The commission must carry out listed duties for children and youth services, including recommendations, annual reporting, rulemaking, and certain authorized activities if resources allow.
The commission shall perform each of the following duties: Make recommendations concerning establishment of priorities and needed improvements with respect to programs and services for children and youth; On or before September 1 of each year, make recommendations for the state budget for the following fiscal year regarding services for children and youth and submit the recommendations to the governor, the finance, ways and means committee of the senate, the finance, ways and means committee of the house of representatives, the legislative office of budget analysis, and the affected state departments; Implement the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, compiled in 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq., and distribute, consistent with the purpose of the commission as set forth by § 37-3-102(a), such funds as the general assembly shall direct; Advocate and coordinate the efficient and effective development and enhancement of state, local and regional programs and services for children and youth; Publish annually, on or before December 31, a comprehensive report on the status of children and youth in Tennessee; and distribute the report to the governor, to each member of the general assembly and to each of the state's depository libraries; and Promulgate, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, such rules as may be necessary to perform the duties prescribed by this part. If a new, separate or reorganized department, office or agency is established to administer the duties of youth services in the department of correction, the duties in this subsection (a) and the duties and authority provided by §§ 37-1-161 and 37-1-162, and any funds allocated to the commission on children and youth for distribution, may be transferred by executive order of the governor to such new, separate or reorganized entity. To the extent that adequate resources are available, the commission is authorized to perform any one (1) or more of the following activities: Identify and analyze specific problems concerning programs and services for children and youth; [Deleted by 2015 amendment] Review licensing or certification standards and program policies, promulgated by entities of state government, that affect children and youth; and make recommendations concerning such standards and policies to the governor, to the entity promulgating any such standard or policy and to each member of the general assembly; and Monitor foster care review boards; report on the impact of foster care review on children and youth in foster care; and make recommendations for improvement of the state's foster care system to the governor and each member of the general assembly.