Print
Senate File 324 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the health and well-being of children and
2families including provisions for maternal support and
3fatherhood initiatives, regional centers of excellence, a
4state-funded family medicine obstetrics fellowship program,
5state employee parental leave, adoption expenses under the
6adoption subsidy program, and accessibility to the all Iowa
7scholarship program; making appropriations; and including
8effective date and applicability provisions.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2More options for maternal support (MOMS) program — fatherhood
3initiatives
4 Section 1. Section 217.41C, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code
52023, is amended to read as follows:
6c. For the purposes of this section, “pregnancy support
7services” means those nonmedical services that promote
8childbirth by providing information, counseling, and support
9services that assist pregnant women or women who believe they
10may be pregnant and men who are involved or who think they
11might be involved in a pregnancy to choose childbirth and to
12make informed decisions regarding the choice of adoption or
13parenting with respect to their children.
14 Sec. 2. Section 217.41C, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
15following new subsections:
16 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. The department shall develop and
17maintain a virtual clearinghouse of pregnancy support
18services and resources including but not limited to all of the
19following:
20a. Pregnancy resource center and maternity home information
21including contact information, location, and services provided.
22b. Assistance in accessing public assistance including but
23not limited to the special supplemental nutrition program for
24women, infants, and children and the supplemental nutrition
25assistance program.
26c. Educational resources.
27d. Housing assistance.
28e. Recovery and mental health services.
29f. Family planning education.
30g. Adoption and foster care information and services.
31h. Healing and support services for abortion survivors and
32their families.
33 NEW SUBSECTION. 9. Beginning July 1, 2023, and thereafter,
34funding for the program may be used for all of the following
35purposes:
-1- 1a. Fatherhood engagement grants. The department may
2award grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to
3address the needs of fathers by assisting fathers in finding
4employment, managing child support obligations, transitioning
5from a period of incarceration, accessing health care,
6understanding child development, and enhancing parenting skills
7using evidence-based parenting education. Priority in the
8awarding of grants shall be based on the demonstrated need
9in a geographic area and the prevalence of the population to
10be served as indicated by factors including but not limited
11to the service area’s unemployment rate, incarceration rate,
12number of public assistance recipients, number of single-parent
13households, level of housing instability, and graduation rates.
14b. Fatherhood communications initiative. The department
15shall administer a communications initiative on responsible
16fatherhood including but not limited to a public internet site
17that provides access to resources on effective parenting and
18assistance in receiving parenting support and services.
19c. Mentoring school-aged males grant program. The
20department may award three-year renewable grants to nonprofit
21organizations that provide mentorship, social and academic
22support, and life skills development to school-aged males.
23Priority in the awarding of grants shall be based on the
24demonstrated need in a geographic area and the prevalence of
25the population to be served as indicated by factors including
26but not limited to the service area’s unemployment rate,
27incarceration rate, number of public assistance recipients,
28number of single-parent households, level of housing
29instability, and graduation rates. The department shall
30provide technical assistance to grantees to ensure program
31sustainability following the end of the three-year grant
32period.
33 Sec. 3. MORE OPTIONS FOR MATERNAL SUPPORT PROGRAM —
34APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund of
35the state to the department of health and human services for
-2-1the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
22024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
3to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $42,000,000
5To be used for the purposes of the more options for maternal
6support program created in section 217.41C, including for
7program administration, the provision of services, and for
8funding of fatherhood engagement grants, the fatherhood
9communications initiative, and the mentoring school-aged males
10grant program.
11 Sec. 4. 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1131, section 28, subsection
128, is amended to read as follows:
138. Of the funds appropriated under this section, $500,000
14shall be used for the purposes of program administration and
15provision of pregnancy support services through the more
16options for maternal support program created in this Act.
17Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
18subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close
19of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available
20for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding
21fiscal year.
22 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of
23immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment:
24The section of this division of this Act amending 2022 Iowa
25Acts, chapter 1131, section 28, subsection 8.
26DIVISION II
27Regional centers of excellence grant program
28 Sec. 6. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM — GRANTS —
29APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund of
30the state to the department of health and human services for
31the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
322024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
33to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $341,000,000
35The funds appropriated in this section shall be used for
-3-1the continuation of a center of excellence program to award
2four grants to encourage innovation and collaboration among
3regional health care providers in a rural area based upon the
4results of a regional community needs assessment to transform
5health care delivery in order to provide quality, sustainable
6care that meets the needs of the local communities. An
7applicant for the grant funds shall specify how the funds will
8be expended to accomplish the goals of the program and shall
9provide a detailed five-year sustainability plan prior to being
10awarded any funding. Following the receipt of grant funding,
11a recipient shall submit periodic reports as specified by the
12department to the governor and the general assembly regarding
13the recipient’s expenditure of the funds and progress in
14accomplishing the program’s goals.
