HB 1329 Summary

• Creates a Children's Cabinet consisting of 11 state agency heads (Governor or designee, Human Services, Education, Higher Education, Health, Mental Health, Child Protection Services, Medicaid, Community College Board, Rehabilitation Services, and Employment Security) to coordinate services for children across state agencies.

• Cabinet must meet by August 1, 2017, and shall develop interagency coordination plans, adopt common case management systems, advise the Governor on child-related policies, and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.

• Transfers authority of the Special Education Advisory Panel, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention (SICC), and Interagency Coordinating Council for Children and Youth (ICCCY) to the new Children's Cabinet effective July 1, 2017.

• Repeals seven separate advisory councils and coordinating bodies (State Early Childhood Advisory Council, SICC, Healthcare Coordinating Council, Mississippi Interagency Council on Homelessness, ICCCY powers section, and others) to consolidate their functions into the Cabinet.

• Takes effect July 1, 2017.