§2755. Powers and duties

A. The commission shall make, or cause to be made, all such studies, reviews, or analysis which it finds necessary to effect its purpose.

B. The commission in its consideration of the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 and HCR 56 or SCR 31, or both, of the 2003 Regular Session, and in the consideration of recommendation of other juvenile justice reform measures shall address such issues as:

(1) The creation of a single state entity for providing services to children and their families, as more fully set forth in R.S. 46:2757.

(2) The closure of Swanson Correctional Center for Youth-Madison Parish Unit as a facility for juveniles, as more fully set forth in R.S. 15:902.2, and the development of a comprehensive plan to reduce the over reliance on secure incarceration and provide community-based services including a time schedule for statewide implementation for the plan.

(3) The closure of Jetson Center for Youth-East Baton Rouge Parish Unit as a facility for juveniles, as set forth in R.S. 15:902.4, and the development of a comprehensive plan to reduce the over-reliance on secure incarceration and provide community-based services including a time schedule for statewide implementation for the plan.

(4) The priorities of state entities funding children and family services by:

(a) Receiving reports of the allocations and expenditures of all federal and state juvenile grant funds earmarked for law enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation, and education.

(b) Evaluating how juvenile monies, both state and federal, are utilized in implementing juvenile delinquency prevention programs by state and local agencies.

(c) Identifying and evaluating the effectiveness of state and local public awareness and delinquency prevention programs in both the public and private sectors to develop a series of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of such programs.

(d) Evaluating specific problem areas relating to the enforcement of laws concerning juvenile delinquency and making recommendations to improve the impact of those laws through legislative refinement or executive order.

(e) Assessing the roles and interaction of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and entities in combating juvenile delinquency to make recommendations for improving their effectiveness.

C. The commission may also:

(1) Review and comment on the progress reports submitted to it by the Children's Cabinet and its affiliated boards.

(2) Review and comment on various proposals for the annual children's budget before completion and submission of the budget to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by the Children's Cabinet.

(3) Make recommendations for improving juvenile justice through proposed legislation, resolutions, or other expressions of legislative intent.

(4) Monitor and advocate for juvenile justice legislation and other actions relating to the reform of juvenile justice and the restructuring of the delivery of services to children and their families.

(5) Take any other action it deems appropriate relating to the restructuring or rendering, or both, of juvenile services.

(6) Hire staff and other necessary personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the commission.

Acts 2003, No. 1225, §5; Acts 2008, No. 565, §7.