There is established a Commission for Children, Youth, and Families. The Commission shall consist of eleven (11) voting members; one who will be a representative appointed by the County Council; one who will be the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services and Education or other designee of the County Executive. The members of the Commission shall be broadly representative of the community. The appointment of members of the Commission shall be by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Council, subject to Section 322 of the County Charter. The County Executive shall designate one (1) citizen member to serve as Chairperson. The terms of office for the citizen members of the Commission shall be for staggered terms of three (3) years each. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired terms in the manner the appointments are initially made. Upon the written notification and recommendation of the Chairperson of the Commission, the County Executive may remove any member who has had more than three (3) unexcused absences in one (1) calendar year to be replaced in the manner prescribed above. Members in good standing, in accordance with Subsection (c) above, may serve on the Commission until their successors are appointed and confirmed. Members shall be eligible for reappointment for one (1) three (3) year term. A Commission member who does not wish to serve on the Commission must submit in writing to the Chairperson his or her resignation and include an effective date.

The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or at the request of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership, as frequently as required to perform its duties but at least five (5) times a year. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the members of the Commission for the transaction of business. A majority vote of the quorum at any meeting shall be sufficient to pass any official action taken by the Commission. Meetings shall be scheduled at times which are conducive to participation by citizen members, including the periodic scheduling of meetings during non-business hours. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Roberts Rules of Order (revised). The Commission shall hold at least one (1) public hearing each year on service needs and delivery issues. On or before January 1 of each year, the Commission shall submit an annual report to the County Executive and the Council concerning its activities for the preceding fiscal year and recommendations for future consideration.

The Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities: The Commission shall: Develop priorities for serving children, youth and families based on State-mandated goals for child well-being; Advocate for the implementation of the County's priorities for services to children, youth and families; Monitor service delivery and recommend improvements to the responsible entity providing services to children, youth and families, and Function as an authority and policy maker for all agencies, organizations and service providers receiving State funding to handle issues impacting children, youth and families. The Commission shall collect and analyze statistical data on children, youth and families to determine data trends in Prince George's County. The Commission shall create and maintain a five (5) year plan for children, youth and families based on data analyses that will improve and/or implement services within the County. The Commission shall hold at least one (1) public forum each year to educate the public on issues related to children, youth and families, and on occasion shall hold public hearings to obtain input and opinions from the community at large that can be used to help formulate new policies or amend or repeal existing policies. The Commission shall serve as a review board to assess and make recommendations regarding public funding of proposals for services to children, youth and families in the County when requested. The Commission shall adhere to its Local Management Board Policies and Procedures Manual. Commission members, through their coordination, planning and monitoring, shall help ensure that the continuum of services throughout the County remains efficient and effective.

The Commission shall adopt such rules and procedures, subject to the approval of the County Executive, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Division. The Commission shall keep a record of its activities and minutes of all official meetings. The records and minutes shall be on file and shall be open to the public at reasonable business hours upon request. The Commission shall review its by-laws and recommend updates as needed. The Commission's by-laws must be recommended for amendment or repeal by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Commission. The proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to all Commission members sixty (60) days prior to the next regular meeting.

The Commission shall be advised of major budgetary changes to County Departments which administer programs and services for children, youth, and families which will have significant impact on the current service delivery system. The Commission shall be given the opportunity to provide input on the establishment of program priorities for budget development and allocation of resources relating to children, youth, and families. The Commission shall make recommendations to the County Executive regarding the formulation, management and execution of a children, youth and families budget for Prince George's County.

The Commission may establish such committees as are deemed necessary and appropriate to assist in its functions and duties. Members of such committees may include nonmembers of the Commission. Committee actions shall not be deemed to be the action of the Commission and shall in no way bind the Commission or its members.

The Commission, through the Department of Family Services, may engage the services of volunteer workers and consultants without salary as it may find necessary from time to time and may engage other workers and consultants in accordance with the laws of the County, subject to budget appropriations, to assist it in carrying out its duties. Services of an individual as a volunteer worker or consultant for the Commission shall not be considered as service of employment bringing such individual within any merit system of the County or of this State.

Administrative and staff support for the Commission shall be provided by the Department of Family Services. The Division Chief for the Department of Family Services' Division for Children, Youth and Families serves as the Director of the Commission. The Commission Director oversees the administrative support to the Commission and serves as the primary liaison between the State, the Office of the County Executive and the Commission.