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Senate passes measure to give foster parents enhanced consideration in placement decisions
Summary
House File 1003, amended to remove a section requiring dedicated HHS central-office staff, passed the Senate 43–0; the bill aligns foster-parent considerations with Family First priorities and gives foster parents enhanced consideration after nine months of placement.
The Senate unanimously approved House File 1003 by a 43–0 roll-call vote. Sponsor Senator Guth said the bill balances the federal Family First policy with the relationship of foster parents and aims to speed placement decisions by giving foster parents enhanced consideration during dispositional hearings after at least nine months of care.
Senator Guth introduced Senate Amendment 5004, which struck section 1 of the bill that would have required the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to employ dedicated staff at the department’s central office; she moved adoption and the amendment was adopted on the floor. Guth described the bill as reducing lengthy placement disputes, citing an example that delayed placements can harm children and foster families.
On the floor, Guth said the bill will "ensure that we don't have that long of a time period while we're looking for the relatives of the child" and argued the change would be better for both foster parents and the children. After final remarks the Senate read the bill for the last time and recorded a 43–0 vote in favor; the clerk declared the bill passed the Senate and the title agreed to. The Senate granted unanimous consent to immediately message the bill to the House.
Action: Senator Guth moved adoption of Senate Amendment 5004 and final passage of House File 1003 as amended. Amendment 5004 was adopted; final roll-call 43 ayes, 0 nays. The bill advances to the House.