15DIVISION III
16state-funded family medicine obstetrics fellowship program
17 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 135.182 State-funded family medicine
18obstetrics fellowship program — fund.
191. The department shall establish a family medicine
20obstetrics fellowship program to increase access to family
21medicine obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved
22areas of the state. A person who has completed an
23accreditation council for graduate medical education residency
24program in family medicine is eligible for participation
25in the fellowship program. Participating fellows shall
26enter into a program agreement with a participating teaching
27hospital which, at a minimum, requires the fellow to complete a
28one-year fellowship and to engage in full-time family medicine
29obstetrics practice in a rural or underserved area of the
30state for a period of at least five years within nine months
31following completion of the fellowship and receipt of a license
32to practice medicine in the state.
332. Each fellow participating in the program shall be
34eligible for a salary and benefits including a stipend as
35determined by the participating teaching hospital which shall
-4-1be funded through the family medicine obstetrics fellowship
2program fund.
33. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
417A to administer the program, including defining rural and
5underserved areas for the purpose of the required full-time
6practice of a person following completion of the fellowship.
74. a. A family medicine obstetrics fellowship program
8fund is created in the state treasury consisting of the moneys
9appropriated or credited to the fund by law. Notwithstanding
10section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the end of each fiscal year
11shall not revert to any other fund but shall remain in the fund
12for use in subsequent fiscal years. Moneys in the fund are
13appropriated to the department to be used to fund fellowship
14positions as provided in this section.
15b. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and each
16fiscal year beginning July 1 thereafter, there is appropriated
17from the general fund of the state to the family medicine
18obstetrics fellowship program fund an amount sufficient to
19support the creation of four fellowship positions as provided
20in this section.
215. The department and the participating teaching hospitals
22shall regularly evaluate and document their experiences
23including identifying ways the program may be modified or
24expanded to facilitate increased access to family medicine
25obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved areas of the
26state. The department shall submit an annual report to the
27general assembly by January 1. The report shall include the
28number of fellowships funded to date and any other information
29identified by the department and the participating teaching
30hospitals as indicators of outcomes and the effectiveness of
31the program.
326. For the purposes of this section, “teaching hospital”
33means a hospital or medical center that provides medical
34education to prospective and current health professionals.
35 Sec. 8. STATE-FUNDED FAMILY MEDICINE OBSTETRICS FELLOWSHIP
-5-1PROGRAM AND FUND — APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from
2the general fund of the state to the department of health and
3human services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and
4ending June 30, 2024, the following amount, or so much thereof
5as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $6560,000
7For deposit in the family medicine obstetrics fellowship
8program fund to be utilized in creating and providing for four
9family medicine obstetrics fellowship positions during the
10fiscal year in accordance with the family medicine obstetrics
11fellowship program created in this division of this Act.
12DIVISION IV
13State employee paid parental leave benefit
14 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION. 70A.31 Paid parental leave.
151. A state employee entitled to leave under the federal
16Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall be provided paid
17leave for such time as specified in this section for the birth
18or placement for adoption with the employee of a child if the
19leave is taken within twelve months following any such birth
20or adoption.
212. a. For the birth of a child, a state employee parent who
22gave birth shall be entitled to up to four weeks of paid leave
23and a state employee parent who did not give birth shall be
24entitled to up to one week of paid leave.
25b. For the placement for adoption of a child, a state
26employee parent shall be entitled to up to four weeks of paid
27leave.
283. The department of administrative services shall adopt
29rules to implement this section.
30DIVISION V
31Nonrecurring ADOPTION EXPENSES — adoption subsidy program
32 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION. 234.48 Adoption subsidy —
33nonrecurring adoption expenses.
34Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the maximum
35reimbursement provided to an adoptive parent under the
-6-1adoption subsidy program for nonrecurring adoption expenses
2is one thousand dollars. For the purposes of this section,
3“nonrecurring adoption expenses” means the same as defined in 45
4C.F.R. §1356.41. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
5chapter 17A to administer this section.
6 Sec. 11. REPEAL. 2010 Iowa Acts, chapter 1031, section 408,
7is repealed.
