Joint Order, Establishing the Joint Select Committee To Reform Child Protective Services

WHEREAS,  Kendall Chick and Marissa Kennedy died in family custody, and caseworkers at the Department of Health and Human Services have outlined numerous obstacles preventing them from performing their jobs effectively; now, therefore, be it

ORDERED, the House concurring, that the Joint Select Committee To Reform Child Protective Services is established as follows.

1. Establishment. The Joint Select Committee To Reform Child Protective Services, referred to in this order as "the committee," is established.

2. Membership. The committee consists of 13 members of the Legislature: 3 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and 10 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President of the Senate shall appoint no more than 2 Senators from the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate and no more than one Senator from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint no more than 6 Representatives from the party holding the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives and no more than 4 Representatives from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. In making their appointments, both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consider including members of the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary and the Government Oversight Committee. Nothing in this section precludes the appointment of a member who is not a member of the party holding the largest number of seats or the 2nd largest number of seats in the chamber. The first-named Senate and House members shall serve as cochairs of the committee.

3. Authority. The committee shall hold public hearings and work sessions on any legislation referred to it and shall vote on and report out the legislation to the appropriate chamber in the manner prescribed in Joint Rule 310. In addition to reporting out legislation referred to it, the committee is authorized to submit legislation to the House of Representatives concerning reforms to the laws governing the protection of vulnerable children in state care. The committee may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony and to cause the deposition of witnesses pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 165, subsection 7.

4. Meetings; staff assistance. The committee may meet on days and at locations jointly authorized by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Legislative Council shall provide staffing to the committee. The cochairs of the committee may request technical assistance from appropriate sources whenever necessary. The committee shall report out all legislation referred to it in accordance with deadlines established by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

5. Termination. Unless the committee is extended by joint order, the committee terminates with the final adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.