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AN
ACT
RELATING
TO
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES,
INCLUDING
THE
CREATION
OF
AN
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES
SYSTEM,
MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS,
CONVENING
AN
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
IOWA
INTERIM
STUDY
COMMITTEE,
AND
INCLUDING
APPLICABILITY,
RETROACTIVE
APPLICABILITY,
AND
EFFECTIVE
DATE
PROVISIONS.
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
DIVISION
I
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES
SYSTEM
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.1
Definitions.
For
the
purposes
of
this
chapter,
unless
the
context
otherwise
requires:
1.
“Community
resources”
means
locally
focused,
strength-based
programs
and
supports
that
aim
to
enhance
family
functioning
and
resilience,
promote
child
development
and
safety,
and
prevent
future
involvement
with
child
protective
services
or
the
juvenile
justice
system.
2.
“Department”
means
the
department
of
health
and
human
services.
3.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
district”
or
“ECFS
district”
means
a
health
and
human
services
district
utilized
for
the
purpose
of
administering
the
ECFS
system.
4.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
district
advisory
council”
or
“ECFS
district
advisory
council”
means
an
advisory
council
established
under
section
234A.3.
Senate
File
2488,
p.
2
5.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
district
plan”
or
“ECFS
district
plan”
means
a
plan
developed
by
the
department
to
outline
the
ECFS
system
infrastructure
of
a
district
and
the
programs
and
services
intended
to
be
provided
within
that
district.
6.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
state
plan”
or
“ECFS
state
plan”
means
the
plan
developed
by
the
department
that
describes
the
key
components
of
the
state’s
ECFS
system.
7.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
system”
or
“ECFS
system”
means
the
system
established
in
section
234A.2.
8.
“Early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund”
or
“ECFS
system
fund”
means
the
fund
created
in
section
234A.6.
9.
“Early
intervention
strategies”
means
services
and
supports
designed
to
proactively
identify
and
address
risk
factors
and
includes
services
that
aim
to
strengthen
families,
promote
healthy
development,
and
reduce
the
likelihood
of
abuse
or
neglect
by
providing
timely,
targeted
assistance
to
children
and
caregivers
through
the
ECFS
system.
10.
“Evidence-based”
means
practices,
programs,
and
policies
grounded
in
the
best
available
research
and
data,
and
that
have
been
scientifically
tested
and
shown
to
be
effective
through
rigorous
evaluation.
11.
“Family
support
services”
include
group-based
parent
education
and
home
visiting
programs
designed
to
strengthen
protective
factors
including
parenting
skills,
increase
parental
knowledge
of
child
development,
and
increase
family
functioning
and
problem-solving
skills.
Family
support
services
may
be
used
as
an
early
intervention
strategy
to
improve
birth
outcomes,
parental
knowledge,
family
economic
success,
the
home
learning
environment,
family
and
child
involvement
with
others,
and
coordination
with
other
community
resources.
Family
support
services
may
have
a
specific
focus
on
preventing
child
maltreatment
or
ensuring
children
are
safe,
healthy,
and
ready
to
succeed
in
school.
12.
“Health
and
human
services
district”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
217.1.
13.
“HOPES-HFI
program”
means
the
healthy
opportunities
for
parents
to
experience
success
–
healthy
families
Iowa
program
established
in
section
234A.5.
Senate
File
2488,
p.
3
14.
“Ongoing
family
and
community
resources”
means
a
continuum
of
sustained,
accessible,
and
family-centered
resources
provided
through
the
ECFS
system
that
help
families
meet
their
needs,
strengthen
protective
factors,
and
prevent
child
abuse
and
neglect.
15.
“Primary
prevention
strategies”
means
a
comprehensive
set
of
services
and
supports
provided
through
the
ECFS
system
that
are
designed
to
strengthen
families,
promote
healthy
child
development,
and
prevent
adverse
outcomes
before
they
occur.
These
activities
focus
on
addressing
the
underlying
social,
economic,
and
environmental
conditions
that
place
children
and
families
at
risk,
such
as
poverty,
social
isolation,
and
lack
of
access
to
quality
early
care
and
education.
16.
“Protective
factor”
means
an
inherent
strength,
resource,
or
capacity
of
a
family,
or
a
resource
that
helps
a
family
thrive,
buffer
against
stress,
and
reduce
the
likelihood
of
child
abuse,
neglect,
or
other
poor
outcome.
17.
“Strength-based”
means
an
approach
that
focuses
on
identifying
and
building
upon
the
inherent
strengths,
resources,
and
capacities
of
a
family
to
support
the
family’s
growth,
resilience,
and
well-being.
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.2
Early
childhood
and
family
services
system
——
department
powers
and
duties.
1.
