217.3A Advisory committees.

1. General. The council on human services shall establish and utilize the advisory committees identified in this section and may establish and utilize other advisory committees. The council shall establish appointment provisions, membership terms, operating guidelines, and other operational requirements for committees established pursuant to this section.

2. Child abuse prevention. The council shall establish a child abuse prevention program advisory committee to support the child abuse prevention program implemented in accordance with section 235A.1. The duties of the advisory committee shall include all of the following:

a. Advise the director of human services and the administrator of the division of the department of human services responsible for child and family programs regarding expenditures of funds received for the child abuse prevention program.

b. Review the implementation and effectiveness of legislation and administrative rules concerning the child abuse prevention program.

c. Recommend changes in legislation and administrative rules to the general assembly and the appropriate administrative officials.

d. Require reports from state agencies and other entities as necessary to perform its duties.

e. Receive and review complaints from the public concerning the operation and management of the child abuse prevention program.

f. Approve grant proposals.

3. Child support.

a. The council shall establish a child support advisory committee.

(1) Members of the advisory committee shall include at least one district judge and representatives of custodial parent groups, noncustodial parent groups, the general assembly, the office of ombudsman, the Iowa state bar association, the Iowa county attorneys association, and other constituencies which have an interest in child support enforcement issues, appointed by the respective entity.

(2) The legislative members of the advisory committee shall be appointed as follows: one senator each by the majority leader of the senate, after consultation with the president of the senate, and by the minority leader of the senate, and one member of the house of representatives each by the speaker of the house of representatives, after consultation with the majority leader of the house of representatives, and by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

b. The legislative members of the advisory committee shall serve for terms as provided in section 69.16B. Appointments shall comply with sections 69.16 and 69.16A. Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority and in the manner of the original appointments.

c. The child support advisory committee shall assist the department in all of the following activities:

(1) Review of existing child support guidelines and recommendations for revision.

(2) Examination of the operation of the child support system to identify program improvements or enhancements which would increase the effectiveness of securing parental support and parental involvement.

(3) Recommendation of legislation which would clarify and improve state law regarding support for children.

d. The committee shall receive input from the public regarding any child support issues.

4. Child welfare.

a. The council shall establish a child welfare advisory committee to advise the department of human services on programmatic and budgetary matters related to the provision or purchase of child welfare services. The committee shall meet to review departmental budgets, policies, and programs, and proposed budgets, policies, and programs, and to make recommendations and suggestions to make the state child welfare budget, programs, and policies more effective in serving families and children.

b. The membership of the advisory committee shall include representatives of child welfare service providers, juvenile court services, the Iowa foster and adoptive parent association, the child advocacy board, the coalition for family and children’s services in Iowa, children’s advocates, service consumers, and others who have training or knowledge related to child welfare services. In addition, four members shall be legislators, all serving as ex officio, nonvoting members, with one each appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house of representatives, the majority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate. The director of human services and the administrator of the division of the department of human services responsible for child welfare services, or their designees, shall also be ex officio, nonvoting members, and shall serve as resource persons to the advisory committee.

2010 Acts, ch 1031, §391; 2013 Acts, ch 10, §29