§2757. Single state entity for children; additional duties and functions

A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the creation of a single state entity for the delivery of services to children and their families would offer the state many benefits, including:

(1) The facilitation of more effective communication, coordination, and collaboration of agencies and personnel within the new state entity.

(2) The facilitation of the development of a new system of service delivery providing a single pool of financing, single points of entry, a comprehensive system of case management, and wraparound services for children and families.

(3) The generation of savings from the elimination of redundant administrative, management, and programmatic functions and from the realignment of state and local functions, particularly the new programmatic emphasis on community-based services, and the reinvestment of those savings into new services for children and families.

(4) The creation of new leadership, infused with a sense of urgency and a more appropriate sense of mission, to aggressively create a better culture and structure for administering juvenile justice.

B. The legislature hereby further finds and declares that the creation of a single state entity for the delivery of services to children and their families should incorporate, to the extent deemed appropriate by the commission, services rendered by the office of children and family services, Department of Children and Family Services, the office of public health and office of behavioral health, Louisiana Department of Health, the office of juvenile justice, Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and the Department of Education.

C.(1) Based on the findings and intent of the legislature as declared in Subsections A and B of this Section, the commission shall develop no later than March 1, 2004, a plan for the creation of a single state entity to provide services to children and their families, which plan shall:

(a) Clearly state the purpose and objectives of the single state entity.

(b) Designate and describe the nature of the single state entity, including the appropriate level of the organizational unit and its placement in the organizational structure of state government.

(c) Provide for the internal organization and structure of the single state entity, including its officers and component units and the structure, powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of each.

(d) Provide for the transfer of organizational entities of state government and their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities to the single state entity and for any organizational changes made necessary by such transfers in other affected units of government.

(e) Identify and provide specifics concerning requirements for implementing the single state agency, including but not limited to necessary personnel, funds, office space, facilities, and equipment. Such specifics shall include such information as: total dollars requested by appropriate budget categories and, to the extent appropriate by program and by organizational unit; the number and classification of necessary personnel, by program and organizational unit; explanation of how the requirements will be provided, including the transfer and utilization of the personnel, funds, facilities, and equipment of transferred entities; how functions, including management and finance related functions and data processing, will be consolidated and how services may be provided more effectively.

(f) Provide additional funding requests for technology capable of allowing the electronic sharing and integration of data and information relating to child protection, delinquency, families in need of services, and other children, youth and family information.

(2) The commission shall submit the proposed plan to the governor and the legislature for adoption of the plan and enactment of implementing legislation during the 2004 Regular Session of the Legislature.

D. Repealed by Acts 2008, No. 780, §2.

Acts 2003, No. 1225, §5; Acts 2008, No. 565, §7 Acts 2008, No. 780, §2; Acts 2009, No. 384, §5, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 877, §3, eff. July 1, 2010.