06 LC 35
0209/AP
House
Bill 1615 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Buckner of the
76th,
Dodson of the
75th,
Jordan of the
77th,
Abdul-Salaam of the
74th,
and Sinkfield of the
60th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
establish the "Clayton County Commission on Children and Youth"; to provide for
matters relative thereto; to provide an effective date; to provide for automatic
repeal of this Act; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds that appropriate services to children and youth are
vitally important and the establishment in Clayton County of a Commission on
Children and Youth recognizes the importance of this service. The intent of
this Act is to provide for the effective coordination and communication between
the providers of children and youth services in Clayton County, including
pediatrics, health, mental health, business, and industry, and all components of
the social service delivery system, education, employment, and juvenile justice
and community efforts tangent thereto.
SECTION
2.
(a)
There is established the "Clayton County Commission on Children and Youth" which
shall be composed of the following members:
(1)
Fifteen voting members selected by the concerted action of the director of the
Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services, the chairperson of
the Clayton County Board of Commissioners and the judges of the Juvenile Court
of Clayton County. Voting members shall consist of individuals who are business
and community leaders and who by their interest, training, or experience are
knowledgeable of the issues affecting children and youth; individuals who are in
the field of education; individuals who are part of local government, including
law enforcement officials; and individuals who by their training and experience
are knowledgeable in pediatrics, health, mental health, or social services.
Voting members shall have the authority to vote on all issues before the
commission; and voting members shall serve at the pleasure of their selectors.
In selection and discharge of the voting members, the votes of two members of
the selection and discharge group shall control; and
(2)
Ten ex officio members. Ex officio members shall consist of a member of the
Clayton County legislative delegation, the sheriff of Clayton County, the
chairperson of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, the Clayton County
Director of Police Services, the Presiding Judge of the Clayton County Juvenile
Court, the Clayton County Superintendent of Schools, a physician appointed by
the Director of Public Health, the Director of the Department of Family and
Children Services, the Director of Mental Health, and a clergyman selected by
vote of the designated ex officio members. Ex officio members shall not have the
authority to vote on the administration of grants or grant requests or other
such issues prohibited by law or as set forth in the
commissiońs
bylaws.
(b)
All appointments to the commission shall become effective on the first day of
the month following the month in which this Act becomes law. In the event of
death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of
the commission, the vacancy shall be filled prior to the next regular meeting in
the same manner as the original appointment and the successor shall serve for
the unexpired term.
(c) Membership on the commission does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding public office by reason of his or her membership on the commission.
(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that each member may be reimbursed out of the funds of the commission as funds are available for expenses incurred as a result of his or her duties as a commission member in accordance with the State of Georgia mileage reimbursement allowance.
(e) The commission shall elect a chairperson and such other officers from among their number and make such bylaws for its operation as may be necessary or appropriate.
(f) The commission may establish advisory committees. All members of the advisory committee shall be knowledgeable about children and youth issues.
(c) Membership on the commission does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding public office by reason of his or her membership on the commission.
(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that each member may be reimbursed out of the funds of the commission as funds are available for expenses incurred as a result of his or her duties as a commission member in accordance with the State of Georgia mileage reimbursement allowance.
(e) The commission shall elect a chairperson and such other officers from among their number and make such bylaws for its operation as may be necessary or appropriate.
(f) The commission may establish advisory committees. All members of the advisory committee shall be knowledgeable about children and youth issues.
SECTION
3.
(a)
The chairperson of the commission may contract with other agencies, public or
private, or persons as the chairperson deems necessary for the rendering and
affording of such services, facilities, studies, research, and reports to the
commission as will best assist it to carry out its duties and
responsibilities.
(b) The chairperson may employ such other professional, technical, and clerical personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, given funds available.
(b) The chairperson may employ such other professional, technical, and clerical personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, given funds available.
SECTION
4.
The
commission is vested with the following functions and authorities:
(1)
To cooperate with and seek cooperation from every department, agency, or
instrumentality in furtherance of the purposes of this Act;
(2)
To convene periodically, but at least three times a year, at a place and time
designated by the chairperson of the commission;
(3)
To develop, in coordination and cooperation with all components of the various
children and youth systems of this state, and agencies of Clayton County, public
or private, legislative proposals and executive policy proposals to better meet
the needs of children and youth and improve the quality of services available to
them;
(4)
To review and develop an integrated county plan for services provided to
children and youth through whatever available federal, state, and local
programs;
(5)
To provide technical assistance and consultation to members of the commission
and officers of Clayton County government, particularly those involved in
providing services to children and youth;
(6)
To review existing statutes, administrative rules, regulations, ordinances, and
policies of those agencies having a member on the commission relating to
children and youth and make recommendations which will encourage greater
interagency coordination and cooperation, for effective utilization of existing
resources;
(7)
To facilitate the elimination of unnecessary duplicative efforts, programs, and
services;
(8)
To administer assistance funds for the purposes mentioned herein or as assigned
by law or executive order; and
(9)
Notwithstanding any provision in this Act to the contrary, the commission shall
not exercise any power, undertake any duty, or perform any function otherwise
assigned by law.
SECTION
5.
(a)
The commission is authorized to accept and use property, both real and personal,
and services for the purpose of carrying out this Act. The commission is
authorized to accept and use gifts, grants, and donations for the purpose of
carrying out this Act. Any funds, property, or services received by gifts,
grants, or donations shall be kept separate and apart from any funds received
from any governmental agency, and such funds, property, or services so received
by gifts, grants, or donations shall be the property and the funds of the
commission and, as such, shall not lapse at the end of each fiscal year but
shall remain under the control of and subject to the direction of the commission
to carry out the provisions of this
Act.
(b) The commission may solicit funds from the federal government, state government, county government, and municipalities, and any public funds donated by government are authorized, provided that the commission accounts for the spending of such funds on an annual basis.
(c) The commission shall make an annual report on December 1 of each year of its findings and recommendations to the members of the Clayton County legislative delegation, the Board of Commissioners of Clayton County, and the judicial officers of Clayton County.
(b) The commission may solicit funds from the federal government, state government, county government, and municipalities, and any public funds donated by government are authorized, provided that the commission accounts for the spending of such funds on an annual basis.
(c) The commission shall make an annual report on December 1 of each year of its findings and recommendations to the members of the Clayton County legislative delegation, the Board of Commissioners of Clayton County, and the judicial officers of Clayton County.
SECTION
6.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2006.
SECTION
7.
The
commission shall stand abolished on December 31, 2007.
SECTION
8.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.