Indiana § 2-5-36-9 - Duties of the commission

§ 2-5-36-9. Duties of the commission

Note: This version of section effective until 7-1-2027. See also following version of this section, effective 7-1-2027.

Sec. 9. The commission shall do the following:

(1) Study and evaluate the following:

(A) Access to services for vulnerable youth.

(B) Availability of services for vulnerable youth.

(C) Duplication of services for vulnerable youth.

(D) Funding of services available for vulnerable youth.

(E) Barriers to service for vulnerable youth.

(F) Communication and cooperation by agencies concerning vulnerable youth.

(G) Implementation of programs or laws concerning vulnerable youth.

(H) The consolidation of existing entities that serve vulnerable youth.

(I) Data from state agencies relevant to evaluating progress, targeting efforts, and demonstrating outcomes.

(J) Crimes of sexual violence against children.

(K) The impact of social networking websites, cellular telephones and wireless communications devices, digital media, and new technology on crimes against children.

(2) Review and make recommendations concerning pending legislation.

(3) Promote information sharing concerning vulnerable youth across the state.

(4) Promote best practices, policies, and programs.

(5) Cooperate with:

(A) other child focused commissions;

(B) the judicial branch of government;

(C) the executive branch of government;

(D) stakeholders; and

(E) members of the community.

(6) Create and provide staff support to a statewide juvenile justice oversight body to carry out the following duties described in section 9.3 of this chapter:

(A) Develop a plan to collect and report statewide juvenile justice data.

(B) Establish procedures and policies related to the use of:

(i) a validated risk screening tool and a validated risk and needs assessment tool;

(ii) a detention tool to inform the use of secure detention;

(iii) a plan to determine how information from the tools described in this clause is compiled and shared and with whom the information will be shared; and

(iv) a plan to provide training to judicial officers on the implementation of the tools described in this clause.

(C) Develop criteria for the use of diagnostic assessments as described in IC 31-37-19-11.7.

(D) Develop a statewide plan to address the provision of broader behavioral health services to children in the juvenile justice system.

(E) Develop a plan for the provision of transitional services for a child who is a ward of the department of correction as described in IC 31-37-19-11.5.

(F) Develop a plan for grant programs described in section 9.3 of this chapter.

The initial appointments and designations to the statewide juvenile justice oversight body described in this subdivision shall be made not later than May 31, 2022. The chief justice of the supreme court shall designate the chair of the statewide juvenile justice oversight body and shall make the initial appointments and designations to the statewide juvenile justice oversight body, which may incorporate members of an existing committee or subcommittee formed under the commission. The initial meeting of the oversight body shall be held not later than July 1, 2022.

(7) Create and provide staff support to a statewide youth, family, and caregiver engagement initiative to carry out the following duties:

(A) Provide staff support and funding for commission activities provided by a:

(i) youth member of the commission appointed under section 4 of this chapter; or

(ii) youth, family, or caregiver member of a commission committee, task force, or subcommittee who has been appointed as a community member.

(B) Develop a statewide plan to support, encourage, and expand the engagement of youth, families, and caregivers in state policymaking impacting youth and children.

(C) Provide and support educational:

(i) opportunities;

(ii) convenings; and

(iii) experiences;

that facilitate increased youth, family, and caregiver participation.

(D) Support the efforts of other state agencies and community organizations that seek to support, encourage, and expand the engagement of youth, families, and caregivers in policy decisions impacting youth and children.

(E) Solicit direct feedback from youth, families, and caregivers to inform commission recommendations concerning:

(i) points of complexity and inefficiency in child serving systems;

(ii) duplication of services and potential points of consolidation; and

(iii) improving time to permanency and reducing the trauma of systems involvement.

(8) Submit a report not later than September 1 of each year regarding the commission's work during the previous year. The report shall be submitted to the legislative council, the governor, and the chief justice of Indiana. The report to the legislative council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.

As added by P.L.119-2013, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.156-2014, SEC.1; P.L.88-2016, SEC.1; P.L.13-2017, SEC.2; P.L.144-2018, SEC.1; P.L.103-2019, SEC.1; P.L.101-2022, SEC.1; P.L.9-2024, SEC.8; P.L.221-2025, SEC.1.