8DIVISION VI
9All Iowa opportunity scholarship PROGRAM
10 Sec. 12. Section 261.87, subsection 1, paragraph b,
11unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as
12follows:
13“Eligible foster care student” means a person under
14twenty-six years of age who has a high school diploma or a high
15school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A and is described
16by any of the following:
17 Sec. 13. Section 261.87, subsection 2, paragraph f, Code
182023, is amended to read as follows:
19f. (1) Begins Except as provided in subparagraph (2),
20begins enrollment at an eligible institution within two
21academic years of graduation from high school or receipt of
22a high school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A and
23continuously receives awards as a full-time or part-time
24student to maintain eligibility. However, the student may
25defer or suspend participation in the program for up to two
26years in order to pursue obligations that meet conditions
27established by the commission by rule or to fulfill military
28obligations.
29(2) The requirements of subparagraph (1) do not apply to an
30eligible foster care student.
31 Sec. 14. APPLICABILITY. This division of this Act applies
32to applications submitted under the all Iowa opportunity
33scholarship program established pursuant to section 261.87
34before, on, or after the effective date of this division of
35this Act.
-7-1EXPLANATION
2The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
3the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
4This bill relates to the health and well-being of children
5and families. The bill is constructed in divisions.
6DIVISION I — MORE OPTIONS FOR MATERNAL SUPPORT (MOMS)
7PROGRAM — FATHERHOOD INITIATIVES. This division relates to
8the more options for maternal support (MOMS) program. The
9bill adds as part of the definition of “pregnancy support
10services” services to men who are involved or think they might
11be involved in a pregnancy. As part of the MOMS program,
12the division requires HHS to develop and maintain a virtual
13clearinghouse of pregnancy support services and resources. The
14services and resources include but are not limited to pregnancy
15resource center and maternity home information; assistance in
16accessing public assistance including but not limited to the
17special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and
18children program and the supplemental nutrition assistance
19program; educational resources; housing assistance; recovery
20and mental health services; family planning education; adoption
21and foster care information and services; and healing and
22support services for abortion survivors and their families.
23As part of the MOMS program, beginning July 1, 2023, and
24thereafter, funding for the program may be used for fatherhood
25engagement grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations
26to address the needs of fathers by assisting fathers in
27finding employment, managing child support obligations,
28transitioning from a period of incarceration, accessing health
29care, understanding child development, and enhancing parenting
30skills using evidence-based parenting education; a fatherhood
31communications initiative administered by HHS, including but
32not limited to a public internet site that provides access to
33resources on effective parenting and assistance in receiving
34parenting support and services; and a mentoring school-aged
35males grant program to provide mentorship, social and academic
-8-1support, and life skills development to school-aged males.
2The division also appropriates $2 million from the general
3fund of the state to HHS for fiscal year 2023-2024 to be used
4for the MOMS program including for program administration, the
5provision of services, and for funding of fatherhood engagement
6grants, the fatherhood communications initiative, and the
7mentoring school-aged males grant program.
8The division provides that the funding appropriated for the
9MOMS program for fiscal year 2022-2023 is not to revert, but
10is to remain available for the MOMS program for fiscal year
112023-2024. This provision takes effect upon enactment.
12DIVISION II — REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE GRANT PROGRAM.
13 This division appropriates $1 million from the general fund
14of the state to the department of health and human services
15(HHS) for fiscal year 2023-2024 for continuation of a regional
16center of excellence program to award four grants to encourage
17innovation and collaboration among regional health care
18providers in a rural area based upon the results of a regional
19community needs assessment to transform health care delivery in
20order to provide quality, sustainable care that meets the needs
21of the local communities. An applicant for the grant funds
22shall specify how the funds will be expended to accomplish the
23goals of the program and shall provide a detailed five-year
24sustainability plan prior to being awarded any funding.
25Following the receipt of grant funding, a recipient shall
26submit periodic reports as specified by HHS to the governor and
27the general assembly regarding the recipient’s expenditure of
28the funds and progress in accomplishing the program goals.
29DIVISION III — STATE-FUNDED FAMILY MEDICINE OBSTETRICS
30FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND FUND. This division requires HHS to
31establish a family medicine obstetrics fellowship program to
32increase access to family medicine obstetrics practitioners
33in rural and underserved areas of the state. A person who
34has completed an accreditation council for graduate medical
35education residency program in family medicine is eligible for
-9-1participation in the fellowship program. Participating fellows
2shall enter into a program agreement with a participating
3teaching hospital which, at a minimum, requires the fellow
4to complete a one-year fellowship and to engage in full-time
5family medicine obstetrics practice in a rural or underserved
6area of the state for a period of at least five years within
7nine months following completion of the fellowship and receipt
8of a license to practice medicine in the state. Each fellow
9participating in the program shall be eligible for salary and
10benefits including a stipend as determined by the participating
11teaching hospital and funded through the family medicine
12obstetrics fellowship program fund.
