1.    The children‘s cabinet is created to assess, guide, and coordinate the care for children across the state‘s branches of government and the tribal nations.

2.    The children’s cabinet consists of the following members:

a.    The governor, or the governor’s designee; b.    The chief justice of the supreme court, or the chief justice’s designee; c.    A member of the house of representatives from an even-numbered legislative district and a member of the house of representatives from an odd-numbered legislative district appointed by the majority leader of the house of representatives to serve two-year terms; d.    A member of the senate from an even-numbered legislative district and a member of the senate from an odd-numbered legislative district appointed by the majority leader of the senate to serve two-year terms; e.    The superintendent of public instruction, or the superintendent’s designee; f. The director of the committee on protection and advocacy, or the director’s designee; g.    The commissioner of the department, or the commissioner’s designee; h.    A representative of the tribal nations in the state, who is appointed by the governor; and

i.    Four individuals representing parents, private service providers, or other community interests, who are appointed by the governor to serve a term of two years, at the pleasure of the governor, and who are entitled to reimbursement from the department for travel and lodging at the same rate as provided for state officers and employees.

3.    The chairman of legislative management shall appoint one of the legislative members to serve as the presiding officer of the cabinet. The children’s cabinet shall select one of its members to serve as the vice-presiding officer. The cabinet shall meet at least quarterly. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the presiding officer.

4.    The children’s cabinet shall:

a. Coordinate broad-based leadership across programs, agencies, branches of government, and tribal nations to meet the needs of children; b.    Develop strategies to address gaps or needs regarding early care and education, medical and behavioral health, community, child welfare, and juvenile justice; c.    Develop strategies to provide for the full continuum of care in the delivery of services, including promotion, prevention, early identification and intervention, service delivery, and recovery; d.    Seek to engage cooperation across public and private service providers; e.    Provide a comprehensive vision for how and where children are best served, attending to children in a respectful and relevant manner; f.    Seek strategies to provide services to children without consideration of prior engagement with juvenile services; g.    Provide for the active participation of consumers and providers statewide on advisory committees;    h.    Receive information and recommendations from the department of health and human services, department of corrections and rehabilitation, and other state agencies; and

i.    Provide an annual report to the legislative management and governor regarding the activities and findings of the cabinet.

5.    The department shall provide the children’s cabinet with staffing and administrative services.

6.    A member of the cabinet who is not a state employee is entitled to reimbursement for mileage and expenses as provided by law for state officers and employees, to be paid by the department. A state employee who is a member of the cabinet is entitled to receive that employee’s regular salary and is entitled to reimbursement for mileage and expenses to be paid by the employing agency. A member of the cabinet who is a member of the legislative assembly is entitled to receive per diem compensation at the rate provided under section 54-35-10 for each day performing official duties of the cabinet. The legislative council shall pay the per diem compensation and reimbursement for travel and expenses as provided by law for any member of the cabinet who is a member of the legislative assembly.