Senate File 253 - Introduced SENATE FILE 253 BY HOGG A BILL FOR An Act relating to eligibility for state child care assistance. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 2310XS (2) 88 hb/rh

S.F. 253 Section 1. Section 237A.13, subsection 1, Code 2019, is 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 NEW PARAGRAPH . g. The child needs crisis child care which 3 is provided on a temporary basis to the child, for a continuous 4 period not to exceed thirty days, when there is reason to 5 believe that the child’s welfare has been affected by domestic 6 abuse in the child’s home. 7 Sec. 2. DIRECTIVE TO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES —— CHILD 8 CARE ASSISTANCE. The department of human services shall adopt 9 rules pursuant to chapter 17A to provide eligibility for state 10 child care assistance, according to family size for children 11 needing basic care, to a child that needs crisis child care 12 provided on a temporary basis to the child, for a continuous 13 period not to exceed thirty days, when there is reason to 14 believe that the child’s welfare has been affected by domestic 15 abuse in the child’s home. 16 EXPLANATION 17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 19 This bill relates to state child care assistance. 20 The state child care assistance program is administered 21 by the department of human services (DHS). DHS provides 22 state child care assistance to families who meet eligibility 23 guidelines under any of the following circumstances: the 24 child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is participating in 25 approved academic, vocational, or technical training; the 26 child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is seeking employment; 27 the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is employed and 28 the family income meets income requirements; the child’s 29 parent, guardian, or custodian is absent for a limited period 30 of time due to hospitalization, physical illness, or mental 31 illness, or is present but is unable to care for the child 32 for a limited period as verified by a physician; or the child 33 needs protective services to prevent or alleviate child abuse 34 or neglect. The bill expands these circumstances to include 35 -1- LSB 2310XS (2) 88 hb/rh 1/ 2

S.F. 253 a child who needs crisis child care which is provided on a 1 temporary basis, for a period not to exceed 30 days, when there 2 is reason to believe that the child’s welfare has been affected 3 by domestic abuse in the child’s home. 4 The bill directs DHS to amend its administrative rules 5 related to state child care assistance to include such 6 children. 7 -2- LSB 2310XS (2) 88 hb/rh 2/ 2