Establishing a task force relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child with the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster

This bill establishes a task force relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child with the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster. The bill requires the department of homeland security and emergency management to convene a task force to study the current status of unaccompanied children following a natural disaster, who are not under the supervision of a school or the department of human services, to ascertain gaps, assess capacity concerns, identify resources, examine issues including specific issues relating to dangers a child may face and reunification efforts by all agencies and organizations across the response community, and develop policy recommendations relating to the reunification of an unaccompanied child with the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian following a natural disaster. The bill provides that task force members shall include but are not limited to the department of public safety, the Iowa emergency management directors association, the Iowa state sheriffs and deputies association, a police officers association, a fire fighters association, and other agencies as deemed appropriate. The task force shall also include four legislators as ex officio, nonvoting members. The task force shall meet by October 2, 2020, and shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the general assembly for consideration by January 2, 2021.