SF 143 (LSB 1185SV (2) 90)

SENATE FILE 143

BY  COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1015)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the state public defender pilot project for child welfare legal representation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 13B.13, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   13B.13  State public defender pilot project —— child welfare legal representation.
   Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary, for each fiscal year for the period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2024 2025, the state public defender may establish a pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation in order to assist families involved in the child welfare system. The state public defender shall have sole discretion to establish and implement the pilot project. The state public defender may implement the new pilot project in up to six sixteen counties throughout the state. The purpose of the pilot project is to implement and study innovative ways, through a team approach or through other methods, to achieve positive outcomes for families, reduce trauma to young children, and deliver financial benefits to families and their communities. The state public defender may coordinate with other agencies and organizations to implement the pilot project, seek grant funding, and measure the results. The state public defender may appoint an attorney to represent an indigent person prior to initiation of formal proceedings, without court order, if such representation is deemed appropriate by the state public defender and relates to the purposes of the pilot project.
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 the state public defender pilot project for child welfare legal representation.
   The bill extends the ending date for a state public defender pilot project to implement innovative models of legal representation in order to assist families involved in the child welfare system from June 30, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
   The bill increases the number of counties in which a pilot project may be implemented from 6 counties to 16 counties.