A bill for an act relating to membership in the protection occupation category of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system for certain social workers.

HF 2321 reclassifies certain social workers employed by Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services as "protection occupation" members of the state public employees' retirement system. It directly affects social workers who conduct child protective assessments, family assessments, or safety planning requiring in-person contact with children/families and face heightened safety risks (e.g., entering private residences, interacting with violent individuals, or handling abuse allegations). The bill retroactively reclassifies their prior service as protection occupation service without requiring additional retirement contributions, provided their employer certifies their duties meet the specified criteria. This change ensures these workers' retirement benefits align with the risk level of their roles, as defined by the bill’s safety-related duties.