An
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
is
established
under
the
control
of
the
department
for
the
purposes
of
implementing
a
statewide
array
of
primary
prevention
strategies,
early
intervention
strategies,
and
ongoing
family
and
community
resources
for
families
and
their
children
under
nineteen
years
of
age.
2.
The
ECFS
system
shall
be
administered
in
a
manner
to
maximize
funding
opportunities,
interagency
collaboration,
and
integration
of
activities
and
services
that
support
positive
outcomes
for
children
and
families.
3.
The
ECFS
system
shall
support
equitable
statewide
access
to
all
services,
supports,
and
other
resources
offered
through
the
ECFS
system
that,
at
a
minimum,
shall
include
all
of
the
following:
a.
Evidence-based
primary
prevention
strategies,
including
family
support
services,
designed
to
assist
families
in
Senate
File
2488,
p.
4
establishing
healthy,
successful
futures.
b.
Tailored
early
intervention
strategies
for
children
and
families
to
ensure
long-term
well-being,
including
economic
self-sufficiency.
c.
Ongoing
family
and
community
resources
for
children
and
families
to
address
the
root
causes
of
child
abuse
and
neglect
and
enhance
protective
factors.
d.
Specific
service
components
including
early
childhood
services,
evidence-based
family
support
services,
and
community
resources.
4.
To
the
extent
funding
is
available,
the
department
shall
do
all
of
the
following
to
develop
and
administer
the
ECFS
system
and
carry
out
the
department’s
duties
under
this
chapter:
a.
Plan,
establish,
and
maintain
primary
prevention
strategies,
early
intervention
strategies,
and
ongoing
family
and
community
resources.
b.
(1)
Develop
an
early
childhood
and
family
services
state
plan
that
is
consistent
with
the
department’s
agency
strategic
plan
adopted
pursuant
to
section
8E.204,
and
the
state
health
improvement
plan
developed
under
section
217.17.
(2)
When
developing
the
ECFS
state
plan,
the
department
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
(a)
Collaborate
with
stakeholders
including
but
not
limited
to
experienced
public
health
and
medical
providers,
law
enforcement,
educators,
the
early
childhood
Iowa
state
board,
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
boards,
and
organizations
that
represent
populations
including
but
not
limited
to
children
to
be
served
by
the
ECFS
system.
(b)
Publish
the
proposed
ECFS
state
plan
on
the
department’s
internet
site
and
allow
the
public
to
review
and
comment
on
the
proposed
ECFS
state
plan
prior
to
adoption.
c.
Administer
the
ECFS
system
in
each
ECFS
district
based
on
early
childhood
and
family
services
district
plans.
d.
Develop
ECFS
district
plans
in
collaboration
with
ECFS
system
partners
and
stakeholders.
e.
Establish
ECFS
district
advisory
councils
pursuant
to
section
234A.3.
f.
Coordinate
administration
of
each
ECFS
district
plan
with
Senate
File
2488,
p.
5
federal
and
state
resources.
g.
Enter
into
contracts
as
necessary
to
perform
activities,
and
provide
services,
supports,
and
other
resources
in
accordance
with
each
ECFS
district
plan.
h.
Coordinate
district
activities
with
other
state
agencies
and
state-funded
initiatives
that
support
positive
outcomes
for
children
and
families.
i.
Administer
and
distribute
federal
aid
received,
and
state
appropriations,
grants,
and
other
moneys
deposited
into
the
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund.
j.
Oversee,
provide
technical
assistance
to,
and
monitor
department
contractors
to
ensure
compliance
with
ECFS
district
plans.
k.
Establish
and
maintain
data
collection
and
management
information
systems
to
identify,
collect,
and
analyze
service
outcomes
and
performance
data
to
address
the
needs
of
clients,
providers,
the
department,
and
ECFS
system
programs.
l.
Collect,
maintain,
monitor,
analyze,
and
utilize
information
including
but
not
limited
to
ECFS
client
records
and
programmatic,
state,
and
national
data,
engage
in
studies
and
analyses,
and
gather
relevant
statistics
to
understand
emerging
needs
and
effectively
deploy
information,
resources,
and
technical
assistance
in
response.
m.
Adopt
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
to
administer
this
chapter.
n.
Take
any
other
necessary
actions
to
execute
the
department’s
duties
under
this
chapter
or
maintain
compliance
with
federal
requirements.
5.
The
department
may
do
all
of
the
following
to
develop
and
administer
the
ECFS
system:
a.
Cooperate
with
any
state
agency,
political
subdivision,
or
federal
governmental
agency
to
apply
for
grants.
b.
Solicit
and
accept
for
use
any
gift
of
money,
by
will
or
otherwise,
and
any
grant
of
money
or
services
from
the
federal
government,
the
state,
a
political
subdivision
of
the
state
or
federal
government,
or
a
private
source.
