Whereas, children in need of services are difficult to identify and are sometimes resistant to accepting services and are sometimes endangered by their own behavior; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Study Children in Need of Services, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 15 members appointed as follows.

1. The President of the Senate shall appoint 5 members: one Senator from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters, one Senator from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, one Senator from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters, one representative of community-based organizations working with children and their families and one representative of children.

2. The Speaker of the House shall appoint the following 5 members: one Representative from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters, one Representative from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters, one Representative from the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters, one representative of community-based organizations working with children and their families and one representative of parents.

3. The following commissioners or their designees are members: the Commissioner of Human Services; the Commissioner of Education; the Commissioner of Corrections; the Commissioner of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; and the Commissioner of Public Safety.