IC 2-5-36-9Duties of the commission Note: This version of section effective 7-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section, effective until 7-1-2027.

Sec. 9. The commission shall do the following:

(1) Study and evaluate the following:

(A) Access to services for vulnerable youth.

(B) Availability of services for vulnerable youth.

(C) Duplication of services for vulnerable youth.

(D) Funding of services available for vulnerable youth.

(E) Barriers to service for vulnerable youth.

(F) Communication and cooperation by agencies concerning vulnerable youth.

(G) Implementation of programs or laws concerning vulnerable youth.

(H) The consolidation of existing entities that serve vulnerable youth.

(I) Data from state agencies relevant to evaluating progress, targeting efforts, and demonstrating outcomes.

(J) Crimes of sexual violence against children.

(K) The impact of social networking websites, cellular telephones and wireless communications devices, digital media, and new technology on crimes against children.

(2) Review and make recommendations concerning pending legislation.

(3) Promote information sharing concerning vulnerable youth across the state.

(4) Promote best practices, policies, and programs.

(5) Cooperate with:

(A) other child focused commissions;

(B) the judicial branch of government;

(C) the executive branch of government;

(D) stakeholders; and

(E) members of the community.

(6) Create and provide staff support to a statewide juvenile justice oversight body to carry out the following duties described in section 9.3 of this chapter:

(A) Develop a plan to collect and report statewide juvenile justice data.

(B) Establish procedures and policies related to the use of:

(i) a validated risk screening tool and a validated risk and needs assessment tool;

(ii) a detention tool to inform the use of secure detention;

(iii) a plan to determine how information from the tools described in this clause is compiled and shared and with whom the information will be shared; and

(iv) a plan to provide training to judicial officers on the implementation of the tools described in this clause.

(C) Develop criteria for the use of diagnostic assessments as described in IC 31-37-19-11.7.

(D) Develop a statewide plan to address the provision of broader behavioral health services to children in the juvenile justice system.

(E) Develop a plan for the provision of transitional services for a child who is a ward of the department of correction as described in IC 31-37-19-11.5.

(F) Develop a plan for grant programs described in section 9.3 of this chapter.

The initial appointments and designations to the statewide juvenile justice oversight body described in this subdivision shall be made not later than May 31, 2022. The chief justice of the supreme court shall designate the chair of the statewide juvenile justice oversight body and shall make the initial appointments and designations to the statewide juvenile justice oversight body, which may incorporate members of an existing committee or subcommittee formed under the commission. The initial meeting of the oversight body shall be held not later than July 1, 2022.

(7) Create and provide staff support to a statewide youth, family, and caregiver engagement initiative to carry out the following duties:

(A) Provide staff support and funding for commission activities provided by a:

(i) youth member of the commission appointed under section 4 of this chapter; or

(ii) youth, family, or caregiver member of a commission committee, task force, or subcommittee who has been appointed as a community member.

(B) Develop a statewide plan to support, encourage, and expand the engagement of youth, families, and caregivers in state policymaking impacting youth and children.

(C) Provide and support educational:

(i) opportunities;

(ii) convenings; and

(iii) experiences;

that facilitate increased youth, family, and caregiver participation.

(D) Support the efforts of other state agencies and community organizations that seek to support, encourage, and expand the engagement of youth, families, and caregivers in policy decisions impacting youth and children.

(E) Solicit direct feedback from youth, families, and caregivers to inform commission recommendations concerning:

(i) points of complexity and inefficiency in child serving systems;

(ii) duplication of services and potential points of consolidation; and

(iii) improving time to permanency and reducing the trauma of systems involvement.

(8) Submit a report not later than September 1 of each year regarding the commission's work during the previous year. The report shall be submitted to the legislative council, the governor, and the chief justice of Indiana. The report to the legislative council must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.

(9) Perform the duties of the commission set forth in IC 31-26-4.

As added by P.L.119-2013, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.156-2014, SEC.1; P.L.88-2016, SEC.1; P.L.13-2017, SEC.2; P.L.144-2018, SEC.1; P.L.103-2019, SEC.1; P.L.101-2022, SEC.1; P.L.9-2024, SEC.8; P.L.221-2025, SEC.1; P.L.152-2026, SEC.2.