Sec.
3.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.3
Early
childhood
and
family
services
district
advisory
councils.
1.
The
department
shall
establish
an
early
childhood
Senate
File
2488,
p.
6
and
family
services
district
advisory
council
in
each
ECFS
district.
The
department
shall
develop
policies
and
procedures
for
the
operational
functions
of
each
ECFS
district
advisory
council.
2.
An
ECFS
district
advisory
council
shall
consist
of
ten
members
appointed
by
the
department.
Individuals
eligible
for
appointment
include
but
are
not
limited
to
all
of
the
following:
a.
Elected
public
officials
who
currently
hold
office
within
the
ECFS
district.
b.
Individuals
who
have
experience
or
expertise
related
to
health,
education,
domestic
assault
response,
abuse
response,
or
community-based
child
abuse
prevention.
c.
Individuals
who
are
representative
of
the
populations
served
in
the
ECFS
district
advisory
council’s
ECFS
district.
d.
Individuals
who
represent
the
faith
community
or
community
partners
in
the
ECFS
district
advisory
council’s
ECFS
district.
3.
An
ECFS
district
advisory
council
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
a.
Identify
opportunities
and
address
challenges
based
on
updates
received
from
the
department
relating
to
the
implementation
of
the
ECFS
district
plan
for
the
ECFS
district
advisory
council’s
ECFS
district.
b.
Provide
feedback
to
the
department
while
the
department
is
developing
ECFS
system
policies.
c.
Advise
the
department
on
how
to
best
provide
families
access
to
primary
prevention
strategies,
early
intervention
strategies,
and
ongoing
family
and
community
resources
throughout
the
ECFS
district
advisory
council’s
ECFS
district.
4.
An
ECFS
district
advisory
council
shall
perform
the
duties
required
under
this
section
regardless
of
whether
any
seat
on
the
ECFS
district
advisory
council
is
vacant.
Sec.
4.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.4
Data
collection
and
use.
1.
The
department
shall
perform
all
of
the
following
actions
related
to
ECFS
system
data:
a.
(1)
Collect,
maintain,
monitor,
analyze,
and
utilize
data,
including
but
not
limited
to
child
welfare
data,
Medicaid
data,
ECFS
system
data,
and
other
data
depicting
the
status
of
Senate
File
2488,
p.
7
children
and
families
in
the
state,
as
necessary
to
issue
cost
estimates
for
serving
populations,
make
and
receive
payments,
conduct
operations,
and
perform
ECFS
system
activities.
(2)
When
performing
duties
under
this
paragraph,
the
department
shall
maintain
compliance
with
applicable
federal
and
state
privacy
laws
to
ensure
the
confidentiality
and
integrity
of
individually
identifiable
data.
(3)
The
department
shall
periodically
assess
the
status
of
the
department’s
compliance
with
subparagraph
(2)
to
ensure
that
data
collected
and
maintained
by
the
department
under
this
paragraph
is
protected.
b.
To
the
extent
possible,
establish
a
record
for
each
individual
receiving
publicly
funded
ECFS
system
services.
Each
record
established
under
this
paragraph
shall
include
a
unique
client
identifier
for
the
purposes
of
identifying
and
tracking
the
individual’s
record.
c.
Consult
with
department
contractors
and
other
ECFS
system
stakeholders
on
an
ongoing
basis
relating
to
the
administration
of
the
ECFS
system,
including
but
not
limited
to
reviewing
trends
and
outcomes
as
indicators
for
improving
or
modifying
administration
of
the
ECFS
system.
d.
Engage
with
entities
that
maintain
information
the
department
is
required
to
collect
pursuant
to
this
section
to
integrate
data
relating
to
individuals
receiving
ECFS
system
services.
e.
Engage
with
entities
that
maintain
general
population
data
relating
to
the
ECFS
system
to
develop
action
plans,
create
projections
relating
to
a
population’s
ECFS
system
needs,
develop
ECFS
system
policies,
and
otherwise
perform
activities
as
necessary
to
support
families
in
achieving
a
healthy,
successful
future.
2.
The
department
shall
ensure
that
public
and
private
agencies,
organizations,
and
individuals
that
operate
within
the
ECFS
system
use
uniform
methods
to
maintain
statistical
information
relating
to
ECFS
system
outcomes
and
performance.
Sec.
5.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.5
Healthy
families
programs
——
HOPES-HFI
program.
1.
The
department
may
establish
the
HOPES-HFI
program
to
provide
services
to
families
and
children
during
a
child’s
Senate
File
2488,
p.
8
prenatal
through
preschool
years.
If
established,
the
HOPES-HFI
program
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
a.
Promote
optimal
child
health
and
development.
b.
