MS HB141

Creates a 17-member Children's Resource Commission charged with coordinating and streamlining state efforts to provide services to Mississippi's children, focusing on abuse and neglect prevention, foster care, adoption, and public awareness.

Commission must conduct resource mapping of all federal and state funding sources for children's programs, assess program effectiveness, and determine feasibility of merging, continuing, or discontinuing services.

Requires all state agencies, departments, institutions, and political subdivisions providing children's services to submit itemized lists of programs to the John C. Stennis Institute of Government by September 1 annually, with compiled information provided to the commission by November 1 and legislature by December 1.

Commission must file annual reports to legislative committees by December 1 and conduct meetings to explain statewide impact by December 15 each year; commission shall meet at least quarterly and hold public meetings with opportunity for public comment.

Takes effect July 1, 2014; members receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses.