SSB 3165 (LSB 5962SC (3) 88)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON SWEENEY)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a task force relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child or dependent adult with the child’s or dependent adult’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT —— CHILD OR DEPENDENT ADULT REUNIFICATION FOLLOWING A NATURAL DISASTER —— TASK FORCE.
   1.  The department of homeland security and emergency management shall convene a task force to study the current status of unaccompanied children and dependent adults following a natural disaster, who are not under the supervision of a school or the department of human services, to ascertain gaps, assess capacity concerns, identify resources, and examine issues including specifically the dangers that a child or dependent adult separated from a parent, guardian, or custodian may face including victimization, abuse, kidnapping, or exploitation, and reunification efforts that need to be addressed by all agencies and organizations across the response community. The task force shall develop specific policy recommendations relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child or dependent adult with the child’s or dependent adult’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster. 
   2.  The task force members shall include but are not limited to representatives from the department of public safety, the Iowa emergency management directors association, the Iowa state sheriffs and deputies association, a police officers association, a fire fighters association, and other agencies as deemed appropriate. The task force members shall also include four legislators as ex officio, nonvoting members. The four legislators shall be appointed one each by the majority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the minority leader of the house of representatives for terms as provided in section 69.16B.
   3.  The task force shall convene by October 2, 2020, and shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the general assembly for consideration during the 2021 legislative session. 
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes a task force relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child or dependent adult with the child’s or dependent adult’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster.
   The bill requires the department of homeland security and emergency management to convene a task force to study the current status of unaccompanied children and dependent adults following a natural disaster, who are not under the supervision of a school or the department of human services, to ascertain gaps, assess capacity concerns, identify resources, examine issues including specific issues relating to the dangers a child or dependent adult may face and reunification efforts by all agencies and organizations across the response community. The task force shall develop specific policy recommendations relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child or dependent adult with the child’s or dependent adult’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster. 
   The bill provides that task force members shall include but are not limited to representatives from the department of public safety, the Iowa emergency management directors association, the Iowa state sheriffs and deputies association, a police officers association, a fire fighters association, and other agencies as deemed appropriate. The task force members shall also include four legislators as ex officio, nonvoting members. The task force shall convene by October 2, 2020, and shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the general assembly for consideration during the 2021 legislative interim.