Improve
family
coping
skills
and
functioning.
c.
Promote
positive
parenting
skills
and
intrafamilial
interaction.
d.
Prevent
child
abuse,
child
neglect,
infant
mortality,
and
infant
morbidity.
2.
The
department
shall
administer
the
HOPES-HFI
program,
in
whole
or
in
part,
by
contracting
with
local
organizations
that
use
evidence-based
home
visiting
models.
Sec.
6.
NEW
SECTION
.
234A.6
Early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund.
1.
An
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
is
created
in
the
state
treasury
under
the
control
of
the
department
and
consisting
of
any
moneys
appropriated
to
the
department
for
the
ECFS
system
fund’s
purposes
by
the
general
assembly
and
any
other
moneys
available
and
obtained
or
accepted
by
the
department
for
deposit
in
the
ECFS
system
fund.
The
ECFS
system
fund
shall
be
used
to
implement
and
administer
the
ECFS
system.
2.
Moneys
in
the
ECFS
system
fund
are
appropriated
to
the
department
for
the
purposes
of
implementing
and
administering
the
ECFS
system.
3.
Notwithstanding
section
8.33,
moneys
appropriated
in
this
section
that
remain
unencumbered
or
unobligated
at
the
close
of
a
fiscal
year
shall
not
revert
but
shall
remain
available
for
expenditure
for
the
purposes
designated.
4.
Notwithstanding
section
12C.7,
subsection
2,
interest
or
earnings
on
moneys
in
the
ECFS
system
fund
shall
be
credited
to
the
ECFS
system
fund.
Sec.
7.
REPEAL.
Section
135.106,
Code
2026,
is
repealed.
Sec.
8.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
The
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act
enacting
section
234A.6,
being
deemed
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
DIVISION
II
DECATEGORIZATION
INITIATIVE
Sec.
9.
Section
235.7,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
Senate
File
2488,
p.
9
2.
Membership.
The
department
may
authorize
the
governance
boards
of
decategorization
of
child
welfare
and
juvenile
justice
funding
projects
established
under
section
232.188
to
appoint
the
transition
committee
membership
and
may
utilize
the
boundaries
of
decategorization
projects
to
establish
the
service
areas
for
transition
committees.
The
committee
A
committee’s
membership
may
include
but
is
not
limited
to
department
staff
involved
with
foster
care,
child
welfare,
and
adult
services,
juvenile
court
services
staff,
staff
involved
with
county
general
assistance
or
emergency
relief
under
chapter
251
or
252
,
school
district
and
area
education
agency
staff
involved
with
special
education,
and
a
child’s
court
appointed
special
advocate,
guardian
ad
litem,
service
providers,
and
other
persons
knowledgeable
about
the
child.
Sec.
10.
Section
237A.1,
subsection
2,
paragraph
j,
subparagraph
(2),
Code
2026,
is
amended
by
striking
the
subparagraph.
Sec.
11.
Section
249A.26,
subsection
5,
Code
2026,
is
amended
by
striking
the
subsection.
Sec.
12.
Section
256I.4,
subsection
6,
Code
2026,
is
amended
by
striking
the
subsection.
Sec.
13.
REPEAL.
Section
232.188,
Code
2026,
is
repealed.
Sec.
14.
DECATEGORIZATION
FUNDING
AND
INITIATIVES.
1.
For
purposes
of
this
section,
unless
the
context
otherwise
requires:
a.
“Carryover
funding”
means
unobligated
or
unencumbered
moneys
described
in
section
232.188,
subsection
5,
paragraph
“b”,
Code
2026,
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2025.
b.
“Decategorization
initiative”
means
the
services
and
activities
funded
through
a
funding
pool.
c.
“Department”
means
the
department
of
health
and
human
services.
d.
“Funding”
means
moneys
transferred
to
and
remaining
in
a
funding
pool
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
that
began
July
1,
2025,
and
that
consist
of
any
of
the
following:
(1)
Moneys
appropriated
by
the
general
assembly
and
designated
for
a
decategorization
initiative.
(2)
Moneys
appropriated
by
the
general
assembly
to
the
Senate
File
2488,
p.
10
department
for
child
welfare
and
juvenile
justice
services
and
designated
for
a
decategorization
initiative
by
the
department.
(3)
Moneys
appropriated
to
juvenile
court
services
for
juvenile
justice
programs
and
designated
for
a
decategorization
initiative.
(4)
Carryover
funding.
e.
“Funding
pool”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
232.188,
Code
2026.
f.
“Governance
board”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
232.188,
Code
2026.
2.
a.
