MS HB466

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

Commission membership includes the Governor's appointee, executive directors from Human Services, Health, and Mental Health departments, education representatives, the State Superintendent of Public Education, and representatives from professional associations (counselors, social workers, therapists, primary health care providers, and others).

Requires the commission to design resource mapping of all federal and state funding sources supporting children from conception through age of majority, assess program effectiveness, and determine feasibility of merging or discontinuing programs.

Mandates all state agencies, departments, institutions, and political subdivisions providing children's services to submit itemized lists to the John C. Stennis Institute of Government by September 1 annually; the Stennis Institute compiles and distributes the information to the commission and legislative committees by November-December.

Commission must file annual reports with legislative appropriations, education, and public health committees by December 1 and conduct meetings by December 15 to explain statewide impact; takes effect July 1, 2018.