HB 879 Summary

• Clarifies the purpose of Chapter 587A (Child Protective Act) to prioritize the safety, health, and physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children who have been harmed or are threatened with harm.

• Grants grandparents visitation rights with children in foster care if denial of reasonable visitation would cause significant harm to the child, and includes grandparents in the definition of "family."

• Requires foster placement preference to be given to approved relatives when in the best interest of the child, and mandates criminal history record checks of alleged perpetrators and all adults in the family home.

• Expands safe family home factors to include evaluations by domestic violence service providers with specialized training in trauma effects, and requires service plans to include such evaluations in cases of alleged or confirmed domestic violence.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to provide a written response to complainants regarding investigation disposition within 45 days, while maintaining confidentiality requirements under federal law.