Notwithstanding
any
provision
of
law
to
the
contrary,
funding
that
consists
of
moneys
designated
for
decategorization
initiatives
and
transferred
to
a
funding
pool
by
the
department
that
remains
in
a
funding
pool
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2025,
that
has
been
encumbered
or
obligated
by
the
governance
board
for
a
decategorization
initiative
or
by
contract
beyond
the
end
of
that
fiscal
year,
shall
remain
available
for
expenditure
to
ensure
continuation
of
such
decategorization
initiative
or
contract
until
the
close
of
the
succeeding
fiscal
year,
unless
otherwise
determined
by
the
department
under
subsection
5.
b.
Any
encumbered
or
obligated
moneys
remaining
in
a
funding
pool
as
specified
in
paragraph
“a”
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
that
begins
July
1,
2026,
which
are
not
encumbered
or
obligated
by
the
department
as
determined
under
subsection
5
shall
be
transferred
and
appropriated
to
the
department.
3.
a.
Notwithstanding
any
provision
of
law
to
the
contrary,
juvenile
court
services
shall
terminate
all
decategorization
initiative
contracts
funded
through
moneys
designated
for
a
decategorization
initiative
and
transferred
to
a
funding
pool
by
juvenile
court
services
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
that
began
July
1,
2025,
and
shall
not
renew
or
extend
such
contracts.
b.
Moneys
encumbered
or
obligated
under
a
contract
terminated
under
this
subsection
that
remain
in
a
funding
pool
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2025,
shall
be
transferred
and
appropriated
to
juvenile
court
services.
4.
a.
Notwithstanding
any
provision
of
law
to
the
contrary,
moneys
that
remain
in
a
funding
pool
at
the
end
of
Senate
File
2488,
p.
11
the
fiscal
year
that
began
July
1,
2025,
that
are
unencumbered
or
unobligated
by
the
governance
board
for
a
decategorization
initiative
or
by
contract
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year,
shall
be
transferred
and
appropriated
to
the
department
and
juvenile
court
services
proportionately
based
on
the
percentage
of
moneys
designated
for
decategorization
initiatives
and
transferred
to
funding
pools
by
each
entity
for
each
fiscal
year
for
the
fiscal
period
beginning
July
1,
2020,
and
ending
June
30,
2026.
b.
Notwithstanding
any
provision
of
law
to
the
contrary
including
section
8.33,
moneys
transferred
and
appropriated
to
the
department
and
juvenile
court
services
under
this
subsection
shall
not
revert
but
shall
remain
available
to
those
entities
to
be
used
for
child
welfare
and
juvenile
justice
services
until
expended.
5.
a.
With
input
from
appropriate
stakeholders,
the
department
shall
identify
each
contract
funded
through
a
funding
pool
impacted
by
this
division
of
this
Act.
b.
The
department
shall
evaluate
each
contract
identified
under
paragraph
“a”
to
determine
the
following:
(1)
If
termination
is
permitted
by
the
terms
of
a
contract
being
evaluated,
whether
the
department
should
exercise
the
option
to
terminate
the
contract
by
June
30,
2026,
or
continue
the
contract
until
the
end
of
the
current
contract
term.
(2)
If
termination
is
not
permitted
by
the
terms
of
the
contract,
whether
the
contract
should
be
renewed
or
extended
by
the
department
at
the
end
of
the
current
contract
term.
(3)
Whether
the
department
should
assume
responsibility
for
a
contract
for
the
remainder
of
the
current
term
of
the
contract,
for
the
term
of
the
contract
if
the
contract
is
renewed,
or
for
the
term
of
the
contract
if
the
contract
is
extended
to
avoid
service
interruption.
c.
Unless
otherwise
provided
under
this
section,
a
governance
board
or
other
entity
shall
not
execute
a
contract
for
a
decategorization
initiative
if
the
contract
is
funded
through
moneys
in
a
funding
pool
after
the
effective
date
of
this
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act,
or
if
the
term
of
the
contract
extends
beyond,
or
the
deliverables
under
the
contract
would
be
provided
after,
June
30,
2027.
Senate
File
2488,
p.
12
Sec.
15.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
The
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act
related
to
decategorization
funding
and
initiatives,
being
deemed
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
Sec.
16.
RETROACTIVE
APPLICABILITY.
The
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act
related
to
decategorization
funding
and
initiatives
applies
retroactively
to
July
1,
2025.
DIVISION
III
CHILD
ABUSE
PREVENTION
PROGRAM
Sec.
17.
Section
144.13A,
subsection
5,
paragraph
a,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
a.
Ten
dollars
of
each
registration
fee
is
appropriated
and
shall
be
used
for
primary
and
secondary
child
abuse
prevention
programs
pursuant
to
section
235A.1
,
and
ten
dollars
of
each
registration
fee
is
appropriated
and
shall
be
used
for
the
congenital
and
inherited
disorders
central
registry
established
pursuant
to
section
136A.6
.
