Children's Mental Health: When the legislature passed an extensive mental health bill last session, there was a significant part missing — specific provisions for mental health access for children. On March 21, the House passed a bill that creates a structure that would ensure Iowa children receive mental health assistance. In the proposed bill, an Iowa child under the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance would receive mental health care. The bill does not address care for intellectual disability or brain injury services, substance abuse or developmental disorders unless they co-occur with a diagnosed mental, behavioral or emotional disorder.
Core services would include prevention, early identification and intervention for serious emotional disturbances, as well as medication management and behavioral health outpatient therapy. Additionally, regardless of a diagnosed emotional disturbance, comprehensive facility and community-based crisis services would be provided, such as mobile response, crisis stabilization, behavioral health inpatient treatment, and a 24-hour crisis hotline.
Additional core services would be available depending on funding: school-based therapy, family and peer support, therapeutic foster care and respite care, and transition services for children to the adult system.
There is no specific funding allocated in this bill. It’s important resources for children’s mental health not simply be taken from present adult mental health support funds. This children’s mental health bill is a good start, and we must do more.
Absentee ballot legislation: Many of you are familiar with the situation that occurred in HD 55 when a very tight State Representative race had to be decided by the House earlier this year. The problem hinged on ambiguities of current law about how absentee ballots are counted. To fix the issue, the House passed House File 692 which requires each county in Iowa to use tracking provided by the U.S. Postal Service. Our Iowa Secretary of State supports this bill. Thank you to those who have brought attention to this issue; we hope the Senate passes this bill.
American Legion: A resolution was issued in the House this week honoring the centennial of the formation of the American Legion in Iowa, and I was glad to welcome several Newton Post 111 members to the Capitol. Our local Newton Post 111 is active in our community. It's an important meeting place and also performs many charitable works, including sending supplies to our troops in Kuwait. The American Legion Riders, along with other rider groups in all states, have escorted military units returning home from combat tours overseas, conducted cross-country fundraising events for wounded warriors from all services and have raised money for countless local, state and national charities. Our Newton Riders recently donated $300 to the organization Outdoors Without Boundaries, which helps disabled people enjoy the outdoors. Thanks so much for all you do.
Members of Newton American Legion Post 111 came to the Capitol in honor of a resolution celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Legion in Iowa.