13The division requires HHS to adopt administrative rules
14to administer the program, including defining rural and
15underserved areas for the purpose of the required full-time
16practice of a person following completion of the fellowship.
17The division creates a family medicine obstetrics fellowship
18program fund in the state treasury consisting of the moneys
19appropriated or credited to the fund by law. Moneys in the
20fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to any
21other fund but shall remain in the fund for use in subsequent
22fiscal years. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to HHS
23to be used to fund fellowship positions as provided in the
24division. The division appropriates a sufficient amount from
25the general fund of the state to the fund annually to support
26the creation of four fellowship positions. The division
27provides an appropriation for deposit in the fund for fiscal
28year 2023-2024.
29The division requires HHS and the participating teaching
30hospitals to regularly evaluate and document their experiences
31including identifying ways the program may be modified or
32expanded to facilitate increased access to family medicine
33obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved areas of the
34state. The department shall submit an annual report to the
35general assembly by January 1. The report shall include the
-10-1number of fellowships funded to date and any other information
2identified by HHS and the participating teaching hospitals as
3indicators of outcomes and the effectiveness of the program.
4DIVISION IV — STATE EMPLOYEE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE BENEFIT.
5 This division provides that a state employee entitled to leave
6under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall
7be provided paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child if
8the leave is taken within 12 months following any such birth or
9adoption. The division provides that a state employee parent
10who gives birth or adopts a child shall be entitled to up to
11four weeks of paid leave while a state employee parent of a
12child who did not give birth shall be entitled to up to one
13week of paid leave. The division requires the department of
14administrative services to adopt rules to implement this paid
15parental leave benefit.
16DIVISION V — NONRECURRING ADOPTION EXPENSES — ADOPTION
17SUBSIDY PROGRAM. This division provides that the maximum
18reimbursement provided to an adoptive parent under the adoption
19subsidy program for nonrecurring adoption expenses is $1,000.
20The division defines “nonrecurring adoption expenses” as the
21reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney
22fees, and other expenses which are directly related to the
23legal adoption of a child with special needs which are not
24incurred in violation of state, tribal, or federal law, and
25which have not been reimbursed from other sources or other
26funds. Under federal regulation, “other expenses which
27are directly related to the legal adoption of a child with
28special needs” means the costs of the adoption incurred by
29or on behalf of the parents and for which parents carry the
30ultimate liability for payment. Such costs may include the
31adoption study, including health and psychological examination,
32supervision of the placement prior to adoption, transportation,
33and the reasonable costs of lodging and food for the child or
34the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the placement
35or adoption process. The department of health and human
-11-1services shall adopt administrative rules to administer the
2division. The division also repeals a provision in 2010 Iowa
3Acts which limited the nonrecurring adoption expenses to $500
4and prohibited additional amounts for court costs and other
5related legal expenses.
6DIVISION VI — ALL IOWA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
7 This division relates to the all Iowa opportunity scholarship
8program (program), which provides scholarships to Iowa
9students who graduate from high school or receive a high
10school equivalency diploma to help such students attend a
11community college in this state or an institution of higher
12learning governed by the state board of regents. The program
13prioritizes awarding scholarships to certain students,
14including eligible foster care students. Eligible foster care
15students are students who age out of Iowa’s foster care system,
16age out of the state training school, or are adopted from
17Iowa’s foster care system after reaching 16 years of age.
18Current law requires that, in order to be eligible to
19receive a scholarship under the program, the student must begin
20enrollment at a community college or institution of higher
21learning governed by the state board of regents within two
22academic years of graduation from high school or receipt of a
23high school equivalency diploma and continuously receive awards
24as a full-time or part-time student to maintain eligibility.
25The division strikes these requirements for eligible foster
26care students. The division also provides that, for purposes
27of the program, “eligible foster care student” does not include
28a person who is 26 years of age or older.
29The division applies to applications submitted under
30the program before, on, or after the effective date of the
31division.
