HF 97 (LSB 1476HH (4) 85)

HOUSE FILE 97

BY  MURPHY

A BILL FOR

An Act providing eligibility for mental health services for certain children through the regional mental health and disability service system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.396, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The person is at least eighteen years of age and is a resident of this state. However, a person who is seventeen years of age, is a resident of this state, and is receiving publicly funded children’s services may be considered eligible for services through the regional service system during the three-month period preceding the person’s eighteenth birthday in order to provide a smooth transition from children’s to adult services.

In addition, a person who is a child less than eighteen years of age and is a resident of this state is eligible for services through the regional service system provided all of the following requirements are met:
   (1)  The child meets all of the requirements to be eligible for the regional service system other than the minimum age.
   (2)  The child has been diagnosed by a qualified professional as having a disorder covered by the regional service system and is in need of a treatment or other service covered by the regional service system.
   (3)  The diagnosis required in subparagraph (2) is made by a qualified professional affiliated with the school district or affiliated with the authorities in charge of the nonpublic school attended by the child.
    Sec. 2.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides eligibility for mental health services through the regional mental health and disability service system for certain children. The regions, consisting of counties, are being formed and phased in during FY 2013-2014.
   Under current law, eligibility for mental health and intellectual disability services under the regional service system is limited to persons who are at least age 18 and persons who are age 17, are within three months of becoming age 18, and are transitioning from the children’s system.
   The bill provides eligibility for mental health services from the regional system for residents of this state who are children less than age 18, who meet all of the requirements to be eligible for the regional services system other than the minimum age, who have been diagnosed by a qualified professional as having a disorder covered by the regional service system and is in need of a treatment or other service covered by the regional service system, and the diagnosis is made by a qualified professional affiliated with the school district or with the authorities in charge of the nonpublic school attended by the child.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.