HF 276 (LSB 2029YH (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 276

BY  TUREK

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a study committee to consider the establishment of a state training school for females under the age of eighteen.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES —— STUDY COMMITTEE FOR STATE TRAINING SCHOOL FOR FEMALES UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN.
   1.  The department of health and human services shall convene a study committee to meet during the 2025 legislative interim to examine the feasibility of establishing a state training school for females under the age of eighteen.
   2.  The study committee shall, at a minimum, examine issues relating to costs, potential locations for the school, potential programs to be offered, and estimated timeline for the school to become operational.
   3.  The membership of the committee shall consist of, at a minimum, a representative from the department of health and human services, a representative from the state training school at Eldora, a children’s behavioral health specialist with expertise related to females under eighteen years of age, an educator with experience teaching females under eighteen years of age with behavioral health issues, and an expert with knowledge of providing transitional services to children leaving long-term placement in juvenile correction facilities.
   4.  The study committee shall submit a report with the committee’s findings and recommendations to the general assembly and to the governor no later than December 15, 2025.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill directs the department of health and human services (HHS) to convene a study committee to meet during the 2025 legislative interim to examine the feasibility of establishing a state training school for females under the age of 18.
   The bill requires the committee, at a minimum, to examine issues relating to costs, potential locations for the school, potential programs to be offered, and estimated timelines for the school to become operational.
   The bill requires the membership of the committee to consist of, at a minimum, a representative from HHS, a representative from the state training school at Eldora, a children’s behavioral health specialist with expertise related to females under 18 years of age, an educator with experience teaching females under 18 years of age with behavioral health issues, and an expert with knowledge of providing transitional services to children leaving long-term placement in juvenile correction facilities.
   The bill requires the study committee to submit a report of the committee’s findings and recommendations to the general assembly and to the governor no later than December 15, 2025.