-12-pf/rh
2families including provisions for maternal support and
3fatherhood initiatives, regional centers of excellence, a
4state-funded family medicine obstetrics fellowship program,
5state employee parental leave, adoption expenses under the
6adoption subsidy program, and accessibility to the all Iowa
7scholarship program; making appropriations; and including
8effective date and applicability provisions.
9BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1DIVISION I
2More options for maternal support (MOMS) program — fatherhood
3initiatives
4 Section 1. Section 217.41C, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code
52023, is amended to read as follows:
6c. For the purposes of this section, “pregnancy support
7services” means those nonmedical services that promote
8childbirth by providing information, counseling, and support
9services that assist pregnant women or women who believe they
10may be pregnant and men who are involved or who think they
11might be involved in a pregnancy to choose childbirth and to
12make informed decisions regarding the choice of adoption or
13parenting with respect to their children.
14 Sec. 2. Section 217.41C, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
15following new subsections:
16 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. The department shall develop and
17maintain a virtual clearinghouse of pregnancy support
18services and resources including but not limited to all of the
19following:
20a. Pregnancy resource center and maternity home information
21including contact information, location, and services provided.
22b. Assistance in accessing public assistance including but
23not limited to the special supplemental nutrition program for
24women, infants, and children and the supplemental nutrition
25assistance program.
26c. Educational resources.
27d. Housing assistance.
28e. Recovery and mental health services.
29f. Family planning education.
30g. Adoption and foster care information and services.
31h. Healing and support services for abortion survivors and
32their families.
33 NEW SUBSECTION. 9. Beginning July 1, 2023, and thereafter,
34funding for the program may be used for all of the following
35purposes:
-1- 1a. Fatherhood engagement grants. The department may
2award grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to
3address the needs of fathers by assisting fathers in finding
4employment, managing child support obligations, transitioning
5from a period of incarceration, accessing health care,
6understanding child development, and enhancing parenting skills
7using evidence-based parenting education. Priority in the
8awarding of grants shall be based on the demonstrated need
9in a geographic area and the prevalence of the population to
10be served as indicated by factors including but not limited
11to the service area’s unemployment rate, incarceration rate,
12number of public assistance recipients, number of single-parent
13households, level of housing instability, and graduation rates.
14b. Fatherhood communications initiative. The department
15shall administer a communications initiative on responsible
16fatherhood including but not limited to a public internet site
17that provides access to resources on effective parenting and
18assistance in receiving parenting support and services.
19c. Mentoring school-aged males grant program. The
20department may award three-year renewable grants to nonprofit
21organizations that provide mentorship, social and academic
22support, and life skills development to school-aged males.
23Priority in the awarding of grants shall be based on the
24demonstrated need in a geographic area and the prevalence of
25the population to be served as indicated by factors including
26but not limited to the service area’s unemployment rate,
27incarceration rate, number of public assistance recipients,
28number of single-parent households, level of housing
29instability, and graduation rates. The department shall
30provide technical assistance to grantees to ensure program
31sustainability following the end of the three-year grant
32period.
33 Sec. 3. MORE OPTIONS FOR MATERNAL SUPPORT PROGRAM —
34APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund of
35the state to the department of health and human services for
-2-1the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
22024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
3to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $42,000,000
5To be used for the purposes of the more options for maternal
6support program created in section 217.41C, including for
7program administration, the provision of services, and for
8funding of fatherhood engagement grants, the fatherhood
9communications initiative, and the mentoring school-aged males
10grant program.
11 Sec. 4. 2022 Iowa Acts, chapter 1131, section 28, subsection
128, is amended to read as follows:
138. Of the funds appropriated under this section, $500,000
14shall be used for the purposes of program administration and
15provision of pregnancy support services through the more
16options for maternal support program created in this Act.
17Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
18subsection that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close
19of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available
20for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding
21fiscal year.
22 Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. The following, being deemed of
23immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment:
24The section of this division of this Act amending 2022 Iowa
25Acts, chapter 1131, section 28, subsection 8.
26DIVISION II
27Regional centers of excellence grant program
28 Sec. 6. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM — GRANTS —
29APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from the general fund of
30the state to the department of health and human services for
31the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
322024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
33to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $341,000,000
35The funds appropriated in this section shall be used for
-3-1the continuation of a center of excellence program to award
2four grants to encourage innovation and collaboration among
3regional health care providers in a rural area based upon the
4results of a regional community needs assessment to transform
5health care delivery in order to provide quality, sustainable
6care that meets the needs of the local communities. An
7applicant for the grant funds shall specify how the funds will
8be expended to accomplish the goals of the program and shall
9provide a detailed five-year sustainability plan prior to being
10awarded any funding. Following the receipt of grant funding,
11a recipient shall submit periodic reports as specified by the
12department to the governor and the general assembly regarding
13the recipient’s expenditure of the funds and progress in
14accomplishing the program’s goals.
