A bill for an act establishing the state public defender’s pilot project to implement innovative models of child welfare legal representation as the project to preserve families.

SF 2370 establishes a pilot project called "Project to Preserve Families" administered by Iowa's State Public Defender to improve legal representation for families involved in child welfare cases. The project, running from 2020 through 2025, allows the State Public Defender to implement innovative legal approaches in up to 16 counties to help preserve families, reduce trauma for children, and achieve financial benefits for communities. It authorizes the State Public Defender to appoint attorneys for indigent families before formal proceedings if appropriate, coordinate with other agencies, and study outcomes. The bill aims to change how legal representation operates within child welfare proceedings to support family preservation.