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House File 286 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to refugees and refugee resettlement, and
2providing an appropriation.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. REFUGEE ASSISTANCE — GRANTS.
21. As used in this section:
3a. “Eligible agency” means an agency that has contracted
4with the United States department of state under 8 U.S.C.
5§1522(c) to provide initial resettlement and case management
6services to refugees or a nonprofit entity providing legal or
7case management services.
8b. “Refugee” means all of the following:
9(1) A person paroled as a refugee or asylee under section
10212(d)(5) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
11(2) A person admitted as a refugee under section 207 of the
12federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
13(3) A person granted asylum under section 208 of the
14Immigration and Nationality Act.
15(4) Cuban and Haitian entrants, in accordance with
16requirements in 45 C.F.R.pt.401.
17(5) Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to
18the United States as immigrants pursuant to section 584 of
19the federal Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
20Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, as the definition is
21contained in section 101(e) of Pub.L.No.100-202 and amended
22by the ninth proviso under Migration and Refugee Assistance
23in Tit.II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
24Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1989, Pub.L.No.100-461,
25as amended.
26(6) Certain alien immigrants who are victims of a severe
27form of trafficking who have been certified by the United
28States department of health and human services pursuant to
29section 107(b) of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection
30Act of 2000, Pub.L.No.106-386, division A, 114 Stat.1464
31(2000).
32(7) Iraqi and Afghan aliens granted special immigrant
33status under section 101(a)(27) of the federal Immigration and
34Nationality Act.
35(8) A person admitted for permanent residence, provided
-1-1the individual previously held one of the statuses identified
2above.
32. The department of health and human services shall award
4grants to eligible agencies to provide the following services
5to refugees residing in this state, for up to twenty-four
6months:
7a. Services including but not limited to all of the
8following to assist refugees with department programs:
9(1) Referring refugees to the department within three days
10of the refugee’s arrival in this state.
11(2) Transporting refugees to initial appointments with the
12department.
13(3) Providing to the department all necessary eligibility
14information known to the eligible agency.
15(4) Coordinating services of the department with other
16social services agencies.
17b. Services including but not limited to all of the
18following to assist refugees:
19(1) Navigating the health care and mental health systems,
20including providing assistance in applying for medical
21assistance.
22(2) Accessing housing assistance and finding stable
23housing.
24(3) Setting up utilities and paying utility bills.
25(4) Advising on issues with landlords.
26(5) Navigating legal or criminal issues including services
27for victims of crime.
28(6) Accessing in-home services including parenting
29assistance, English as a second language instruction, and
30medical and psychosocial support.
31(7) Navigating the culture of the United States.
32c. Providing transportation to appointments.
33d. Advocating on behalf of refugees regarding domestic
34violence, federal laws, and hate crimes.
35e. Providing refugees with interpretation services and
-2-1assistance with access to language services.
2f. Providing referrals for refugees to culturally specific
3support groups and services, including religious organizations.
4g. Identifying the employment skills of refugees and
5providing referrals to employment skills training and other job
6support services.
7h. Coordinating medical services for refugees including
8referring to and coordinating with agencies that determine
9eligibility for disability benefits.
10i. Providing family preservation services, legal services,
11and social services support for domestic violence and child
12welfare issues.
13j. Assisting newly arrived refugee children in accessing
14services to strengthen the children’s academic performance and
15successful integration into the community.
16k. Providing extended case management services for
17twenty-four months for newly and recently arrived refugees.
18l. Other services necessary to assist refugees in accessing
19programs administered by the department and attaining success
20as full participants in the community.
21 Sec. 2. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES — GRANTS —
22APPROPRIATION. In addition to and not in lieu of any other
23appropriation, there is appropriated from the general fund of
24the state to the department of health and human services for
25the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
262024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
27to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $2810,000,000
291. Of the funds appropriated in this section, $420,000
30shall be used by the department to administer a grant program
31to provide access to international resources to Iowans and
32new Iowans to provide economic and leadership development
33resulting in Iowa being a more inclusive and welcoming place
34to live, work, and raise a family. The program shall provide
35supplemental support services for international refugees to
-3-1improve learning, English literacy, life skills, cultural
2competencies, and integration in a county with a population
3over 450,000 as determined by the 2020 federal decennial
4census. The department shall utilize a request for proposals
5process to identify the entity best qualified to implement the
6program.