Notwithstanding
section
8.33
,
moneys
appropriated
in
this
paragraph
that
remain
unencumbered
or
unobligated
at
the
close
of
the
fiscal
year
shall
not
revert
but
shall
remain
available
for
expenditure
for
the
purposes
designated
until
the
close
of
the
succeeding
fiscal
year,
and
shall
not
be
transferred,
used,
obligated,
appropriated,
or
otherwise
encumbered
except
as
provided
in
this
paragraph.
Sec.
18.
Section
422.12K,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
422.12K
Income
tax
checkoff
for
child
abuse
prevention
program
fund
.
1.
A
person
who
files
an
individual
or
a
joint
income
tax
return
with
the
department
of
revenue
under
section
422.13
may
designate
one
dollar
or
more
to
be
paid
to
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
created
in
section
235A.2
234A.6,
to
be
used
for
the
purpose
of
child
abuse
prevention
.
If
the
refund
due
on
the
return
or
the
payment
remitted
with
the
return
is
insufficient
to
pay
the
additional
amount
designated
by
the
taxpayer
to
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund,
the
amount
designated
shall
be
reduced
to
the
remaining
amount
remitted
with
the
return.
The
designation
of
a
contribution
to
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
Senate
File
2488,
p.
13
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
under
this
section
is
irrevocable.
2.
The
director
of
revenue
shall
draft
the
income
tax
form
to
allow
the
designation
of
contributions
to
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
on
the
tax
return.
The
department
of
revenue,
on
or
before
January
31,
shall
transfer
the
total
amount
designated
on
the
tax
return
forms
due
in
the
preceding
calendar
year
to
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund.
However,
before
a
checkoff
pursuant
to
this
section
shall
be
permitted,
all
liabilities
on
the
books
of
the
department
and
accounts
identified
as
owing
under
section
421.65
shall
be
satisfied.
3.
The
department
of
health
and
human
services
may
authorize
payment
of
moneys
from
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
for
the
purpose
of
child
abuse
prevention
in
accordance
with
section
235A.2
234A.6
.
4.
The
department
of
revenue
shall
adopt
rules
to
administer
this
section
.
5.
This
section
is
subject
to
repeal
under
section
422.12E
.
Sec.
19.
REPEAL.
Sections
235A.1,
235A.2,
and
235A.3,
Code
2026,
are
repealed.
Sec.
20.
CHILD
ABUSE
PREVENTION
PROGRAM
FUND
——
TRANSFER
OF
MONEYS.
Any
unencumbered
or
unobligated
moneys
remaining
in
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
fund
created
in
section
235A.2,
on
June
30,
2026,
shall
be
transferred
to
the
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
fund
created
in
section
234A.6,
as
enacted
in
this
Act.
Sec.
21.
CHILD
ABUSE
PREVENTION
PROGRAM
——
REVIEW
OF
CONTRACTS
IMPACTED
BY
TRANSITION
TO
THE
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES
SYSTEM.
With
input
from
appropriate
stakeholders,
the
department
shall
review
the
child
abuse
prevention
program’s
contract
for
program
administration
and
each
grant
project
funded
through
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
for
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2025,
and
ending
June
30,
2026,
impacted
by
this
division
of
this
Act.
The
department
shall
work
with
the
child
abuse
prevention
program’s
program
administrator,
local
child
abuse
stakeholders,
and
Senate
File
2488,
p.
14
grant
project
recipients
to
transition
the
funding
and
child
abuse
prevention
administration
and
service
delivery
to
the
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
established
in
division
I
of
this
Act.
Sec.
22.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
The
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act
relating
to
the
review
of
contracts
impacted
by
the
transition
of
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
to
the
early
childhood
and
family
services
system,
being
deemed
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
Sec.
23.
RETROACTIVE
APPLICABILITY.
The
section
of
this
division
of
this
Act
relating
to
the
review
of
contracts
impacted
by
the
transition
of
the
child
abuse
prevention
program
to
the
early
childhood
and
family
services
system
applies
retroactively
to
July
1,
2025.
DIVISION
IV
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
IOWA
INITIATIVE
——
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES
Sec.
24.
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
IOWA
INITIATIVE
——
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
AND
FAMILY
SERVICES.
1.
For
purposes
of
this
section,
unless
the
context
otherwise
requires:
a.
“Department”
means
the
department
of
health
and
human
services.
b.
“Early
childhood
Iowa
area”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
256I.1.
c.
“Early
childhood
Iowa
area
board”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
256I.1.
d.
“Early
childhood
Iowa
initiative”
means
the
same
as
described
in
section
256I.2.
e.
“ECFS
system”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
234A.1,
as
enacted
in
division
I
of
this
Act.
2.
