SB 2485 Summary

• Creates a Children's Cabinet comprising heads of 11 state agencies (Human Services, Education, Health, Mental Health, Medicaid, Higher Education, Child Protection, Rehabilitation Services, Community College Board, and Employment Security) to coordinate services for children, with the Governor designating a chair and optionally appointing a secretary.

• Cabinet must meet by August 1, 2017, and is responsible for developing interagency coordination plans, adopting common case management systems, collecting data, making recommendations to the Governor on child-related policies, and submitting annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.

• Transfers all responsibilities of the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and the Interagency Coordinating Council for Children and Youth (ICCCY) to the new Children's Cabinet.

• Repeals seven existing statutes establishing separate councils including the State Early Childhood Advisory Council, the State Interagency Coordinating Council, Healthcare Coordinating Council, Mississippi Interagency Council on Homelessness, and advisory councils to various state officers.

• Effective date is July 1, 2017.