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House File 538 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to mandatory child abuse and dependent adult
2abuse reporter training requirements.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 135.11, subsection 24, Code 2019, is
2amended by striking the subsection.
3 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 217.5A Director of human services —
4mandatory reporter training.
5The director of human services shall review and approve
6mandatory reporter training curricula for those persons who
7work in a position classification that under law makes the
8persons mandatory reporters of child or dependent adult abuse
9and the position classification does not have a mandatory
10reporter training curriculum approved by a licensing or
11examining board.
12 Sec. 3. Section 232.69, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
132019, is amended to read as follows:
14b. A person required to make a report under subsection 1,
15other than a physician whose professional practice does not
16regularly involve providing primary health care to children,
17shall complete two hours one hour of training relating to
18the identification and reporting of child abuse within six
19months of initial employment or self-employment involving the
20examination, attending, counseling, or treatment of children
21on a regular basis. Within one month of initial employment
22or self-employment, the person shall obtain a statement of
23the abuse reporting requirements from the person’s employer
24or, if self-employed, from the department. The person shall
25complete at least two hours one hour of additional child abuse
26identification and reporting training every five three years.
27 Sec. 4. Section 232.69, subsection 3, paragraph d,
28subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
29(2) A training program using a curriculum approved by the
30director of public health pursuant to section 135.11 human
31services pursuant to section 217.5A.
32 Sec. 5. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code
332019, is amended to read as follows:
34b. A person required to report cases of dependent adult
35abuse pursuant to sections 235B.3 and 235E.2, other than a
-1-1physician whose professional practice does not regularly
2involve providing primary health care to adults, shall complete
3two hours one hour of training relating to the identification
4and reporting of dependent adult abuse within six months of
5initial employment or self-employment which involves the
6examination, attending, counseling, or treatment of adults on
7a regular basis. Within one month of initial employment or
8self-employment, the person shall obtain a statement of the
9abuse reporting requirements from the person’s employer or, if
10self-employed, from the department. The person shall complete
11at least two hours one hour of additional dependent adult abuse
12identification and reporting training every five three years.
13 Sec. 6. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph d,
14subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
15(2) A training program using a curriculum approved by the
16director of public health pursuant to section 135.11 human
17services pursuant to section 217.5A.
18 Sec. 7. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph e, Code
192019, is amended by striking the paragraph.
20 Sec. 8. TRANSITION PROVISIONS. A child abuse or dependent
21adult abuse training certificate relating to the identification
22and reporting of child abuse or dependent adult abuse issued
23prior to July 1, 2019, remains effective and continues in
24effect as issued for the five-year period following its
25issuance.
26EXPLANATION
27The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
28the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
29This bill relates to mandatory child abuse and dependent
30adult abuse reporter training.
31Current law requires the director of the department of
32public health to review and approve mandatory reporter training
33curricula for employees who work in a position that classifies
34the employee as a mandatory reporter and the position
35classification does not have a mandatory reporter training
-2-1curriculum approved by a licensing or examining board. The
2bill transfers this duty to the director of the department of
3human services.
4The bill provides that a person who is required to make
5a mandatory report of child abuse or dependent adult abuse
6shall complete one hour instead of two hours of initial
7training relating to the identification and reporting of child
8abuse or dependent adult abuse within six months of initial
9employment or self-employment involving regular care of a
10child or dependent adult. The bill increases the frequency of
11training for mandatory child abuse and dependent adult abuse
12reporters from once every five years to once every three years
13and decreases the required hours of training from two hours to
14one hour. The bill provides a transition provision for persons
15who received a child abuse or dependent adult abuse training
16certificate prior to July 1, 2019.
17Under current law, a person required to report both child
18abuse and dependent adult abuse may complete the requisite
19training through a combined training program. The bill strikes
20current law and requires such persons to complete separate
21child abuse training and dependent adult abuse training.
