SF 251: Relating to the appointment of an ombudsman assistant for investigating complaints related to child foster care

What it does

This bill relates to the appointment of an ombudsman assistant who is primarily responsible for investigating complaints relating to child foster care. The assistant must have a minimum of years of experience as a foster parent, with at least of the years as a foster parent while residing in Iowa. The bill requires the ombudsman to maintain a process to allow an individual licensee under Code chapter 237 (child foster care facilities) to directly communicate and file a complaint. The bill requires the department of health and human services to provide a description of the ombudsman assistant’s duties, and ways to contact the ombudsman assistant, in all materials relating to child foster care made available to the public.

Senate subcommittee · named February 18, 2025

• Sen. Sandy Salmon (R) · sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Mike Pike (R) · mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott (D) · sarah.trone.garriott@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 0 against

For: Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; VALOR Iowa

In plain words

1. February 10, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Health and Human Services committee
2. February 13, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Salmon, Guth and Trone Garriott
3. February 18, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Salmon, Pike and Trone Garriott
4. February 20, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
5. March 6, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 564