Relating to alignment of delivery of health and human services programs and services, aging and disability services, and volunteer services, and including applicability and effective date provisions

This bill relates to activities, programs, and services under the purview of the department of health and human services (HHS). DIVISION I —— HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DISTRICTS. The bill directs HHS to divide the state into health and human services districts (districts), as defined in the bill, to be used by HHS in the delivery of programs and services.4, Code 2026, as the behavioral health districts exist on the effective date of this division of the bill. The bill provides factors HHS must consider when modifying the districts. The manner in which HHS modifies a district is not subject to judicial review. The bill changes Code chapter 225A (HHS —— behavioral health service system) so that behavioral health services are provided through the health and human services districts instead of behavioral health districts.51. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION II —— AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES. Under current law, HHS is required to divide the state into distinct planning and service areas (service areas) in accordance with federal law and utilizing districts. The bill requires HHS to ensure that aging services are implemented and administered as required under federal law during a transition period as that term is defined in the bill. HHS must ensure that the transition period is as short as possible with the least amount of disruption to services as possible. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment and applies upon HHS’s receipt, from the administration for community living of the United States department of health and human services, of approval of the planning and service areas as amended in the bill. DIVISION III —— VOLUNTEER SERVICES. The bill creates a subunit for volunteerism (subunit) within HHS. The subunit shall establish volunteer programs designed to enhance the services provided by HHS and provide administrative support for the nonpolicymaking duties of the Iowa commission on volunteer service (commission). The director of HHS shall appoint an executive director to oversee the administration of the subunit and to carry out nonpolicymaking duties delegated to the subunit by the commission. HHS may employ personnel for the subunit to carry out the duties of the subunit and the duties delegated to the executive director and personnel of the subunit by the commission. All volunteers registered with programs administered by the subunit are considered employees of the state; however, this does not exempt a volunteer conservator or guardian from the conservator’s or guardian’s duties and does not limit the conservator’s or guardian’s civil liability for performing the conservator’s or guardian’s duties. The bill requires HHS to adopt rules to administer this division of the bill. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment.