Amends TCA Title 3; Title 37; Title 49 and Title 68.

COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND SELECTION This bill requires the committee to consist of 18 members. The speaker of the senate must appoint nine senators, and the speaker of the house of representatives must appoint nine representatives. The members appointed must have a desire to serve on the committee and be committed to improving the lives of children by making the best interests of each child their primary focus. This bill requires the respective speakers to appoint or reappoint members, during the organizational session of each general assembly, to serve on the committee. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the committee between organizational sessions, the vacancy must be filled by the respective speakers as described above. MEETINGS AND OFFICERS This bill requires the committee to meet at least eight times per year and at the call of the chair. Each member of the committee is entitled to expenses in accordance with state law, for each day the member attends a meeting of the committee. However, a member must not receive additional legislative compensation when the general assembly is in session or if a member is being paid any other payments on the same dates for attendance on other state business. This bill requires the committee to elect from its membership a chair, a vice chair, and other officers as it deems necessary. AUTHORIZED COMMITTEE ACTIONS This bill authorizes the committee to do the following: (1) Create subcommittees related to its purposes; (2) Request standing committees of the general assembly, the fiscal review committee, and any agencies or entities of state government to study and report on designated policy matters relating to children and youth; (3) Conduct meetings and public hearings in Nashville and across the state as necessary; (4) Employ committee staff, including an executive director, subject to the availability of funding. The executive director must have experience in the fields of social services and child welfare and as an executive director of an entity that provides social services or child welfare; (5) Enter into contracts for technical or professional services, subject to the availability of funding, with the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to jointly: (i) determine the qualifications and task or job descriptions of a consultant or other person contracted for services; and (ii) select the consultant or other person on behalf of the committee; (6) Promote interagency cooperation and policy continuity with respect to state initiatives to benefit children and youth; (7) Provide, on behalf of the general assembly, planning and programmatic assistance to legislative conferences on children and youth; (8) Undertake appropriate actions to inform state and local officials and the public of innovative and effective model programs for children, youth, and their families; and (9) Perform other duties as requested by joint resolution of the general assembly. ANNUAL REPORT This bill requires the committee to publish a report following the conclusion of every regular annual legislative session occurring in an even-numbered year that summarizes the committee's activities, findings, recommendations, and proposals. A copy of the annual report must be distributed to each member of the general assembly. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE This bill establishes that it is the duty of the committee to do the following: (1) Review current state policies on children and youth as reflected by statutes, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities in this state, and to provide oversight; (2) Study the problems that jeopardize the development and well-being of children and youth in this state, including persistent, interdisciplinary problems as teen pregnancy, educational underachievement, youth employment, alcohol and drug abuse, delinquency, emotional illness, birth defects, day care, homelessness, child abuse, the growing impoverishment of children and adolescents, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking of minors; (3) Define and establish the components, guidelines, and objectives of a comprehensive state policy to ensure and promote present and future health, welfare, and opportunity for children and youth in this state; (4) Identify statutes, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities in this state that conflict with the components, guidelines, and objectives of the comprehensive state policy; (5) Search for any interdepartmental gaps, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies in the implementation or attainment of the comprehensive state policy; (6) Identify any new laws, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities necessary to ensure and promote the: (i) present and future health of children and youth, including their physical, mental, and emotional health; (ii) welfare of children and youth; and (iii) opportunities for children and youth; (7) Serve as an in-house informational resource for all members and committees of the general assembly on legislative policy matters concerning children and youth; and (8) Perform other activities reasonably related to the legislative intent of this bill, including improving public awareness of the special needs of children and youth. FINAL REPORT This bill requires the committee, upon completion of its duties as prescribed by this bill, to prepare and publish a final report on its activities, including its duties, committee responsibilities, accomplishments, and recommendations for legislation. The committee must distribute the final report to each member of the general assembly and to each library officially designated as a depository for state documents and publications. This bill requires the committee to terminate and cease to exist upon the distribution of the final report. REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS This bill requires the commissioner of education to report at least twice each year to the committee on the department of education's performance of its statutory duties and responsibilities, until the committee terminates. This bill requires the commissioner of children's services to report at least three times each year to the committee, and as may be called upon by the committee, on the performance of the department of children's services' statutory duties and responsibilities, until the committee terminates. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT This bill requires the committee to perform legislative oversight of programs and services for children and their families as provided in this bill. However, this provision does not prohibit or restrict appropriate review, inquiry, or oversight of the department of children's services by another standing, special, or statutory committee of the general assembly. SCOPE OF WORK This bill requires the committee to study all relevant issues pertaining to the child protective services system, including its effectiveness, and develop recommendations for its improvement. ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES This bill requires the commission on children and youth, department of children's services, department of education, and other agencies of state government to provide information and assistance to the committee upon the committee's request.