235A.1 Child abuse prevention program. 1. a. A program for the prevention of child abuse is established within the state department of human services. Any moneys appropriated by the general assembly for child abuse prevention shall be used by the department of human services solely for the purposes of child abuse prevention and shall not […]
235A.12 Legislative findings and purposes. 1. The general assembly finds and declares that a central registry is required to provide a single source for the statewide collection, maintenance, and dissemination of child abuse information. The existence of the central registry is imperative for increased effectiveness in dealing with the problem of child abuse. The general […]
235A.13 Definitions. As used in chapter 232, subchapter III, part 2, and this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Assessment data” means any of the following information pertaining to the department’s evaluation of a family: a. Identification of the strengths and needs of the child, and of the child’s parent, home, and family. b. […]
235A.14 Creation and maintenance of a central registry. 1. There is created within the state department of human services a central registry for certain child abuse information. The department shall organize and staff the registry and adopt rules for its operation. 2. The registry shall collect, maintain and disseminate child abuse information as provided for […]
235A.15 Authorized access — procedures involving other states. 1. Notwithstanding chapter 22, the confidentiality of all child abuse information shall be maintained, except as specifically provided by this section. 2. Access to report data and disposition data subject to placement in the central registry pursuant to section 232.71D is authorized only to the following persons […]
235A.16 Requests for child abuse information. 1. Requests for child abuse information shall be in writing on forms prescribed by the department, except as otherwise provided by subsection 2. Request forms shall require information sufficient to demonstrate authorized access. 2. a. Requests for child abuse information may be made orally by telephone where a person […]
235A.17 Redissemination of child abuse information. 1. A person, agency, or other recipient of child abuse information authorized to receive such information shall not redisseminate such information, except that redissemination shall be permitted when all of the following conditions apply: a. The redissemination is for official purposes in connection with prescribed duties or, in the […]
235A.18 Sealing and expungement of founded child abuse information. 1. Report data and disposition data relating to a particular case of alleged abuse which has been determined to be founded child abuse and placed in the central registry in accordance with section 232.71D shall be maintained in the registry as follows: a. (1) Report and […]
235A.19 Examination, requests for correction or expungement and appeal. 1. A subject of a child abuse report, as identified in section 235A.15, subsection 2, paragraph “a”, shall have the right to examine report data and disposition data which refers to the subject. The department may prescribe reasonable hours and places of examination. A subject of […]
235A.2 Child abuse prevention program fund. 1. A child abuse prevention program fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department of human services. The fund is composed of moneys appropriated or available to and obtained or accepted by the treasurer of state for deposit in the fund. The fund shall […]
235A.20 Civil remedy. Any aggrieved person may institute a civil action for damages under chapter 669 or 670 or to restrain the dissemination of child abuse information in violation of this chapter, and any person, agency or other recipient proven to have disseminated or to have requested and received child abuse information in violation of […]
235A.21 Criminal penalties. 1. Any person who willfully requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain child abuse information under false pretenses, or who willfully communicates or seeks to communicate child abuse information to any agency or person except in accordance with sections 235A.15 and 235A.17, or any person connected with any research authorized pursuant to section […]
235A.22 Education program. The department of human services shall require an educational program for employees of the department with access to child abuse information on the proper use and control of child abuse information. [C75, 77, 79, 81, §235A.22] 97 Acts, ch 176, §15 Referred to in §235A.12
235A.23 Reports. 1. The department of human services may compile statistics, conduct research, and issue reports on child abuse, provided identifying details of the subject of child abuse reports are deleted from any report issued. 2. The department shall issue an annual report on its administrative operation, including information as to the number of requests […]
235A.24 Order for disclosure or release of child abuse information. 1. a. If a person’s request for information relating to a case of founded child abuse under section 235A.15, subsection 9, is denied or such person does not believe the department has substantially complied with the request and seeks additional information, the person may apply […]