-3-hb/rh
2abuse reporter training requirements.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 135.11, subsection 24, Code 2019, is
2amended by striking the subsection.
3 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 217.5A Director of human services —
4mandatory reporter training.
5The director of human services shall review and approve
6mandatory reporter training curricula for those persons who
7work in a position classification that under law makes the
8persons mandatory reporters of child or dependent adult abuse
9and the position classification does not have a mandatory
10reporter training curriculum approved by a licensing or
11examining board.
12 Sec. 3. Section 232.69, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code
132019, is amended to read as follows:
14b. A person required to make a report under subsection 1,
15other than a physician whose professional practice does not
16regularly involve providing primary health care to children,
17shall complete two hours one hour of training relating to
18the identification and reporting of child abuse within six
19months of initial employment or self-employment involving the
20examination, attending, counseling, or treatment of children
21on a regular basis. Within one month of initial employment
22or self-employment, the person shall obtain a statement of
23the abuse reporting requirements from the person’s employer
24or, if self-employed, from the department. The person shall
25complete at least two hours one hour of additional child abuse
26identification and reporting training every five three years.
27 Sec. 4. Section 232.69, subsection 3, paragraph d,
28subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
29(2) A training program using a curriculum approved by the
30director of public health pursuant to section 135.11 human
31services pursuant to section 217.5A.
32 Sec. 5. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code
332019, is amended to read as follows:
34b. A person required to report cases of dependent adult
35abuse pursuant to sections 235B.3 and 235E.2, other than a
-1-1physician whose professional practice does not regularly
2involve providing primary health care to adults, shall complete
3two hours one hour of training relating to the identification
4and reporting of dependent adult abuse within six months of
5initial employment or self-employment which involves the
6examination, attending, counseling, or treatment of adults on
7a regular basis. Within one month of initial employment or
8self-employment, the person shall obtain a statement of the
9abuse reporting requirements from the person’s employer or, if
10self-employed, from the department. The person shall complete
11at least two hours one hour of additional dependent adult abuse
12identification and reporting training every five three years.
13 Sec. 6. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph d,
14subparagraph (2), Code 2019, is amended to read as follows:
15(2) A training program using a curriculum approved by the
16director of public health pursuant to section 135.11 human
17services pursuant to section 217.5A.
18 Sec. 7. Section 235B.16, subsection 5, paragraph e, Code
192019, is amended by striking the paragraph.
20 Sec. 8. TRANSITION PROVISIONS. A child abuse or dependent
21adult abuse training certificate relating to the identification
22and reporting of child abuse or dependent adult abuse issued
23prior to July 1, 2019, remains effective and continues in
24effect as issued for the five-year period following its
25issuance.
26EXPLANATION
27The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
28the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
29This bill relates to mandatory child abuse and dependent
30adult abuse reporter training.
31Current law requires the director of the department of
32public health to review and approve mandatory reporter training
33curricula for employees who work in a position that classifies
34the employee as a mandatory reporter and the position
35classification does not have a mandatory reporter training
-2-1curriculum approved by a licensing or examining board. The
2bill transfers this duty to the director of the department of
3human services.
4The bill provides that a person who is required to make
5a mandatory report of child abuse or dependent adult abuse
6shall complete one hour instead of two hours of initial
7training relating to the identification and reporting of child
8abuse or dependent adult abuse within six months of initial
9employment or self-employment involving regular care of a
10child or dependent adult. The bill increases the frequency of
11training for mandatory child abuse and dependent adult abuse
12reporters from once every five years to once every three years
13and decreases the required hours of training from two hours to
14one hour. The bill provides a transition provision for persons
15who received a child abuse or dependent adult abuse training
16certificate prior to July 1, 2019.
17Under current law, a person required to report both child
18abuse and dependent adult abuse may complete the requisite
19training through a combined training program. The bill strikes
20current law and requires such persons to complete separate
21child abuse training and dependent adult abuse training.
-3-hb/rh