Iowa Code § 229.28 (2026)

1. When a court finds that the contention that a respondent is seriously mentally impaired has been sustained or proposes to order continued hospitalization of any person, or an alternative placement, as described under section 229.14, subsection 1, paragraph “b” or “d”, and the court is furnished evidence that the respondent or patient is eligible for care and treatment in a facility operated by the United States department of veterans affairs or another agency of the United States government and that the facility is willing to receive the respondent or patient, the court may so order.

a. The respondent or patient, when so hospitalized or placed in a facility operated by the United States department of veterans affairs or another agency of the United States government within or outside of this state, shall be subject to the rules of the United States department of veterans affairs or other agency, but shall not thereby lose any procedural rights afforded the respondent or patient by this chapter.

b. The chief officer of the facility shall have, with respect to the person so hospitalized or placed, the same powers and duties as the chief medical officer of a hospital in this state would have in regard to submission of reports to the court, retention of custody, transfer, convalescent leave or discharge.

2. Jurisdiction is retained in the court to maintain surveillance of the person’s treatment and care, and at any time to inquire into that person’s mental condition and the need for continued hospitalization or care and custody. [C27, 31, 35, §3562-b1; C39, §3562.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §229.20; C77, 79, 81, §229.28] 2001 Acts, ch 155, §39; 2009 Acts, ch 26, §10 Referred to in §229.30 \n