Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HSB39

Introduced
1/17/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.(See HF 298.)

Summary

HSB39 amends Iowa juvenile law to allow a court, when handling a pending delinquency petition, to place a child in a supervised apartment living arrangement as part of a consent decree if the court finds that placement is the least restrictive option. Under current law, consent decrees can include conditions such as supervision, work assignments, restitution, or placement in a group or family foster care setting; this bill adds supervised apartment living arrangements to that list. The bill also addresses who pays for that placement. It provides that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for payment for foster care services when a child is placed in a supervised apartment living arrangement under a consent decree, but only if the arrangement meets standards established by HHS by rule. In effect, the bill creates a state-funded pathway for this type of juvenile placement while leaving HHS authority to define eligibility and program requirements.

Impact

HSB39 would amend section 232.46 of the Iowa Code to expand the range of dispositional options available in juvenile delinquency cases and amend section 234.35 to authorize state payment for supervised apartment living arrangements under specified conditions. The bill affects courts, juvenile justice practitioners, HHS, and providers of supervised apartment living services by making these placements an express option and tying reimbursement to compliance with department rules. It would not require payment for every such placement; rather, it conditions state funding on HHS-established standards.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill in committee: the House Judiciary Committee report passed unanimously, 20-0. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate opposition or detailed concerns. Overall, the bill appears to have been received favorably as a juvenile justice and placement policy measure.

Contention

The main policy issue raised by the text is the scope of state responsibility for funding supervised apartment living arrangements and the standards HHS will use to approve them. Potential points of contention include whether this placement is truly the least restrictive option in delinquency cases, whether it should be treated like foster care for payment purposes, and how strictly HHS should regulate qualifying arrangements. Any disagreement would likely center on cost, oversight, and whether this expands juvenile placement options appropriately.

Companion Bills

IA HF 298

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state. (Formerly HSB 39.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Previously Filed As

IA SSB1007

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.(See SF 174.)

IA SF174

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state.(Formerly SSB 1007.)

IA HF298

A bill for an act relating to the placement of a child who is the subject of a pending delinquency petition in a supervised apartment living arrangement pursuant to a consent decree, and the circumstances under which the placement is paid by the state. (Formerly HSB 39.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

IA HSB146

A bill for an act relating to child placements, including the prioritization of certain persons for child placement and the implementation of the 30 days to family model, and making an appropriation.(See HF 638, HF 1003.)

IA HF638

A bill for an act relating to child placements, and making an appropriation.(Formerly HSB 146; See HF 1003.)

IA HF1003

A bill for an act relating to child placements. (Formerly HF 638, HSB 146.) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

IA HB4058

Relating to human services; declaring an emergency.

IA AB837

Placement of sexually violent persons on supervised release.

IA SB814

Placement of sexually violent persons on supervised release.

IA AB518

Revises provisions relating to the interstate placement of children. (BDR 11-807)

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