§ 9-30-105 - Powers and duties of board.

9-30-105. Powers and duties of board.

(a) The State Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board shall:

(1) Meet not fewer than two (2) times annually;

(2) Establish a procedure for the annual internal evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance of the board; and

(3) Promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this chapter.

(b) Regarding the administration of the Children's Trust Fund, the board shall:

(1) Promulgate regulations prescribing the procedure for establishing local councils;

(2) Provide for the coordination and exchange of information on the establishment and maintenance of local councils and prevention programs;

(3) Develop and publicize criteria for the distribution of Children's Trust Fund money under 9-30-106;

(4) Monitor the expenditure of Children's Trust Fund money by persons, groups, and entities who receive Children's Trust Fund money from the board; and

(5) Provide statewide educational and public information seminars for the purpose of developing appropriate public awareness regarding the problems of child abuse and neglect, encourage professional persons and groups to recognize and deal with problems of child abuse and neglect, make information about the problems of child abuse and neglect available to the public and organizations and agencies that deal with problems of child abuse and neglect, and encourage the development of community prevention programs.

(c) Regarding the administration of the One Percent to Prevent Fund, to the extent funding is appropriated and available, the board shall:

(1) Develop and implement parenting-from-prison programs with preference given to facilities where parenting-from-prison programs exist or where community-based services are available;

(2) Develop and implement a post-release parenting program for parents who have been recently released from a detention or correctional facility in communities that can establish a need for the services;

(3) Develop and implement a program for the children of prisoners in communities that can establish a need for the services;

(4) Develop and implement other services and programs as needed that prevent children of prisoners from becoming future prisoners;

(5) Provide training, quality assurance, and technical assistance for each of the services and programs funded under the One Percent to Prevent Fund;

(6) Provide for the evaluation by an independent source of all services and programs funded by the One Percent to Prevent Fund; and

(7) On or before October 1 of each year, provide an annual report to the Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth and the Chair of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs summarizing the evaluations of the One Percent to Prevent Fund.

(d) The board may enter into contracts with any person, group of persons, or legal entity to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(e) All books, records, and documents pertaining to the board or the performance of any official function of the board shall be public records and open to the public at all reasonable times.