§26-16-6. Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board - Duties and functions of board and department.

(a) The state board shall do all of the following:

(1) Meet not less than twice annually at the times prescribed in Section 26-16-5(a).

(2) Transmit to the Governor a list of individuals recommended to fill the position of director.

(b) The department, with the approval of the state board, shall do all of the following:

(1) Annually develop a state plan for the distribution of funds from the trust fund. The plan shall assure that an equal opportunity exists for establishment of prevention programs and receipt of trust fund money among all geographic areas in this state. The plan shall be transmitted to the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, to the Governor, and to the Government Finance and Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, or its successor, and the Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund of the Senate, or its successor.

(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 receipt of trust fund money by eligible local councils, eligible prevention programs, and eligible family resource and support programs and centers.

(4) Review, approve, and monitor the expenditure of trust fund money by local councils and prevention programs.

(5) Provide statewide educational and public informational 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 which deal with problems of child abuse and neglect; and encourage the development of community prevention programs and family resource and support programs and centers.

(6) Establish a procedure for the annual, internal evaluation of the functions, responsibilities, and performance of the department, and include the evaluation in the state plan.

(c) The department, with the approval of the state board, shall enter into contracts with public or private agencies to fulfill the requirements of subdivision (5) of subsection (b) and may contract to fulfill the other requirements of subsection (b).

(Acts 1983, No. 83-736, p. 1198, §6; Act 98-601, p. 1313, §1; Act 2006-228, p. 393, §1.)