Text: SF00551 Text: SF00553 Text: SF00500 - SF00599 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 217.42, Code 2001, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 217.42COUNTY CLUSTERSSERVICE AREAS – OFFICES. 1 4 1. The organizational structure to deliver the 1 5 department's field services shall be based uponcounty1 6clustersservice areas.A county cluster shall consist of a1 7single county, or a group of counties which have joined1 8together toThe service areas shall serve as a basis for 1 9 providing field services to persons residing in thecounty or1 10 counties comprising theclusterservice area. Theclusters1 11 service areas shall be those designated by the department 1 12 effectiveMarch 1, 1992January 1, 2002.If it is necessary1 13for the department to significantly modify its field1 14operations or the composition of a designated county cluster,1 15the department shall consult with the affected counties prior1 16to implementing such action. A county may join a different1 17cluster if it is mutually agreeable with the department and it1 18occurs at the beginning of a fiscal year. The county boards1 19of supervisors in a cluster shall advise the department on the1 20selection of the area administrator responsible for the county1 21cluster.In determining the service areas, the department 1 22 shall consider other geographic service areas including but 1 23 not limited to judicial districts and community empowerment 1 24 areas. The department shall consult with the county boards of 1 25 supervisors in a service area with respect to the selection of 1 26 the service area manager responsible for the service area who 1 27 is initially selected for the service area designated 1 28 effective January 1, 2002, and any service area manager 1 29 selected for the service area thereafter. Following 1 30 establishment of the service areas effective January 1, 2002, 1 31 if a county seeks to change the boundaries of a service area, 1 32 the change shall only take place if the change is mutually 1 33 agreeable to the department and all affected counties. If it 1 34 is necessary for the department to significantly modify its 1 35 field operations or the composition of a designated service 2 1 area, or if it is necessary for the department to change the 2 2 number of offices operating less than full-time, the 2 3 department shall consult with the affected counties prior to 2 4 implementing such action. 2 5 2. The department shall maintain an office in each county. 2 6 Based on the annual appropriations for field operations, the 2 7 department shall strive to maintain a full-time presence in 2 8 each county. If it is not possible to maintain a full-time 2 9 presence in each county, the department shall provide staff 2 10 based on its caseweight system to assure the provision of 2 11 services. The department shall consult with the county boards 2 12 of supervisors of those counties regarding staffing prior to 2 13 any modification of office hours. 2 14 3. A county or group of counties may voluntarily enter 2 15 into a chapter 28E agreement with the department to provide 2 16 funding or staff persons to deliver field services incounty2 17cluster andcounty offices. The agreement shall cover the 2 18 full fiscal year but may be revised by mutual consent. 2 19 Sec. 2. Section 217.43, Code 2001, is amended by striking 2 20 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 2 21 217.43 SERVICE AREA ADVISORY BOARDS – LOCATION OF COUNTY 2 22 OFFICES. 2 23 1. The department shall establish a service area advisory 2 24 board in each service area. Each of the county boards of 2 25 supervisors of the counties comprising the service area shall 2 26 appoint two service area advisory board members. The 2 27 following requirements apply to the appointments made by a 2 28 county board of supervisors: the membership shall be 2 29 appointed in accordance with section 69.16, relating to 2 30 political affiliation, and section 69.16A, relating to gender 2 31 balance; not more than one of the members shall be a member of 2 32 the board of supervisors; and appointments shall be made on 2 33 the basis of interest in maintaining and improving service 2 34 delivery. Appointments shall be made a part of the regular 2 35 proceedings of the board of supervisors and shall be filed 3 1 with the county auditor and the service area manager. A 3 2 vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the 3 3 original appointment. The boards of supervisors shall develop 3 4 and agree to other organizational provisions involving the 3 5 advisory board, including reporting requirements. 3 6 2. The purpose of the advisory boards is to improve 3 7 communication and coordination between the department and the 3 8 counties and to advise the department regarding maintenance 3 9 and improvement of service delivery in the counties and 3 10 communities comprising the service areas. 3 11 3. The department shall determine the community in which 3 12 each county office will be located. The county board of 3 13 supervisors shall determine the location of the office space 3 14 for the county office. The county board of supervisors shall 3 15 make reasonable efforts to collocate the office with other 3 16 state and local government or private entity offices in order 3 17 to maintain the offices in a cost-effective location that is 3 18 convenient to the public. 3 19 Sec. 3. Section 217.44, Code 2001, is amended to read as 3 20 follows: 3 21 217.44COUNTY CLUSTERSSERVICE AREAS – EMPLOYEE AND 3 22 VOLUNTEER RECORD CHECKS. 3 23 1. The department shall conduct criminal and child and 3 24 dependent adult abuse record checks of persons who are 3 25 potential employees, employees, potential volunteers, and 3 26 volunteers incounty clusterservice area offices in a 3 27 position having direct contact with the department's clients. 3 28 The record checks shall be performed in this state and the 3 29 department may conduct these checks in other states. If the 3 30 department determines that a person has been convicted of a 3 31 crime or has a record of founded child or dependent adult 3 32 abuse, the department shall perform an evaluation to determine 3 33 whether the crime or founded abuse warrants prohibition of the 3 34 person's employment or participation as a volunteer. The 3 35 record checks and evaluation shall be performed in accordance 4 1 with procedures adopted for this purpose by the department. 