Senate Bill 2675 Summary

• Creates the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services as a subagency within the Department of Human Services with the Commissioner maintaining complete operational control over departmental functions.

• Commissioner of Child Protection Services must be appointed by the Governor with Senate approval and possess either a bachelor's degree plus 10 years' experience in management/public administration/finance/accounting, or a master's/doctoral degree plus 5 years' similar experience.

• Commissioner and Executive Director of Department of Human Services must develop a transition plan covering transfer of equipment, resources, personnel allocation, shared service functions, and administrative support services like IT and payroll.

• Department of Child Protection Services assumes responsibility for programs and services previously provided by the Office of Family and Children's Services under 19 specified Mississippi Code sections.

• Directs the PEER Committee to conduct annual reviews of the department beginning in fiscal year 2017, assessing program effectiveness, social worker caseloads and turnover rates, and funding sources and uses.