Bill Text: IN HB1310 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commission on improving the status of children.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-11 - First reading: referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs [HB1310 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2012-HB1310-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 2-5-35.
Synopsis: Commission on improving the status of children.
Establishes the commission on improving the status of children in
Indiana (commission). Requires certain departments, agencies, and
boards to submit an annual report concerning the status of children to
the commission by June 30 of each year and to submit any other reports
and information requested by the commission. Allows the commission
to request information and reports regarding matters related to children
from other state agencies.
Effective: July 1, 2012.
January 10, 2012, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and
Human Affairs.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning the
general assembly.
Chapter 35. Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana established by section 3 of this chapter.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "state agency" has the meaning set forth in IC 4-6-3-1.
Sec. 3. The commission on improving the status of children in Indiana is established.
Sec. 4. (a) The commission shall consist of twenty-five (25) members appointed as follows:
(1) The speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate shall each appoint two (2) legislative members, not more than two (2) of whom may be
affiliated with the same political party, to serve on the
commission.
(2) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint
the following two (2) members to serve on the commission for
a term of four (4) years:
(A) One (1) school teacher.
(B) One (1) school administrator.
(3) The minority leader of the house shall appoint the
following two (2) members to serve on the commission for a
term of four (4) years:
(A) One (1) member of a faith-based organization.
(B) One (1) university professor with expertise in
childhood and adolescent development.
(4) The president pro tempore of the senate shall appoint the
following two (2) members to serve on the commission for a
term of four (4) years:
(A) One (1) child psychologist licensed under IC 25-33.
(B) One (1) pediatric physician licensed under IC 25-22.5.
(5) The minority leader of the senate shall appoint the
following two (2) members to serve on the commission for a
term of four (4) years:
(A) One (1) social worker licensed under IC 25-23.6.
(B) One (1) parent.
(6) The governor shall appoint the following six (6) members
to serve on the commission for a term of four (4) years:
(A) One (1) parent or guardian of a child who is receiving
services in the juvenile justice system or the child welfare
system.
(B) One (1) representative of a nonprofit children's
organization.
(C) One (1) member who represents child service providers
in the juvenile justice system.
(D) One (1) member who represents child service providers
in the child welfare system.
(E) One (1) member who represents a private
philanthropic organization with a substantial interest in
the well-being of children.
(F) One (1) member who has formerly received services in
the juvenile justice system or child welfare system.
(7) The chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint the
following seven (7) members of the legal community to serve
on the commission for a term of four (4) years:
(A) Two (2) juvenile court judges, one (1) with experience handling a juvenile delinquency docket and one (1) with experience handing a child welfare docket.
(B) One (1) prosecuting attorney who works in juvenile court.
(C) One (1) public defender who works in juvenile court.
(D) One (1) court appointed special advocate director.
(E) One (1) attorney in private practice who is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association and whose work involves representing or litigating on behalf of children.
(F) One (1) attorney with knowledge in the area of education law or special education law.
(b) In making appointments under subsection (a), the appointing authorities shall consider appointing members who represent diverse:
(1) geographic areas of Indiana; and
(2) ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Sec. 5. Except for the members appointed under sections 4(a)(6)(B), 4(a)(6)(C), and 4(a)(6)(D) of this chapter, the members of the commission shall not have a direct financial interest in the subject matter to be studied by the commission.
Sec. 6. The chairman of the legislative council shall designate two (2) legislative members of the commission who are not from the same political party to alternate annually as chairperson of the commission. The individual appointed under section 4(a)(3)(B) of this chapter shall serve as co-chairperson of the commission.
Sec. 7. (a) A legislative member of the commission may be removed at any time by the appointing authority who appointed the legislative member.
(b) If a vacancy exists on the commission, the appointing authority who appointed the former member whose position has become vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.
Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the commission shall operate under the policies governing study committees adopted by the legislative council.
(b) The members appointed under sections 4(a)(2) through 4(a)(7) of this chapter shall serve without receiving per diem or traveling expenses.
(c) Each member of the commission who is a member of the general assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel allowances paid to members of the general assembly serving on interim study committees created by the legislative
council.
(d) The committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The
committee may meet any number of times during the year.
Sec. 9. The affirmative votes of a majority of the members
appointed to the commission are required for the commission to
take action on any measure, including final reports.
Sec. 10. The commission shall do the following:
(1) Study and evaluate:
(A) state agency policy and practice that impact the
well-being and best interests of children in Indiana; and
(B) proposed legislation that would affect policy and
practice described in clause (A).
(2) Review and make recommendations for legislation
regarding services provided by public and private entities to
children of all age groups, including children, youth, and
young adults, for all racial and ethnic populations.
(3) Review and make recommendations for legislation
regarding any unmet need or funding considerations for
children, with emphasis on prevention and early intervention
practices and programs that are evidence based, in the areas
of health, behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice,
and education in any specific geographic area or throughout
Indiana, and for specific racial or ethnic groups.
(4) Review and monitor progress on the implementation of
laws, programs, and services provided by state agencies,
organizations, and offices that impact children.
(5) Make recommendations regarding the commission's
findings to the appropriate state agencies, including legislative
committees and commissions that impact children.
(6) Review state rankings and outcomes concerning the status
of children annually, including rankings on:
(A) academic success;
(B) early childhood education;
(C) childhood poverty and hunger;
(D) health;
(E) school suspensions, expulsions, and school based
arrests;
(F) school drop outs;
(G) access to behavioral health care;
(H) child abuse and neglect;
(I) out-of-home placements;
(J) confinement in detention facilities and department of
correction facilities;
(K) immunizations; and
(L) infant mortality rates.
(7) Track the progress made toward improving the rankings
and outcomes described in subdivision (6).
(8) Cooperate with other child related commissions, the
judiciary, the executive branch of state government,
stakeholders, and members of the community to develop long
term plans that promote progress in areas of priority for the
advancement of children.
Sec. 11. The legislative services agency shall provide staff
support to the commission.
Sec. 12. The commission may appoint a study group comprised
of commission members, legislators, and other individuals who
have an interest in children's issues to study specific issues relating
to children.
Sec. 13. (a) The following shall submit an annual report that
includes the information described in subsection (b) to the
commission by June 30 of each year, and shall submit any other
reports and information requested by the commission:
(1) The department of education.
(2) The department of correction.
(3) The criminal justice institute.
(4) The division of mental health and addiction.
(5) The department of child services.
(6) The office of Medicaid policy and planning.
(7) The department of health.
(8) The board for the coordination of programs serving
vulnerable individuals created by IC 4-23-30.2-8.
(b) Each state agency listed under subsection (a) shall include in
the state agency's report under subsection (a) the following
information as it relates to the state agency:
(1) The status of children.
(2) The state rankings and outcomes of children.
(3) The measures taken to improve the status of children.
(4) Any plans established to improve the status of children.
(c) The commission may request information and reports
regarding matters related to children from a state agency not listed
in subsection (a).