72. Of the funds appropriated in this section, $400,000
8shall be used for the Iowa commission on volunteer services
9and the RefugeeRISE AmeriCorps program for member recruitment
10and training to improve the economic well-being and health of
11economically disadvantaged refugees in local communities across
12Iowa.
133. Up to $400,000 shall be used for child care business
14development by establishing new child care locations in Iowa
15as well as providing technical assistance through expansion
16of refugee child care business development programs based on
17those offered in Polk and Linn counties that sustain and grow
18child care entrepreneurship and address child care shortages
19in refugee communities.
204. Of the funds appropriated in this section, after
21allocation of the funds under subsections 1, 2, and 3, the
22remaining funds shall be used by the department to fund grants
23to supplement the funding received by eligible agencies from
24the United States department of state under 8 U.S.C.§1522 to
25provide services as described in section 1 of this Act.
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 refugees and refugee resettlement, and
30provides an appropriation.
31The bill provides definitions for “eligible agency” and
32“refugee” for purposes of the bill.
33The bill requires the department of health and human
34services (HHS) to award grants to eligible agencies to provide
35a number of services to refugees residing in the state, for
-4-1up to 24 months, including services that assist refugees with
2department programs as well as other services.
3The bill appropriates $10 million, in addition to and not
4in lieu of any other appropriation, from the general fund of
5the state to HHS for FY 2023-2024 to provide refugee support
6services for refugees residing in this state.
7Of the funds appropriated, $420,000 shall be used by HHS to
8administer a grant program to provide access to international
9resources to Iowans and new Iowans to provide economic and
10leadership development resulting in Iowa being a more inclusive
11and welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family. The
12department shall use a request for proposals process to select
13the best qualified entity to administer the program in a county
14with a population over 450,000.
15Of the funds appropriated, $400,000 shall be used for the
16Iowa commission on volunteer services and the RefugeeRISE
17AmeriCorps program for member recruitment and training to
18improve the economic well-being and health of economically
19disadvantaged refugees in local communities across Iowa.
20Of the funds appropriated, $400,000 shall be used to
21develop new child care locations as well as provide technical
22assistance through expansion of refugee child care business
23development programs.
24Of the funds appropriated, the remaining funds shall be
25used as grants to supplement the funding received by eligible
26agencies to provide services as described in the bill.
-5-pf/rh
2providing an appropriation.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. REFUGEE ASSISTANCE — GRANTS.
21. As used in this section:
3a. “Eligible agency” means an agency that has contracted
4with the United States department of state under 8 U.S.C.
5§1522(c) to provide initial resettlement and case management
6services to refugees or a nonprofit entity providing legal or
7case management services.
8b. “Refugee” means all of the following:
9(1) A person paroled as a refugee or asylee under section
10212(d)(5) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
11(2) A person admitted as a refugee under section 207 of the
12federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
13(3) A person granted asylum under section 208 of the
14Immigration and Nationality Act.
15(4) Cuban and Haitian entrants, in accordance with
16requirements in 45 C.F.R.pt.401.
17(5) Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to
18the United States as immigrants pursuant to section 584 of
19the federal Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related
20Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, as the definition is
21contained in section 101(e) of Pub.L.No.100-202 and amended
22by the ninth proviso under Migration and Refugee Assistance
23in Tit.II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
24Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1989, Pub.L.No.100-461,
25as amended.
26(6) Certain alien immigrants who are victims of a severe
27form of trafficking who have been certified by the United
28States department of health and human services pursuant to
29section 107(b) of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection
30Act of 2000, Pub.L.No.106-386, division A, 114 Stat.1464
31(2000).
32(7) Iraqi and Afghan aliens granted special immigrant
33status under section 101(a)(27) of the federal Immigration and
34Nationality Act.
35(8) A person admitted for permanent residence, provided
-1-1the individual previously held one of the statuses identified
2above.
32. The department of health and human services shall award
4grants to eligible agencies to provide the following services
5to refugees residing in this state, for up to twenty-four
6months:
7a. Services including but not limited to all of the
8following to assist refugees with department programs:
9(1) Referring refugees to the department within three days
10of the refugee’s arrival in this state.
11(2) Transporting refugees to initial appointments with the
12department.
13(3) Providing to the department all necessary eligibility
14information known to the eligible agency.
15(4) Coordinating services of the department with other
16social services agencies.
17b. Services including but not limited to all of the
18following to assist refugees:
19(1) Navigating the health care and mental health systems,
20including providing assistance in applying for medical
21assistance.
22(2) Accessing housing assistance and finding stable
23housing.
