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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate File 248 allows residential treatment programs to reject individual placements when safety or security is lacking
Last action · February 13, 2025: Subcommittee: Klimesh, Costello, and Petersen. S.J. 269 .Sponsor: Janet Petersen
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate File 248 requires the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to include contract provisions allowing s to reject individual placements if safety or security cannot be ensured. The bill prohibits the department from using '' clauses in these contracts. This rule applies to all qualified residential treatment program contracts executed, extended, or renewed on or after the effective date.
Residential treatment facility operators gain the legal right to decline referred individuals when staffing or security is inadequate, altering contracting standards for state-placed youth.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Health and Human Services
The department must alter its contract terms with qualified residential treatment programs to remove 'no reject, no eject' clauses and permit placement rejections.
Qualified residential treatment program contractors
Contractors gain the authority to reject referred placements in writing when safety and security requirements cannot be met.
Referred individuals
Individuals referred by state agencies or juvenile court services may have their facility placements declined by contractors citing safety concerns.
Key Facts
- Department contracts with qualified residential treatment programs must include a provision allowing contractors to reject individual placements referred by the department or juvenile court services.
- Rejection requires the contractor to confirm in writing that they lack necessary security or support to ensure the safety of the individual or staff.
- The department is prohibited from including 'no reject, no eject' provisions in any qualified residential treatment program contracts.
- The term 'no reject, no eject' is defined as requiring a contractor to accept all individual placements referred by the department or juvenile court services.
Show all 5 facts
- The Act applies to all contracts between the department and a contractor for a qualified residential treatment program executed, extended, or renewed on or after the effective date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Senate File 248 allow residential treatment programs to do?
Are 'no reject, no eject' provisions allowed under this bill?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 13, 2025SenateSubcommittee: Klimesh, Costello, and Petersen. S.J. 269 .
- Feb 10, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Health and Human Services. S.J. 217 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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