HF 121 (LSB 1219YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 121

BY  JONES

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to student resources for the submission of applications for home and community-based services waivers by the parents or guardians of students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, or innovation zone schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.9, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  69.  Develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and area education agencies resources that will allow employees of the school district, accredited nonpublic school, charter school, innovation zone school, or area education agency to furnish testing services to students to assist the parents or guardians of such students in submitting an application for home and community-based services waivers to the department of health and human services.
    Sec. 2.  Section 273.2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  15.  The area education agency may furnish testing services to pupils enrolled in public or nonpublic schools which are on the list of accredited schools pursuant to section 256.11, which request to receive such services, to assist the parents or guardians of such pupils in submitting an application for home and community-based services waivers to the department of health and human services.
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 student resources for the submission of applications for home and community-based services waivers by the parents or guardians of students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, or innovation zone schools.
   Home and community-based services waivers are Medicaid programs in which the federal government has set aside rules in order to help people stay in their own homes or communities while receiving services rather than receiving such services in an institutional setting. The bill requires the director of the department of education to develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and area education agencies resources that will allow employees to furnish testing services to students to assist the parents or guardians of such students in submitting an application for home and community-based services waivers to the department of health and human services. The bill authorizes area education agencies to furnish such testing services.