HSB 505 (LSB 5334YC (5) 91)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HARRIS)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to training requirements for the licensure of individual child foster care providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 237.5A, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   237.5A  Foster parent training.
   1.  a.  As a condition for initial licensure, each proposed individual licensee shall complete thirty hours of foster parent training offered or approved by the department. However, if When determining the appropriate foster parent training for a proposed individual licensee, the department shall consider the proposed individual licensee has completed relevant training or has a combination of completed licensee’s relevant training and experience, and the department deems such training or combination to be an acceptable equivalent to all or a portion of the initial licensure training requirement, or based upon the. In addition, the department shall consider the circumstances of the child who will receive child foster care from the proposed individual licensee and the circumstances of the proposed individual licensee the department finds there is other good cause, the department may waive all or a portion of the training requirement.
   b.  Prior to renewal of licensure, each individual licensee shall annually complete six hours of foster parent training as determined appropriate for the individual licensee by the department. The training 
   2.  Training required under this section shall include but is not limited to physical care, education, learning disabilities, referral to and receipt of necessary professional services, behavioral assessment and modification, self-assessment, self-living skills, and biological parent contact. An individual licensee not be limited to all of the following: 
   a.  An overview of child welfare.
   b.  Biological parent contact and supporting a child’s family of origin.
   c.  Behavior management.
   d.  Trauma and the effect on child development.
   e.  Attachment, grief, and loss.
   3.  A person may complete the training required under this section as part of an approved training program offered by a public or private agency with expertise in the provision of child foster care or in related subject areas. The department shall adopt rules to implement and enforce this training requirement.
   2.  An individual licensee who is unable to complete six hours of foster parent training annually prior to licensure renewal because the individual licensee is engaged in active duty in the military service shall be considered to be in compliance with the training requirement for licensure renewal.
   3.  4.  The department or the department’s agent shall notify an individual licensee within a reasonable amount of time of any training the department believes would benefit the individual licensee in the provision of child foster care.
   5.  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement and enforce this section.
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 training requirements for the licensure of individual child foster care (foster care) providers.
   Under current law, an individual must complete 30 hours of foster care training offered or approved by the department of health and human services (HHS) to obtain a foster care license. HHS may waive all or a portion of an individual’s training requirements based on the individual’s relevant training and experience. HHS may also waive all or a portion of the training based on the individual’s circumstances and the circumstances of the prospective foster child. An individual licensee is also required to receive six hours of foster care training annually prior to renewal of the individual’s foster care license. An individual licensee who cannot receive annual training because of active duty military service is considered to be in compliance for foster care license training purposes.
   The bill eliminates current hourly requirements for foster care training for initial foster care licensure and renewals of licenses. Instead, the bill allows HHS to determine appropriate training requirements for individuals based on the relevant experience of the individual, and the circumstances of both the prospective foster child and the individual. The bill details the topics that must be included in annual training for individual licensees.