House File 11 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 11 BY WOLFE A BILL FOR An Act relating to children in need of assistance whose 1 parents, guardians, or custodians are unable to provide 2 needed mental health treatment. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1739HH (2) 87 hb/rj

H.F. 11 Section 1. Section 232.2, subsection 6, paragraph f, Code 1 2017, is amended to read as follows: 2 f. Who is in need of treatment to cure or alleviate serious 3 mental illness or disorder, or emotional damage as evidenced by 4 severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or untoward aggressive 5 behavior toward self or others and whose parent, guardian, or 6 custodian is unwilling or unable to provide such treatment. 7 EXPLANATION 8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 9 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 10 This bill amends the definition of child in need of 11 assistance. Under current Code section 232.2(6)(f), a child 12 is a child in need of assistance if the child is in need of 13 treatment to cure or alleviate serious mental illness or 14 disorder, or emotional damage as evidenced by severe anxiety, 15 depression, withdrawal, or untoward aggressive behavior toward 16 self or others and whose parent, guardian, or custodian is 17 unwilling to provide such treatment. 18 The bill amends the definition to include the situation 19 where a parent, guardian, or custodian is unable to provide 20 such treatment. 21 -1- LSB 1739HH (2) 87 hb/rj 1/ 1