HF 2154 (LSB 5915YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2154

BY  BARKER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the placement of siblings when custody of the siblings has been transferred to the department of health and human services or an agency for placement.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 232.108, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  8.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, this section shall not apply, and the department shall not be required to place a child with a sibling, if all of the following apply:
   a.  The child’s custody, or the sibling’s custody, was previously transferred to the department and the department placed the child or the sibling.
   b.  The department determined that the child and the sibling have little or no established relationship.
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 placement of siblings together when custody of the siblings has been transferred to the department of health and human services (HHS) or an agency for placement (placing agency).
   Under current law, HHS or a placing agency must make reasonable efforts to place siblings together whenever possible if such placement is in the best interests of each child. The bill makes the requirement to place siblings together inapplicable, and removes HHS’s requirement to place siblings together, when a child’s custody, or the child’s sibling’s custody, was previously transferred to HHS, HHS placed the child or the sibling, and HHS determined that the child and the sibling have little or no established relationship.