SB 62-1_ Filed 04/24/2003, 11:03

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

DIGEST FOR ESB 62



Citations Affected: Noncode.

Synopsis: Commission on abused and neglected children and their families. Conference committee report for ESB 62. Establishes a commission on abused and neglected children and their families to develop a plan of services for children at risk of abuse or neglect and for abused or neglected children and their families. Requires a report not later than August 15, 2004. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the board for the coordination of child care regulation.) (This conference committee report deletes the language concerning crime victim identifying information and inserts the content described above.)

Effective: July 1, 2003.



CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT

MR. PRESIDENT:
    Your Conference Committee appointed to confer with a like committee from the House upon Engrossed House Amendments to Engrossed Senate Bill No. 62 respectfully reports that said two committees have conferred and agreed as follows to wit:

    that the Senate recede from its dissent from all House amendments and that the Senate now concur in all House amendments to the bill and that the bill be further amended as follows:

    Delete the title and insert the following:
    A BILL FOR AN ACT concerning human services.
    Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SOURCE: ; (03)CC006203.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2003] (a) As used in this SECTION, "commission" refers to the commission on abused and neglected children and their families established by subsection (b).
    (b) The commission on abused and neglected children and their families is established to develop and present an implementation plan for a continuum of services for children at risk of abuse or neglect and children who have been abused or neglected and their families.
    (c) The commission consists of the following members appointed not later than August 15, 2003:
        (1) One (1) prosecuting attorney or a deputy prosecuting attorney.
        (2) One (1) attorney who specializes in juvenile law.
        (3) One (1) representative from law enforcement.
        (4) Two (2) children's advocates.
        (5) One (1) guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate.
        (6) One (1) juvenile court judge.
        (7) One (1) public agency children's services caseworker.
        (8) One (1) private agency children's services caseworker.
        (9) The director of the division of family and children or the director's designee.
        (10) One (1) counselor or social worker from Indiana's "at risk" school program.
        (11) One (1) pediatrician.
        (12) One (1) medical social worker.
        (13) Two (2) faculty members, including:
            (A) one (1) faculty member from an Indiana accredited graduate school of social work, who shall serve as the chair of the commission; and
            (B) one (1) faculty member from an Indiana accredited undergraduate school of social work.
        (14) One (1) county director to be appointed from the Indiana State Association of County Welfare Administrators.
        (15) One (1) foster parent who is a member of a foster advocacy organization.
        (16) One (1) adoptive parent who is a member of an adoptive parent advocacy organization.
        (17) One (1) nonprofit family services agency provider.
        (18) One (1) representative of child caring institution providers.
        (19) One (1) psychologist who works with abused and neglected children.
        (20) One (1) individual who has experience and training in juvenile fire setting identification and intervention.
        (21) Two (2) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The members appointed under this subdivision may not be members of the same political party.
        (22) Two (2) members of the senate appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. The members appointed under this subdivision may not be members of the same political party.
The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the members under subdivisions (2), (5), (8), (10), (15), and (17) and one (1) member under subdivision (4). The president pro tempore of the senate shall appoint the members under subdivisions (3), (11), (12), (16), (18), and (19) and one (1) member under subdivision (4). The governor shall appoint the members under subdivisions (1), (6), (7), (14), and (20) and both members under subdivision (13). Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term.
    (d) Each member of the commission shall have an interest or experience in improving the quality of services provided to children at risk of abuse or neglect and abused or neglected children and their families in Indiana.
    (e) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitutes a quorum.
    (f) The Indiana accredited graduate school of social work represented by the chair of the commission shall staff the

commission.
    (g) The commission shall meet at the call of the chair and shall meet as often as necessary to carry out the purpose of this SECTION.
    (h) The expenses of administering the commission shall be paid from the resources of the Indiana accredited graduate school of social work represented by the chair of the commission. Expenses under this subsection include the following:
        (1) Photocopying and printing costs.
        (2) Costs of supplies.
    (i) Members of the commission are not entitled to a salary per diem or reimbursement of expenses for service on the commission.
    (j) The commission's responsibilities include the following:
        (1) Reviewing Indiana's public and private family services delivery system for children at risk of abuse or neglect and for children who have been reported as suspected victims of child abuse or neglect.
        (2) Reviewing federal, state, and local funds appropriated to meet the service needs of children and their families.
        (3) Reviewing current best practices standards for the provision of child and family services.
        (4) Examining the qualifications and training of service providers, including foster parents, adoptive parents, child caring institution staff, child placing agency staff, case managers, supervisors, and administrators, and making recommendations for a training curriculum and other necessary changes.
        (5) Recommending methods to improve use of available public and private funds to address the service needs described in subdivision (2).
        (6) Providing information concerning identified unmet needs of children and families and providing recommendations concerning the development of resources to meet the identified needs.
        (7) Suggesting policy, program, and legislative changes related to the family services described in subdivision (1) to accomplish the following:
            (A) Enhancement of the quality of the services.
            (B) Identification of potential resources to promote change to enhance the services.
        (8) Preparing a report consisting of the commission's findings and recommendations, and the presentation of the implementation plan for a continuum of services for children at risk of abuse or neglect and for abused or neglected children and their families specified under subsection (b).
    (k) In carrying out the commission's responsibilities, the commission shall consider pertinent studies on children at risk of abuse or neglect and on abused or neglected children and their families.
    (l) The affirmative votes of a majority of the commission's members are required for the commission to take action on any

measure, including recommendations included in the report required under subsection (j)(8).
    (m) The commission shall submit the report required under subsection (j)(8) to the governor, the legislative council, and the board for the coordination of child care regulation established by IC 12-17.2-3.1-1 not later than August 15, 2004. The report must be available to the public upon request not later than December 31, 2004.
    (n) This SECTION expires January 1, 2005.

    (Reference is to ESB 62 as printed April 8, 2003.)




Conference Committee Report

on

Engrossed Senate Bill 62



Text Box

S

igned by:

    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Senator Lawson CRepresentative Summers
    Chairperson

    ____________________________    ____________________________
    Senator BreauxRepresentative Becker

    Senate Conferees    House Conferees


CC006203/DI 75
2003