health and human services in Iowa by establishing health and human services districts (HHS districts) that align with existing behavioral health districts. It introduces a "Behavioral Health District Advisory Council" and defines "Health and Human Services District" as a designated geographic area for statewide program delivery. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to review these districts every seven years, allowing for modifications based on factors such as population size and service needs. The bill also updates terminology in the Iowa Code, replacing "district behavioral health" with "behavioral health district" for consistency.

Additionally, the bill creates a subunit for volunteerism within HHS to establish volunteer programs that support the department's services and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. An executive director appointed by the HHS director will oversee this subunit, which can employ personnel as needed. Registered volunteers will be considered state employees for certain legal purposes, although they remain subject to specific duties and liabilities. The bill emphasizes the need for coordination among state agencies to enhance national and community service and mandates HHS to adopt rules for administering these provisions. All changes will take effect upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51, 217.1, 217.1B, 225A.4, 225A.3, 225A.5, 225A.6, 225A.7, 225A.8, 231.4, 231.23, 15H.4, 217.13