HOUSE FILE 2133

BY  H. MILLER

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a committee to examine options for a facility for elderly sexual offenders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  FACILITY FOR ELDERLY SEXUAL OFFENDERS COMMITTEE AND REPORT.
   1.  The department of inspections and appeals shall establish and facilitate a committee of stakeholders to examine options for designating a facility to provide care for elderly persons in this state who are no longer under judicial control, but have a history of committing sexual offenses and have been determined to be likely to reoffend. 
   2.  The membership of the committee shall include but is not limited to the following:
   a.  Representatives of the departments of inspections and appeals, human services, public health, and aging, and the office of the citizens’ aide.
   b.  Consumers of services provided by health care facilities and family members of consumers.
   c.  Health care facility administrators or owners.
   d.  Direct care workers employed by health care facilities.
   e.  Representatives from the Iowa legal aid.
   f.  Representatives from AARP Iowa.
   g.  Four ex officio, nonvoting members, from the general assembly with not more than one member from each chamber being from the same political party. The two senators shall be appointed, one each, by the majority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the senate. The two representatives shall be appointed, one each, by the speaker of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house of representatives.
   3.  The committee shall consider options to create a new facility or assist an existing facility to expand services to provide care for elderly persons who are no longer under judicial control, but have a history of committing sexual offenses and have been determined to be likely to reoffend. The committee shall identify the characteristics of a client for such a facility, the need for such a facility, options for creating a new facility to house such persons, options for the expansion of an existing facility to house such persons, options for using any alternative facilities for such purposes, options to qualify a facility for Medicaid reimbursement, cost projections for any recommendations, and other information deemed relevant by the department of inspections and appeals.
   4.  The committee shall provide a report detailing its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2012.
EXPLANATION
   This bill establishes a committee to examine options for a facility for elderly sexual offenders. The bill directs the department of inspections and appeals to establish and facilitate the committee. The membership of the committee shall include but is not limited to representatives from the departments of inspections and appeals, human services, public health, and aging, and the office of the citizens’ aide; consumers and family members of consumers; health care facility administrators, owners, and direct care workers; representatives from Iowa legal aid and AARP Iowa; and four ex officio, nonvoting members from the general assembly.
   The bill requires the committee to consider options to create a new facility or assist an existing facility to expand services to provide care for elderly persons who are no longer under judicial control, but have a history of committing sexual offenses and have been determined likely to reoffend. The committee shall identify the clients to be served by the facility; the need for such a facility; options for creating a new facility, expanding an existing facility, or using any alternative facility for the purpose of housing identified persons; options to qualify a facility for Medicaid reimbursement; cost projections for recommendations; and other information deemed relevant by the department of inspections and appeals.
   The bill requires the committee to provide a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2012.