Senate Bill No. 147 Summary

• Establishes the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana, effective July 1, 2013, composed of 15 members including legislators, agency officials, judges, educators, health professionals, and child advocates.

• Requires the Department of Education, Department of Correction, Criminal Justice Institute, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Department of Child Services, Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, Department of Health, and Board for Coordination of Programs Serving Vulnerable Individuals to submit annual reports to the commission by June 30 each year.

• Directs the commission to study state agency policies affecting children's well-being, review and recommend legislation on child services and funding, monitor implementation of child-related laws and programs, and track state rankings and outcomes in 13 areas including academic success, poverty, health, school discipline, and delinquency.

• Authorizes the commission to request information and reports from any state agency on matters related to children and requires submission of an annual report to the legislative council by November 1 each year.

• Provides commission members with per diem and travel allowances consistent with legislative interim study committee members, with the Legislative Services Agency providing staff support.