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HF 2315

A bill for an act relating to allocations of moneys from the juvenile detention home fund.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Jeneary

The bill would give each eligible detention home a guaranteed $150,000 base, with any remaining funds distributed proportionally to each home's prior-year cost share.

Withdrawn. H.J. 04/29.
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Bill Summary · HF 2315

Summary of Bill HF 2315 (2025-2026) – Iowa

Purpose

HF 2315 proposes changes to how moneys from the Juvenile Detention Home Fund are allocated among county or multicounty juvenile detention homes. The bill shifts the distribution method from a proportional share based on each home’s prior-year cost to a two-tier approach: a flat base amount to each eligible detention home, plus a remaining pool allocated by each home's share of total prior-year costs.

Key Provisions

  • Source and purpose of funds: The Juvenile Detention Home Fund, administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is used for establishing, improving, operating, and maintaining juvenile detention homes (homes).

  • Allocation method (new approach):

    1. Base distribution: Each eligible county or multicounty juvenile detention home receives a guaranteed grant of $150,000 for the fiscal year.
    2. Remaining funds distribution: After the $150,000 base allocations are made, any remaining funds are allocated to homes in proportion to their prior-year share of the total costs of all eligible detention homes. The proportional distribution uses the costs from the immediately preceding fiscal year.

  • Budget-specific language:

    • The base $150,000 per home applies to “eligible” detention homes; the bill does not specify eligibility criteria beyond existing law, so the determination of which homes are eligible would follow current statutory definitions.
    • The underlying calculation for the remainder uses the prior fiscal year’s total costs for all eligible homes to determine each home’s proportionate share.

Who Is Affected

  • County and multicounty juvenile detention homes in Iowa that receive funds from the Juvenile Detention Home Fund.
  • Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which administers the fund and oversees distribution according to the bill’s requirements.
  • Taxpayers and local jurisdictions indirectly, as allocations affect county budgets and detention program funding.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Fiscal year alignment: The distribution in a given fiscal year considers the prior fiscal year’s costs for calculating the proportional share of the remaining funds.
  • Implementation timeline: The bill would apply to allocations in the fiscal year following enactment, with the base $150,000 per home and prorated distribution for remaining funds calculated as described.
  • Status and history:
    • Introduced and referred to Health and Human Services.
    • Subcommittee and committee actions occurred in February 2026, with a later committee report and action in April 2026 indicating subsequent changes or movement.
    • The action history shows committee activity leading to renumbering (HF 2537) and eventual withdrawal of HF 2315.

Practical Impact

  • The base funding certainty ($150,000 per eligible home) provides stability for detention programs, ensuring a minimum level of support.
  • The remainder distribution preserves an incentive to reflect relative cost levels among homes by allocating surpluses in proportion to prior-year costs.
  • Overall, the bill aims to balance guaranteed funding with relative-cost-based distribution, potentially smoothing disparities that could arise under a purely cost-proportional model.

Note: The “eligible” status of homes and other statutory definitions in current law would continue to govern which facilities receive funds under this bill. If enacted and effective, the department would implement the two-tier allocation method for the relevant fiscal year.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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