SSB 1095 – Court appointed special advocates & family assessments
SSB 1167 – Healthcare workforce recruitment assessment
SSB 1180 – Voluntary juvenile court services & social report court filings
SSB 1200 – Interstate contracts for substance abuse & mental health treatment
SSB 1209 – Opioid overdose prevention
SSB 1240 – Involuntary commitment to subacute mental health facilities
SSB 1244 – Administration of epinephrine in schools
SF 142 – Legislative interim committee on long-term care services for persons with aggressive or psychiatric behaviors
SF 144 – Refugee family support services pilots
SF 307 – Disaster case management
SF 308 – Mental Health Institutes at Clarinda & Mount Pleasant
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SSB 1095, as amended in committee, allows court appointed special advocates (CASA) to attend family team meetings or youth transition decision-making meetings upon the request of the family or child. The CASA may disclose case-specific information at those meetings and to the agency assigned by the court to supervise the case, the child’s legal representative or the guardian ad litem. The bill also clarifies which records are confidential. [3/2: short form]
SSB 1167, as amended in committee, directs the Department of Public Health to conduct an assessment of the healthcare workforce programs under its purview and to submit a report of its findings to the Governor and Legislature by December 15, 2015. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SSB 1180, as amended in committee, makes improvements to the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The bill allows juvenile courts to continue court provided services to children adjudicated delinquent between the ages of 18 and 21 on a voluntary basis. If the child commits a subsequent public offense during this period, she or he will be prosecuted as an adult. Additionally, the bill requires the court to wait at least five days after the Department of Human Services files a social report to hold a child in need of assistance disposition hearing. The court is required to send a copy of the social report to the counsel for the child, counsel for the child’s parent, guardian or custodian, and the guardian ad litem at least five days prior to the hearing. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SSB 1200, as amended in committee, allows for voluntary and involuntary commitment placements for the purposes of mental health or substance abuse treatment in appropriate facilities in neighboring states. Mental health and disability services regions are allowed to contract with providers in neighboring states for such placements. Persons serving a criminal sentence, on probation or parole, or the subject of an investigation are prohibited from participation. For involuntary commitment placements, law enforcement officers are authorized to provide transportation to the receiving state and back to Iowa, Iowa court orders are granted recognition and reciprocity in the receiving state, and such court orders are not subject to legal challenge in the receiving state. While in the receiving state, the committed person is considered to be in the legal custody of the Iowa authority responsible for the person regarding the civil commitment, and shall be liable for all treatment costs. The receiving state is liable for any escapes and is required to use reasonable means to detain the individual should an escape occur. The bill outlines minimum contractual requirements between the sending authority and the receiving agency. The bill intends to provide care closer to patients’ homes and to alleviate pressure on psychiatric beds. Surrounding states must pass enabling legislation before an Iowan can be placed at a facility in those states. To date, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin have enacted such statutes. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SSB 1209 provides immunity from prosecution for the possession, sharing or use of a controlled substance or possession of drug paraphernalia for persons suffering from an opioid overdose or assisting another person suffering an opioid overdose if medical assistance is sought and parties cooperate with law enforcement and medical personnel. The bill authorizes the possession of an opioid antagonist if prescribed, dispensed, furnished or otherwise provided by a licensed physician, physician assistant or ARNP, and the person in possession is a family member or friend of, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. Healthcare professionals are not subject to prosecution or disciplinary action for prescribing antagonists in this context. Emergency medical care providers and law enforcement officers trained in opioid antagonist use and acting in good faith are protected from prosecution or disciplinary action for administering an antagonist. Persons not licensed to prescribe, dispense or administer antagonists may, in an emergency, administer an antagonist if they believe, in good faith, that the other person is suffering an opioid overdose, and is protected from prosecution or disciplinary action. The Department of Public Health is directed to develop standards for recordkeeping and reporting of opioid antagonist use by first responders and to submit an annual report to the Legislature with recommendations regarding the use of antagonists. Additionally, the Department is directed to develop protocols and instructions for the administration of opioid antagonists by persons who are not health care professionals or first responders. The cost of a prescription opioid antagonist must be covered for employees provided care under workers’ compensation. The Department of Human Services is directed to include an opioid antagonist on the Medicaid preferred drug list, which cannot be subject to prior authorization or utilization management if deemed medically necessary by the prescriber. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SSB 1240 allows a court to order a respondent to be placed, evaluated and treated on an inpatient basis at a mental health subacute facility. Such placements will help to increase capacity of hospital psychiatric beds. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SSB 1244, as amended in committee, permits public and nonpublic schools to maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors. Physicians are permitted to prescribe epinephrine in the name of the school district or accredited nonpublic school. The bill permits healthcare professionals or trained persons to possess and administer epinephrine from the school’s supply if a student is believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction. Except for gross negligence, the bill provides immunity from legal liability to any personnel authorized to administer epinephrine, school districts and nonpublic schools and their boards of directors, and the prescriber for any injuring arising from the provision, administration or assistance in the administration of an epinephrine auto-injector. The bill also requires school districts to allow the use of an epinephrine auto-injector by a student with a written statement from a physician. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SF 142, as amended in committee, requests the Legislative Council to establish a legislative interim committee to study the feasibility of establishing one or more facilities to provide care and treatment for persons who are sexually aggressive, combative or who have unmet geropsychiatric needs. The bill outlines membership and calls for a report to be issued to the Legislature by January 1, 2016. [3/2: short form]
SF 144, as amended in committee, establishes a refugee family support services pilot program and associated fund. The Department of Human Services is directed to administer the program and contract with up to three entities to provide services, including the existing pilot in Polk County. The primary purpose is to recruit and train refugees to serve as community navigators for other refugees. Funds are appropriated for the next three years at $746,400 annually. An assessment is required and an assessment report is due by December 21, 2017. [3/2: short form]
SF 307 establishes a disaster case management fund and program. The Executive Council is authorized to expend funds from the emergency fund for case management services following a gubernatorial or presidential disaster declaration. The Department of Human Services is directed to implement an ongoing contract with a local agency with offices across the state that shall be activated during times of emergency. The Executive Council may also authorize funds for case management training. The bill incudes limits on administrative and training costs. ([3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]
SF 308 prohibits the Department of Human Services from closing the Mental Health Institutes at Clarinda and Mount Pleasant unless a suitable plan for community- and institutional-based mental health treatment plan is developed and approved by the Legislature. The bill outlines the parameters for such a plan, including transition provisions, service availability and quality, workforce capacity and adequate funding. Additionally, the Department is required to accept eligible populations through the current fiscal year. [3/4: short form (Bolkcom, Chelgren absent)]