4 2 2. In an evaluation, the department shall consider the 4 3 nature and seriousness of the crime or founded child or 4 4 dependent adult abuse in relation to the position sought or 4 5 held, the time elapsed since the commission of the crime or 4 6 founded abuse, the circumstances under which the crime or 4 7 founded abuse was committed, the degree of rehabilitation, the 4 8 likelihood that the person will commit the crime or founded 4 9 abuse again, and the number of crimes or founded abuses 4 10 committed by the person involved. 4 11 3. The department may permit a person who is evaluated to 4 12 be employed or to participate as a volunteer if the person 4 13 complies with the department's conditions relating to 4 14 employment or participation as a volunteer which may include 4 15 completion of additional training. 4 16 4. If the department determines that the person has 4 17 committed a crime or has a record of founded child or 4 18 dependent adult abuse which warrants prohibition of employment 4 19 or participation as a volunteer, the person shall not be 4 20 employed by or participate as a volunteer in a department 4 21clusterservice area office in a position having direct 4 22 contact with the department's clients. 4 23 Sec. 4. Section 251.3, subsection 1, Code 2001, is amended 4 24 to read as follows: 4 25 1. Appoint such personnel as may be necessary for the 4 26 efficient discharge of the duties imposed upon the 4 27 administrator in the administration of emergency relief, and 4 28 to make such rules and regulations as the administrator deems 4 29 necessary or advisable covering the administrator's activities 4 30 and those of thecounty clusterservice area advisory boards 4 31 created under section 217.43, concerning emergency relief. 4 32 Sec. 5. Section 251.5, Code 2001, is amended to read as 4 33 follows: 4 34 251.5 DUTIES OF THECOUNTY CLUSTERSERVICE AREA ADVISORY 4 35 BOARD. 5 1 Acounty clusterservice area advisory board created in 5 2 section 217.43 shall perform the following activities for any 5 3 county in the board'scounty clusterservice area concerning 5 4 emergency relief: 5 5 1. Cooperate with a county's board of supervisors in all 5 6 matters pertaining to administration of relief. 5 7 2. At the request of a county's board of supervisors, 5 8 prepare requests for grants of state funds. 5 9 3. At the request of a county's board of supervisors, 5 10 administer county relief funds. 5 11 4. In a county receiving grants of state funds upon 5 12 approval of the director of revenue and finance and the 5 13 county's board of supervisors, administer both state and 5 14 county relief funds. 5 15 5. Perform other duties as may be prescribed by the 5 16 administrator and a county's board of supervisors. 5 17 Sec. 6. Section 251.7, Code 2001, is amended to read as 5 18 follows: 5 19 251.7 COUNTY APPOINTEES TO ACT AS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 5 20 The county board of supervisors may appoint an individual 5 21 to serve as the executive officer of thecounty cluster5 22 service area advisory board in all matters pertaining to 5 23 relief for that county. 5 24 Sec. 7. Section 252.6, Code 2001, is amended to read as 5 25 follows: 5 26 252.6 ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITY. 5 27 Upon the failure of such relatives to assist or maintain a 5 28 poor person who has made application for assistance, the 5 29 county board of supervisors,county clusterservice area 5 30 advisory board created under section 217.43, or state division 5 31 of child and family services of the department of human 5 32 services may apply to the district court of the county where 5 33 the poor person resides or may be found, for an order to 5 34 compel the assistance or maintenance. 5 35 Sec. 8. Section 331.321, subsection 1, paragraph f, Code 6 1 2001, is amended to read as follows: 6 2 f. The members of thecounty clusterservice area advisory 6 3 board in accordance with section 217.43. 6 4 Sec. 9. INTENT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY – OFFICE SPACE LEASES, 6 5 EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES. It is the intent of the general 6 6 assembly that the department of human services terminate all 6 7 contracts for the lease, purchase, or maintenance of space and 6 8 equipment for the support of existing regional offices. 6 9 Sec. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 6 10 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 6 11 EXPLANATION 6 12 This bill provides for organization of field services 6 13 within the department of human services based upon service 6 14 areas rather than county clusters. The service areas are to 6 15 be those designated effective January 1, 2002. In determining 6 16 the service areas, the department is directed to consider 6 17 other geographic service areas including but not limited to 6 18 judicial districts and community empowerment areas. If a 6 19 county seeks a change in the boundaries of a service area 6 20 following establishment of the service areas effective January 6 21 1, 2002, the change can only take place if all parties 6 22 mutually agree to the change. The department is to consult 6 23 with the county boards of supervisors with respect to the 6 24 selection of the service area manager responsible for the 6 25 service area who is initially selected for the service area 6 26 designated effective January 1, 2002, and thereafter. 6 27 The bill also replaces county cluster boards with service 6 28 area advisory boards and provides conforming changes in the 6 29 Code to reflect the new organizational structure. 6 30 The bill provides that it is the intent of the general 6 31 assembly that the department terminate all contracts for the 6 32 lease, purchase, or maintenance of office space and equipment 6 33 for the support of existing regional offices. 6 34 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 6 35 LSB 5176SV 79 7 1 pf/cf/24
Text: SF00551 Text: SF00553 Text: SF00500 - SF00599 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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