If
the
department
receives
a
request
from
an
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
to
transition
administration
of
home
visiting
services
to
the
ECFS
system,
the
department
shall
develop
and
implement
a
plan
to
facilitate
the
transfer.
The
department’s
plan
shall,
at
a
minimum,
include
all
of
the
following:
a.
With
input
from
appropriate
stakeholders,
the
department
shall
identify
each
current
home
visiting
services
contract
Senate
File
2488,
p.
15
executed
by
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
requesting
the
transfer
of
administration
of
home
visiting
services.
The
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
shall,
if
permitted
by
the
terms
of
a
contract,
exercise
the
option
to
terminate
the
contract.
If
a
contract
does
not
permit
early
termination,
the
contract
shall
be
terminated
at
the
end
of
the
current
term
of
the
contract.
A
contract
identified
under
this
paragraph
shall
not
be
renewed
or
extended
at
the
end
of
the
current
contract
term.
b.
All
debts,
claims,
or
other
liabilities
owed
to
an
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board,
or
the
board’s
early
childhood
Iowa
area,
due
to
home
visiting
services
provided
or
rendered
pursuant
to
chapter
256I
prior
to
transfer
of
administration
of
home
visiting
services
to
the
ECFS
system
shall
remain
due
and
owing
after
administration
of
home
visiting
services
is
transferred
to
the
ECFS
system.
Each
fiscal
agent
contracted
with
an
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
shall
collect
such
outstanding
debts,
claims,
or
other
liabilities.
c.
An
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
or
an
agent
of
an
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
shall
not
enter
into,
renew,
or
extend
a
home
visiting
services
contract
related
to
the
early
childhood
Iowa
initiative
or
related
activities
if
the
term
of
the
contract
extends
past,
or
the
deliverables
under
the
contract
would
be
provided
after,
the
date
administration
of
the
home
visiting
services
is
transferred
to
the
ECFS
system.
d.
The
department
shall
ensure
that
individuals
currently
receiving
home
visiting
services
provided
through
the
early
childhood
Iowa
initiative
by
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
requesting
the
transfer
of
administration
of
home
visiting
services
have
uninterrupted
continuity
of
care
during
the
transition.
e.
The
department
shall
maintain
ongoing
communication
with,
and
provide
a
means
to
receive
input
from,
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
requesting
the
transfer
of
administration
of
home
visiting
services
during
the
selection
process
for
home
visiting
services
providers
in
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board’s
early
childhood
Iowa
area.
The
department
shall
collaborate
with
the
director
of
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
when
selecting
a
home
visiting
Senate
File
2488,
p.
16
services
provider.
The
department
shall
ensure
that
each
contract
the
department
enters
into
for
home
visiting
services
requires
that
the
contracted
home
visiting
services
provider
inform
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board
that
the
home
visiting
services
provider
will
provide
home
visiting
services
in
the
early
childhood
Iowa
area
board’s
early
childhood
Iowa
area.
3.
During
and
after
the
transfer
of
administration
of
home
visiting
services
to
the
ECFS
system,
and
contingent
upon
the
department’s
receipt
of
additional
federal
funds
for
home
visiting
services
pursuant
to
the
Social
Security
Act,
Tit.
IV-E,
the
department
shall
annually
redistribute
among
all
early
childhood
Iowa
areas
that
made
a
request
under
subsection
2
the
following
percentages
of
the
additional
federal
funds
received
for
coordination
of
early
childhood
services
for
children
from
age
zero
through
age
five:
a.
For
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2027,
and
ending
June
30,
2028,
twenty-five
percent.
b.
For
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2028,
and
ending
June
30,
2029,
fifteen
percent.
c.
For
the
fiscal
year
beginning
July
1,
2029,
and
ending
June
30,
2030,
five
percent.
DIVISION
V
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
IOWA
INTERIM
STUDY
COMMITTEE
Sec.
25.
LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
——
EARLY
CHILDHOOD
IOWA
INTERIM
STUDY
COMMITTEE.
1.
The
legislative
council
shall
convene
a
study
committee
during
the
2026
legislative
interim
to
review
the
most
efficient
means
to
transition
home
visiting
services
offered
through
an
early
childhood
Iowa
area,
as
that
term
is
defined
in
section
256I.1,
to
another
system
based
on
districts
created
by
the
department
of
health
and
human
services
and
to
implement
the
transition
with
minimal
disruption
to
home
visitation
services.
At
a
minimum,
the
study
committee
shall
review
all
of
the
following:
a.
The
financial
and
logistical
consequences
to
the
early
childhood
Iowa
system
and
home
visitation
services.
b.
The
effects
on
statewide
access
to
services
currently
provided
through
early
childhood
Iowa,
including
but
not
Senate
File
2488,
p.
