HF 412 (LSB 1815YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 412

BY  EHLERT, AMOS JR., BAETH, GOSA, R. JOHNSON, WILSON, WICHTENDAHL, CROKEN, BAGNIEWSKI, KRESSIG, B. MEYER, LEVIN, JAMES, MATSON, BROWN-POWERS, KURTH, SRINIVAS, OLSON, SCHOLTEN, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, and WILBURN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to unhoused persons participating in the state child care assistance program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 237A.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  16.  “Unhoused” means lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. “Unhoused” includes but is not limited to all of the following:
   a.  A person living in the housing of other persons due to the person’s loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.
   b.  A person living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to the lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
   c.  A person living in an emergency or transitional shelter.
   d.  A person abandoned in a hospital.
   e.  A person living in a place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
   f.  A person living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting.
    Sec. 2.  Section 237A.13, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is seeking employment. Eligibility for assistance while seeking employment shall be limited to thirty days during a twelve-month period.  The department shall extend the time limit under this paragraph if the child is under six years of age and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian who is seeking employment is unhoused.
    Sec. 3.  Section 237A.13, subsection 8, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  An unhoused child.
    Sec. 4.  Section 237A.13, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9A.  The department shall implement an expedited process to approve an unhoused person for child care assistance under this section, and to grant an extension under subsection 1, paragraph “b”.
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 unhoused persons participating in the state child care assistance (CCA) program.
   The bill defines “unhoused” as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and lists circumstances in which a person qualifies as unhoused.
   Under current law, a person may be eligible for CCA if the person is seeking employment. Eligibility for CCA based on seeking employment is limited to 30 days during a 12-month period. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to extend the 30-day limit if the child is under six years of age and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian who is seeking employment is unhoused.
   The bill exempts unhoused children from CCA program waiting list requirements.
   The bill requires HHS to implement an expedited process to approve an unhoused person for CCA benefits and to grant an extension of the 30-day limit for CCA benefits to unhoused CCA participants seeking employment.