The Commission has the following duties and responsibilities:
(a) Initiate recommendations for such procedures, programs or legislation as it may deem necessary to promote the well-being of children, youth and families in the community;
(b) Hold public hearings, initiate interagency conferences and create special task forces in order to identify and assess needs, review services, programs and policies and plan new strategies for supporting children, youth and families;
(c) Collect data on the needs of children and youth, as well as services delivered by public and private agencies in the County;
(d) Evaluate and review the implementation of County policies and programs affecting children, youth and families, including but not limited to: Early childhood education, health and nutrition, neglected and dependent children and youth, children/ youth with special needs and prevention and treatment of delinquency;
(e) Recommend annual priorities which the County government should follow for improving services in support of children, youth, and families;
(f) Review and promote the coordination of services between and among all agencies serving children and youth in this County;
(g) Review, assess and make recommendations regarding funding of proposals utilizing public funds to be spent in behalf of children and youth;
(h) Give recommendations to the County Executive and County Council for new sources of public funds for children and youth;
(i) Review standards for licensing and operation of services to children and youth.
(j) Serve as the children's council as established by Article 49D of the Annotated Code of Maryland and perform the duties and functions provided therein;
(k) Provide effective public information on children's programs and services in the County;
(l) Participate in the activities of the State Office for Children and Youth;
(m) Solicit advice and suggestions from public and private agencies, and their professional staffs, concerned with problems of children and youth through the establishment of committees or other appropriate means;
(n) Formulate bylaws and operating procedures necessary to carry out responsibilities;
(o) Supervise and coordinate activities of the Youth Advisory Committee as a subcommittee of the Commission; and
(p) Advise the County Council, County Executive, Department of Health and Human Services, and Board of Education in matters relating to children, youth, and families. (1979 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 5, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 2.)
Editor's note--Section 5 of 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, reads as follows: "Sec. 5. A regulation that implements a function assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services by 1995 LMC ch. 13 continues in effect but is amended to the extent necessary to provide that the regulation is administered by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services."