HF 2795 (LSB 5557HZ (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2795

BY  COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2712)
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 623)

A BILL FOR

An Act convening an early childhood Iowa study committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES —— EARLY CHILDHOOD IOWA STUDY COMMITTEE.
   1.  The department of health and human services shall convene a study committee during the 2026 legislative interim to review the most efficient means to transition home visiting services offered through an early childhood Iowa area, as that term is defined in section 256I.1, to another system based on districts created by the department of health and human services and to implement the transition with minimal disruption to home visitation services. At a minimum, the study committee shall review all of the following:
   a.  The financial and logistical consequences to the early childhood Iowa system and home visitation services.
   b.  The effects on statewide access to services currently provided through early childhood Iowa, including but not limited to the quality of services and the coordination between providers and the department.
   c.  The impact on rural and underserved communities.
   d.  Possible courses of action to transition home visitation services to ensure the early childhood Iowa system remains viable and effective in the long term.
   2.  a.  The study committee’s voting members shall consist of the following:
   (1)  Two members of the senate appointed by the senate majority leader.
   (2)  One member of the senate appointed by the senate minority leader.
   (3)  Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the house majority leader.
   (4)  One member of the house of representatives appointed by the house minority leader.
   b.  The study committee’s nonvoting members shall consist of the following:
   (1)  Two members of the association of early childhood Iowa area boards and advocates appointed by the association of early childhood Iowa area boards and advocates.
   (2)  Two early childhood Iowa stakeholders appointed by the association of early childhood Iowa area boards and advocates.
   (3)  Two persons with relevant expertise appointed by the association of early childhood Iowa area boards and advocates.
   (4)  Two representatives of the department of health and human services.
   (5)  One representative of the department of education.
   (6)  One representative of the department of workforce development.
   (7)  One representative of the economic development authority.
   3.  The department of health and human services shall cooperate with any formal request for data from the study committee. All personal identifying information shall be redacted prior to submitting the requested data to the study committee.
   4.  The study committee shall engage with early childhood Iowa area boards, persons who provide services through an early childhood Iowa area, and families who receive services through an early childhood Iowa area by means including but not limited to public input sessions throughout the state.
   5.  The study committee shall submit a final report with the study committee’s findings and recommendations to the general assembly no later than January 8, 2027.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to convene an early childhood Iowa study committee (committee) during the 2026 legislative interim to review the most efficient means to transition home visiting services offered through an early childhood Iowa (ECI) area to another system based on districts created by HHS, and to implement the transition with minimal disruption to home visiting services. The bill details the minimum information the committee must review and the membership of the committee.
   The bill requires HHS to cooperate with any formal request for data from the committee. All personal identifying information shall be redacted prior to submitting the requested data to the committee.
   The committee is required to engage with certain persons regarding ECI services as detailed in the bill, by means including but not limited to public input sessions throughout the state.
   The bill requires the committee to submit a final report with the study committee’s findings and recommendations to the general assembly no later than January 8, 2027.