CHAPTER 233A
TRAINING SCHOOL

Referred to in §297.24

  
     
233A.1  State training school — Eldora.
  1.  Effective January 1, 1992, a diagnosis and evaluation center and other units are established at the state training school to provide court-committed male juvenile delinquents a program which focuses upon appropriate developmental skills, treatment, placements, and rehabilitation.
  2.  The diagnosis and evaluation center which is used to identify appropriate treatment and placement alternatives for juveniles and any other units for juvenile delinquents which are located at Eldora shall be known as the “state training school”.
  3.  For the purposes of this chapter:
  a.  “Department” means the department of health and human services.
  b.  “Director” means the director of health and human services. 
  c.  “State training school” means the diagnosis and evaluation center which is used to identify appropriate treatment and placement alternatives for juveniles and any other units for juvenile delinquents which are located at Eldora.
  d.  “Superintendent” means the administrator in charge of the state training school.
  4.  The number of children present at any one time at the state training school shall not exceed the population guidelines established under 
1990 Iowa Acts, ch. 1239, §21
, as adjusted for subsequent changes in the capacity at the training school.
[S13, §2701-a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3685; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.1; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §25]
83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 90 Acts, ch 1239, §15, 16
C93, §233A.1
2005 Acts, ch 175, §102; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143; 2018 Acts, ch 1165, §114; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §657

     
233A.2  Superintendent — powers and duties.
  The superintendent has charge and custody of the juveniles committed to the state training school. The superintendent shall administer the state training school and direct the staff in order to provide a positive living experience designed to prepare the juveniles for a productive future.
[C73, §1651, 1652; C97, §2707; S13, §2707; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3686; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.2]
90 Acts, ch 1239, §17
C93, §233A.2

     
233A.3  Salary.
  The salary of the superintendent of the state training school shall be determined by the director.
[S13, §2727-3a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3687; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.3; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §26]
C93, §233A.3
2023 Acts, ch 19, §658

     
233A.4  Education and training.
  The state training school shall provide a positive living experience for older juveniles who require secure custody and who live at the state training school for an extended period of time. The education and training programs provided to the juveniles shall reflect the age level and extended period of stay by focusing upon appropriate developmental skills to prepare the juveniles for productive living.
[C73, §1648; C97, §2706; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3688; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.4; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §27]
85 Acts, ch 21, §37; 90 Acts, ch 1239, §18
C93, §233A.4
Referred to in §232.53

     
233A.5  Procedure to commit.
  The procedure for the commitment of children to the state training school, except as otherwise provided, shall be the same as provided in chapter 232.
[C73, §1653 – 1659; C97, §2708, 2709; S13, §2708, 2709; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3689; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.5]
C93, §233A.5

     
233A.6  Visits.
  Members of the executive council, the attorney general, the lieutenant governor, members of the general assembly, judges of the supreme and district court and court of appeals, magistrates, county attorneys, and persons ordained or designated as regular leaders of a religious community may visit the state training school at reasonable times. No other person shall be granted admission except by permission of the superintendent.
85 Acts, ch 21, §38
CS85, §242.6
C93, §233A.6
2023 Acts, ch 19, §659

     
233A.7  Placing in families.
  All children committed to and received in the state training school may be placed by the department under foster care arrangements, with any persons or in families of good standing and character where the children will be properly cared for and educated. The cost of foster care provided under these arrangements shall be paid as provided in section 234.35.
[C73, §1649; C97, §2704; S13, §2704; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3691; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.7; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §29]
90 Acts, ch 1270, §47
C93, §233A.7
2023 Acts, ch 19, §660
Referred to in §233A.8, 233A.9, 233A.11

     
233A.8  Articles of agreement.
  A child placed in foster care as provided in section 233A.7 shall be placed under articles of agreement, approved by the director and signed by the person or persons providing foster care and by the superintendent. The articles of agreement shall provide for the custody, care, education, maintenance, and earnings of the child for a time specified in the articles, which shall not extend beyond the time the child attains eighteen years of age.
[C73, §1649; C97, §2704; S13, §2704; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3692; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.8]
C93, §233A.8
2023 Acts, ch 19, §661
Referred to in §233A.11