15DIVISION III
16state-funded family medicine obstetrics fellowship program
17 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 135.182 State-funded family medicine
18obstetrics fellowship program — fund.
191. The department shall establish a family medicine
20obstetrics fellowship program to increase access to family
21medicine obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved
22areas of the state. A person who has completed an
23accreditation council for graduate medical education residency
24program in family medicine is eligible for participation
25in the fellowship program. Participating fellows shall
26enter into a program agreement with a participating teaching
27hospital which, at a minimum, requires the fellow to complete a
28one-year fellowship and to engage in full-time family medicine
29obstetrics practice in a rural or underserved area of the
30state for a period of at least five years within nine months
31following completion of the fellowship and receipt of a license
32to practice medicine in the state.
332. Each fellow participating in the program shall be
34eligible for a salary and benefits including a stipend as
35determined by the participating teaching hospital which shall
-4-1be funded through the family medicine obstetrics fellowship
2program fund.
33. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
417A to administer the program, including defining rural and
5underserved areas for the purpose of the required full-time
6practice of a person following completion of the fellowship.
74. a. A family medicine obstetrics fellowship program
8fund is created in the state treasury consisting of the moneys
9appropriated or credited to the fund by law. Notwithstanding
10section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the end of each fiscal year
11shall not revert to any other fund but shall remain in the fund
12for use in subsequent fiscal years. Moneys in the fund are
13appropriated to the department to be used to fund fellowship
14positions as provided in this section.
15b. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and each
16fiscal year beginning July 1 thereafter, there is appropriated
17from the general fund of the state to the family medicine
18obstetrics fellowship program fund an amount sufficient to
19support the creation of four fellowship positions as provided
20in this section.
215. The department and the participating teaching hospitals
22shall regularly evaluate and document their experiences
23including identifying ways the program may be modified or
24expanded to facilitate increased access to family medicine
25obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved areas of the
26state. The department shall submit an annual report to the
27general assembly by January 1. The report shall include the
28number of fellowships funded to date and any other information
29identified by the department and the participating teaching
30hospitals as indicators of outcomes and the effectiveness of
31the program.
326. For the purposes of this section, “teaching hospital”
33means a hospital or medical center that provides medical
34education to prospective and current health professionals.
35 Sec. 8. STATE-FUNDED FAMILY MEDICINE OBSTETRICS FELLOWSHIP
-5-1PROGRAM AND FUND — APPROPRIATION. There is appropriated from
2the general fund of the state to the department of health and
3human services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and
4ending June 30, 2024, the following amount, or so much thereof
5as is necessary, to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $6560,000
7For deposit in the family medicine obstetrics fellowship
8program fund to be utilized in creating and providing for four
9family medicine obstetrics fellowship positions during the
10fiscal year in accordance with the family medicine obstetrics
11fellowship program created in this division of this Act.
12DIVISION IV
13State employee paid parental leave benefit
14 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION. 70A.31 Paid parental leave.
151. A state employee entitled to leave under the federal
16Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall be provided paid
17leave for such time as specified in this section for the birth
18or placement for adoption with the employee of a child if the
19leave is taken within twelve months following any such birth
20or adoption.
212. a. For the birth of a child, a state employee parent who
22gave birth shall be entitled to up to four weeks of paid leave
23and a state employee parent who did not give birth shall be
24entitled to up to one week of paid leave.
25b. For the placement for adoption of a child, a state
26employee parent shall be entitled to up to four weeks of paid
27leave.
283. The department of administrative services shall adopt
29rules to implement this section.
30DIVISION V
31Nonrecurring ADOPTION EXPENSES — adoption subsidy program
32 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION. 234.48 Adoption subsidy —
33nonrecurring adoption expenses.
34Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the maximum
35reimbursement provided to an adoptive parent under the
-6-1adoption subsidy program for nonrecurring adoption expenses
2is one thousand dollars. For the purposes of this section,
3“nonrecurring adoption expenses” means the same as defined in 45
4C.F.R. §1356.41. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
5chapter 17A to administer this section.
6 Sec. 11. REPEAL. 2010 Iowa Acts, chapter 1031, section 408,
7is repealed.