17
limited
to
the
quality
of
services
and
the
coordination
between
providers
and
the
department.
c.
The
impact
on
rural
and
underserved
communities.
d.
Possible
courses
of
action
to
transition
home
visitation
services
to
ensure
the
early
childhood
Iowa
system
remains
viable
and
effective
in
the
long
term.
2.
a.
The
study
committee’s
voting
members
shall
consist
of
the
following:
(1)
Two
members
of
the
senate
appointed
by
the
senate
majority
leader.
(2)
One
member
of
the
senate
appointed
by
the
senate
minority
leader.
(3)
Two
members
of
the
house
of
representatives
appointed
by
the
house
majority
leader.
(4)
One
member
of
the
house
of
representatives
appointed
by
the
house
minority
leader.
b.
The
study
committee’s
nonvoting
members
shall
consist
of
the
following:
(1)
Two
members
of
the
association
of
early
childhood
Iowa
area
boards
and
advocates
appointed
by
the
association
of
early
childhood
Iowa
area
boards
and
advocates.
(2)
Two
early
childhood
Iowa
stakeholders
appointed
by
the
association
of
early
childhood
Iowa
area
boards
and
advocates.
(3)
Two
persons
with
relevant
expertise
appointed
by
the
association
of
early
childhood
Iowa
area
boards
and
advocates.
(4)
Two
representatives
of
the
department
of
health
and
human
services.
(5)
One
representative
of
the
department
of
education.
(6)
One
representative
of
the
department
of
workforce
development.
(7)
One
representative
of
the
economic
development
authority.
3.
The
department
of
health
and
human
services
shall
cooperate
with
any
formal
request
for
data
from
the
study
committee.
All
personal
identifying
information
shall
be
redacted
prior
to
submitting
the
requested
data
to
the
study
committee.
4.
The
study
committee
shall
submit
a
final
report
with
the
study
committee’s
findings
and
recommendations
to
the
general
Senate
File
2488,
p.
18
assembly
no
later
than
January
8,
2027.
In
lieu
of
a
final
report,
the
study
committee
may
submit
a
bill
draft
to
the
general
assembly
with
proposed
changes
to
the
Code
based
on
the
study
committee’s
findings.
DIVISION
VI
CONFORMING
CHANGES
Sec.
26.
Section
232.69,
subsection
1,
paragraph
b,
subparagraph
(5),
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
(5)
An
employee
or
operator
of
a
licensed
child
care
center,
registered
child
development
home,
head
start
program,
family
development
and
self-sufficiency
grant
program
under
section
216A.107
,
or
healthy
opportunities
for
parents
to
experience
success
–
healthy
families
Iowa
program
under
section
135.106
234A.5
.
Sec.
27.
Section
237A.30,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
1.
The
department
shall
work
with
the
early
childhood
Iowa
program
established
in
section
256I.5
in
designing
and
implementing
implement
a
voluntary
quality
rating
system
for
each
provider
type
of
child
care
facility.
Sec.
28.
Section
256I.13,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
1.
In
order
to
implement
the
legislative
intent
stated
in
sections
135.106
and
section
256I.9
,
that
priority
for
family
support
program
funding
be
given
to
programs
using
evidence-based
or
promising
models
for
family
support,
it
is
the
intent
of
the
general
assembly
that
ninety
percent
of
state
funds
expended
for
family
support
programs
shall
be
used
for
evidence-based
or
promising
program
models.
The
remaining
ten
percent
of
funds
may
be
used
for
innovative
program
models
that
do
not
yet
meet
the
definition
of
evidence-based
or
promising
programs.
DIVISION
VII
CODE
EDITOR
DIRECTIVES
Sec.
29.
CODE
EDITOR
DIRECTIVES.
The
Code
editor
is
directed
to
do
all
of
the
following:
1.
Make
changes
in
any
Code
sections
amended
or
enacted
by
any
other
Act
to
correspond
with
the
changes
made
in
this
Act
if
there
appears
to
be
no
doubt
as
to
the
proper
method
of
Senate
File
2488,
p.
19
making
the
changes
and
the
changes
would
not
be
contrary
to
or
inconsistent
with
the
purposes
of
this
Act
or
any
other
Act.
2.
Correct
internal
references
in
the
Code
and
in
enacted
legislation
as
necessary
due
to
the
enactment
of
this
Act.
______________________________
AMY
SINCLAIR
President
of
the
Senate
______________________________
PAT
GRASSLEY
Speaker
of
the
House
I
hereby
certify
that
this
bill
originated
in
the
Senate
and
is
known
as
Senate
File
2488,
Ninety-first
General
Assembly.
______________________________
W.
CHARLES
SMITHSON
Secretary
of
the
Senate
Approved
_______________,
2026
______________________________
KIM
REYNOLDS
Governor