24(3) Setting up utilities and paying utility bills.
25(4) Advising on issues with landlords.
26(5) Navigating legal or criminal issues including services
27for victims of crime.
28(6) Accessing in-home services including parenting
29assistance, English as a second language instruction, and
30medical and psychosocial support.
31(7) Navigating the culture of the United States.
32c. Providing transportation to appointments.
33d. Advocating on behalf of refugees regarding domestic
34violence, federal laws, and hate crimes.
35e. Providing refugees with interpretation services and
-2-1assistance with access to language services.
2f. Providing referrals for refugees to culturally specific
3support groups and services, including religious organizations.
4g. Identifying the employment skills of refugees and
5providing referrals to employment skills training and other job
6support services.
7h. Coordinating medical services for refugees including
8referring to and coordinating with agencies that determine
9eligibility for disability benefits.
10i. Providing family preservation services, legal services,
11and social services support for domestic violence and child
12welfare issues.
13j. Assisting newly arrived refugee children in accessing
14services to strengthen the children’s academic performance and
15successful integration into the community.
16k. Providing extended case management services for
17twenty-four months for newly and recently arrived refugees.
18l. Other services necessary to assist refugees in accessing
19programs administered by the department and attaining success
20as full participants in the community.
21 Sec. 2. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES — GRANTS —
22APPROPRIATION. In addition to and not in lieu of any other
23appropriation, there is appropriated from the general fund of
24the state to the department of health and human services for
25the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30,
262024, the following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary,
27to be used for the purposes designated:
.................................................. $2810,000,000
291. Of the funds appropriated in this section, $420,000
30shall be used by the department to administer a grant program
31to provide access to international resources to Iowans and
32new Iowans to provide economic and leadership development
33resulting in Iowa being a more inclusive and welcoming place
34to live, work, and raise a family. The program shall provide
35supplemental support services for international refugees to
-3-1improve learning, English literacy, life skills, cultural
2competencies, and integration in a county with a population
3over 450,000 as determined by the 2020 federal decennial
4census. The department shall utilize a request for proposals
5process to identify the entity best qualified to implement the
6program.
72. Of the funds appropriated in this section, $400,000
8shall be used for the Iowa commission on volunteer services
9and the RefugeeRISE AmeriCorps program for member recruitment
10and training to improve the economic well-being and health of
11economically disadvantaged refugees in local communities across
12Iowa.
133. Up to $400,000 shall be used for child care business
14development by establishing new child care locations in Iowa
15as well as providing technical assistance through expansion
16of refugee child care business development programs based on
17those offered in Polk and Linn counties that sustain and grow
18child care entrepreneurship and address child care shortages
19in refugee communities.
204. Of the funds appropriated in this section, after
21allocation of the funds under subsections 1, 2, and 3, the
22remaining funds shall be used by the department to fund grants
23to supplement the funding received by eligible agencies from
24the United States department of state under 8 U.S.C.§1522 to
25provide services as described in section 1 of this Act.
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 refugees and refugee resettlement, and
30provides an appropriation.
31The bill provides definitions for “eligible agency” and
32“refugee” for purposes of the bill.
33The bill requires the department of health and human
34services (HHS) to award grants to eligible agencies to provide
35a number of services to refugees residing in the state, for
-4-1up to 24 months, including services that assist refugees with
2department programs as well as other services.
3The bill appropriates $10 million, in addition to and not
4in lieu of any other appropriation, from the general fund of
5the state to HHS for FY 2023-2024 to provide refugee support
6services for refugees residing in this state.
7Of the funds appropriated, $420,000 shall be used by HHS to
8administer a grant program to provide access to international
9resources to Iowans and new Iowans to provide economic and
10leadership development resulting in Iowa being a more inclusive
11and welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family. The
12department shall use a request for proposals process to select
13the best qualified entity to administer the program in a county
14with a population over 450,000.
15Of the funds appropriated, $400,000 shall be used for the
16Iowa commission on volunteer services and the RefugeeRISE
17AmeriCorps program for member recruitment and training to
18improve the economic well-being and health of economically
19disadvantaged refugees in local communities across Iowa.
20Of the funds appropriated, $400,000 shall be used to
21develop new child care locations as well as provide technical
22assistance through expansion of refugee child care business
23development programs.
24Of the funds appropriated, the remaining funds shall be
25used as grants to supplement the funding received by eligible
26agencies to provide services as described in the bill.
-5-pf/rh