8DIVISION VI
9All Iowa opportunity scholarship PROGRAM
10 Sec. 12. Section 261.87, subsection 1, paragraph b,
11unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2023, is amended to read as
12follows:
13“Eligible foster care student” means a person under
14twenty-six years of age who has a high school diploma or a high
15school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A and is described
16by any of the following:
17 Sec. 13. Section 261.87, subsection 2, paragraph f, Code
182023, is amended to read as follows:
19f. (1) Begins Except as provided in subparagraph (2),
20begins enrollment at an eligible institution within two
21academic years of graduation from high school or receipt of
22a high school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A and
23continuously receives awards as a full-time or part-time
24student to maintain eligibility. However, the student may
25defer or suspend participation in the program for up to two
26years in order to pursue obligations that meet conditions
27established by the commission by rule or to fulfill military
28obligations.
29(2) The requirements of subparagraph (1) do not apply to an
30eligible foster care student.
31 Sec. 14. APPLICABILITY. This division of this Act applies
32to applications submitted under the all Iowa opportunity
33scholarship program established pursuant to section 261.87
34before, on, or after the effective date of this division of
35this Act.
-7-1EXPLANATION
2The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
3the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
4This bill relates to the health and well-being of children
5and families. The bill is constructed in divisions.
6DIVISION I — MORE OPTIONS FOR MATERNAL SUPPORT (MOMS)
7PROGRAM — FATHERHOOD INITIATIVES. This division relates to
8the more options for maternal support (MOMS) program. The
9bill adds as part of the definition of “pregnancy support
10services” services to men who are involved or think they might
11be involved in a pregnancy. As part of the MOMS program,
12the division requires HHS to develop and maintain a virtual
13clearinghouse of pregnancy support services and resources. The
14services and resources include but are not limited to pregnancy
15resource center and maternity home information; assistance in
16accessing public assistance including but not limited to the
17special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and
18children program and the supplemental nutrition assistance
19program; educational resources; housing assistance; recovery
20and mental health services; family planning education; adoption
21and foster care information and services; and healing and
22support services for abortion survivors and their families.
23As part of the MOMS program, beginning July 1, 2023, and
24thereafter, funding for the program may be used for fatherhood
25engagement grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations
26to address the needs of fathers by assisting fathers in
27finding employment, managing child support obligations,
28transitioning from a period of incarceration, accessing health
29care, understanding child development, and enhancing parenting
30skills using evidence-based parenting education; a fatherhood
31communications initiative administered by HHS, including but
32not limited to a public internet site that provides access to
33resources on effective parenting and assistance in receiving
34parenting support and services; and a mentoring school-aged
35males grant program to provide mentorship, social and academic
-8-1support, and life skills development to school-aged males.
2The division also appropriates $2 million from the general
3fund of the state to HHS for fiscal year 2023-2024 to be used
4for the MOMS program including for program administration, the
5provision of services, and for funding of fatherhood engagement
6grants, the fatherhood communications initiative, and the
7mentoring school-aged males grant program.
8The division provides that the funding appropriated for the
9MOMS program for fiscal year 2022-2023 is not to revert, but
10is to remain available for the MOMS program for fiscal year
112023-2024. This provision takes effect upon enactment.
12DIVISION II — REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE GRANT PROGRAM.
13 This division appropriates $1 million from the general fund
14of the state to the department of health and human services
15(HHS) for fiscal year 2023-2024 for continuation of a regional
16center of excellence program to award four grants to encourage
17innovation and collaboration among regional health care
18providers in a rural area based upon the results of a regional
19community needs assessment to transform health care delivery in
20order to provide quality, sustainable care that meets the needs
21of the local communities. An applicant for the grant funds
22shall specify how the funds will be expended to accomplish the
23goals of the program and shall provide a detailed five-year
24sustainability plan prior to being awarded any funding.
25Following the receipt of grant funding, a recipient shall
26submit periodic reports as specified by HHS to the governor and
27the general assembly regarding the recipient’s expenditure of
28the funds and progress in accomplishing the program goals.
