HF 2024 (LSB 5412YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2024

BY  STONE

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to payment by the state of adoption expenses incurred by a foster parent in adopting a foster child.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  234.49  State payment of adoption expenses incurred by foster parent in adopting foster child.
   1.  The department shall, within the limits of funds appropriated to the department or received by the department for this purpose, pay the adoption expenses incurred by an individual if all of the following criteria are met:
   a.  The child is adopted by the individual with whom the child was placed in child foster care.
   b.  The child is the subject of a termination of parental rights proceeding pursuant to chapter 232 and the child is less than twelve months of age at the time the termination of parental rights proceeding commences.
   2.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
   3.  For the purposes of this section:
   a.  “Adoption expenses” means the reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses which are directly related to the legal adoption of a child, and which are not reimbursed by any other source.
   b.  “Child foster care” means the same as defined in section 237.1.
   c.  “Individual” means the same as defined in section 237.1.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to payment by the state of adoption expenses incurred when the adoption is of a foster child by a foster parent.
   The bill provides that the department of health and human services (HHS) shall, within the limits of funds appropriated to HHS or received by HHS for this purpose, pay the adoption expenses incurred by an individual if: the child is adopted by the individual with whom the child was placed in child foster care, the child is the subject of a termination of parental rights (TPR) proceeding pursuant to Code chapter 232 (juvenile justice), and the child is less than 12 months of age at the time the TPR proceeding commences. The bill directs HHS to adopt administrative rules to administer the bill.
   The bill includes definitions used in the bill including “adoption expenses” which means the reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses which are directly related to the legal adoption of a child, and which are not reimbursed by any other source.