     
233A.9  Resuming custody of child.
  If a child placed in foster care as provided in section 233A.7 is not given the care, education, treatment, and maintenance required by the articles of agreement, the director may return the child to the state training school, place the child in a different foster care placement, or release or finally discharge the child.
[C73, §1649; C97, §2704; S13, §2704; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3693; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.9]
C93, §233A.9
2023 Acts, ch 19, §662
Referred to in §233A.11

     
233A.10  Unlawful interference.
  It shall be unlawful for any parent or other person not a party to the placing of a child in foster care to interfere in any manner or assume or exercise any control over the child or the child’s earnings. The child’s earnings shall be used, held, or otherwise applied for the exclusive benefit of the child, in accordance with section 234.37.
[S13, §2704; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3694; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.10]
C93, §233A.10
2023 Acts, ch 19, §663
Referred to in §233A.11

  
     
233A.11  County attorney to appear for child.
  In case legal proceedings are necessary to enforce any right conferred on any child by sections 233A.7 through 233A.10, the county attorney of the county in which such proceedings should be instituted shall, on the request of the superintendent, subject to the approval of the director, institute and carry out the proceedings on behalf of the superintendent.
[S13, §2704; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3695; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.11]
C93, §233A.11
2021 Acts, ch 80, §130; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §664
Referred to in §331.756(44)

     
233A.12  Discharge or parole.
  The director may at any time after one year’s service order the discharge or parole of any inmate as a reward for good conduct, and may, in exceptional cases, discharge or parole inmates without regard to the length of their service or conduct, when satisfied that the reasons for the discharge or parole are urgent and sufficient. If paroled upon satisfactory evidence of reformation, the order may remain in effect or terminate under rules prescribed by the director.
[C73, §1660, 1661; C97, §2711; S13, §2711; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3696; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.12]
C93, §233A.12
2023 Acts, ch 19, §665

  
     
233A.13  Effect of discharge.
  The discharge of an inmate as reformed or having arrived at eighteen years of age, shall be a complete release from all penalties incurred by the conviction for the offense upon which the child was committed to the school.
[C73, §1661; C97, §2711; S13, §2711; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3697; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.13]
C93, §233A.13
2023 Acts, ch 19, §666
Referred to in §232.53

  
     
233A.14  Transfers to other institutions.
  The director may transfer minor wards of the state to the state training school from any institution under the director’s control, but a person shall not be transferred who has a mental illness or an intellectual disability. Any child in the state training school who has a mental illness or an intellectual disability may be transferred by the director to the proper state institution.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.14]
C93, §233A.14
2012 Acts, ch 1019, §90; 2018 Acts, ch 1165, §115; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §667

  
     
233A.15  Assignments to work in parks.
  1.  The director may assign children from the state training school deemed trustworthy, to perform services for the department of natural resources within the state parks, state game and forest areas, and other lands under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources. The department of natural resources shall provide work guidance supervision, but the care and custody of the children assigned shall remain with the department. All programs shall have as their primary purpose and shall provide for inculcation or the activation of attitudes, skills, and habit patterns which will be conducive to the habilitation of the children involved.
  2.  The director may use state-owned mobile housing equipment and facilities in performing services at temporary locations in the areas described in subsection 1.
[C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §242.15; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §30]
83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159
C93, §233A.15
2021 Acts, ch 80, §131; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §668; 2024 Acts, ch 1182, §1

233A.16  Reserved.

     
233A.17  Cost of care.
  If a child receives unearned income, the department shall reserve a portion of the unearned income for the use of the child as a personal allowance and apply the remaining portion to the cost of the child’s custody, care, and maintenance provided pursuant to this chapter.
89 Acts, ch 283, §29
CS89, §242.17
C93, §233A.17