29DIVISION III — STATE-FUNDED FAMILY MEDICINE OBSTETRICS
30FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND FUND. This division requires HHS to
31establish a family medicine obstetrics fellowship program to
32increase access to family medicine obstetrics practitioners
33in rural and underserved areas of the state. A person who
34has completed an accreditation council for graduate medical
35education residency program in family medicine is eligible for
-9-1participation in the fellowship program. Participating fellows
2shall enter into a program agreement with a participating
3teaching hospital which, at a minimum, requires the fellow
4to complete a one-year fellowship and to engage in full-time
5family medicine obstetrics practice in a rural or underserved
6area of the state for a period of at least five years within
7nine months following completion of the fellowship and receipt
8of a license to practice medicine in the state. Each fellow
9participating in the program shall be eligible for salary and
10benefits including a stipend as determined by the participating
11teaching hospital and funded through the family medicine
12obstetrics fellowship program fund.
13The division requires HHS to adopt administrative rules
14to administer the program, including defining rural and
15underserved areas for the purpose of the required full-time
16practice of a person following completion of the fellowship.
17The division creates a family medicine obstetrics fellowship
18program fund in the state treasury consisting of the moneys
19appropriated or credited to the fund by law. Moneys in the
20fund at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to any
21other fund but shall remain in the fund for use in subsequent
22fiscal years. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to HHS
23to be used to fund fellowship positions as provided in the
24division. The division appropriates a sufficient amount from
25the general fund of the state to the fund annually to support
26the creation of four fellowship positions. The division
27provides an appropriation for deposit in the fund for fiscal
28year 2023-2024.
29The division requires HHS and the participating teaching
30hospitals to regularly evaluate and document their experiences
31including identifying ways the program may be modified or
32expanded to facilitate increased access to family medicine
33obstetrics practitioners in rural and underserved areas of the
34state. The department shall submit an annual report to the
35general assembly by January 1. The report shall include the
-10-1number of fellowships funded to date and any other information
2identified by HHS and the participating teaching hospitals as
3indicators of outcomes and the effectiveness of the program.
4DIVISION IV — STATE EMPLOYEE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE BENEFIT.
5 This division provides that a state employee entitled to leave
6under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall
7be provided paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child if
8the leave is taken within 12 months following any such birth or
9adoption. The division provides that a state employee parent
10who gives birth or adopts a child shall be entitled to up to
11four weeks of paid leave while a state employee parent of a
12child who did not give birth shall be entitled to up to one
13week of paid leave. The division requires the department of
14administrative services to adopt rules to implement this paid
15parental leave benefit.
16DIVISION V — NONRECURRING ADOPTION EXPENSES — ADOPTION
17SUBSIDY PROGRAM. This division provides that the maximum
18reimbursement provided to an adoptive parent under the adoption
19subsidy program for nonrecurring adoption expenses is $1,000.
20The division defines “nonrecurring adoption expenses” as the
21reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney
22fees, and other expenses which are directly related to the
23legal adoption of a child with special needs which are not
24incurred in violation of state, tribal, or federal law, and
25which have not been reimbursed from other sources or other
26funds. Under federal regulation, “other expenses which
27are directly related to the legal adoption of a child with
28special needs” means the costs of the adoption incurred by
29or on behalf of the parents and for which parents carry the
30ultimate liability for payment. Such costs may include the
31adoption study, including health and psychological examination,
32supervision of the placement prior to adoption, transportation,
33and the reasonable costs of lodging and food for the child or
34the adoptive parents when necessary to complete the placement
35or adoption process. The department of health and human
-11-1services shall adopt administrative rules to administer the
2division. The division also repeals a provision in 2010 Iowa
3Acts which limited the nonrecurring adoption expenses to $500
4and prohibited additional amounts for court costs and other
5related legal expenses.
6DIVISION VI — ALL IOWA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
7 This division relates to the all Iowa opportunity scholarship
8program (program), which provides scholarships to Iowa
9students who graduate from high school or receive a high
10school equivalency diploma to help such students attend a
11community college in this state or an institution of higher
12learning governed by the state board of regents. The program
13prioritizes awarding scholarships to certain students,
14including eligible foster care students. Eligible foster care
15students are students who age out of Iowa’s foster care system,
16age out of the state training school, or are adopted from
17Iowa’s foster care system after reaching 16 years of age.
18Current law requires that, in order to be eligible to
19receive a scholarship under the program, the student must begin
20enrollment at a community college or institution of higher
21learning governed by the state board of regents within two
22academic years of graduation from high school or receipt of a
23high school equivalency diploma and continuously receive awards
24as a full-time or part-time student to maintain eligibility.
25The division strikes these requirements for eligible foster
26care students. The division also provides that, for purposes
27of the program, “eligible foster care student” does not include
28a person who is 26 years of age or older.
29The division applies to applications submitted under
30the program before, on, or after the effective date of the
31division.
-12-pf/rh