The Committee shall consist of seven members, four Republicans and three Democrats, and will be responsible for reviewing children's protective services, especially foster care and child abuse and neglect investigative procedures. The duties of the committee shall be:

(1) to review state laws, regulations, policies and practices relating to children's protective services, foster care, the Division of Family Services and the Department of Social Services;

(2) to study the range, level, and types of services provided by the state and private organizations; and

(3) making recommendations to improve all state laws and policies for the benefit of Missouri children.

The committee shall be staffed by counsel from Senate Research and may hold public hearings at locations to be determined by the chairman. Reasonable, actual and necessary expenses of the committee shall be reimbursed by the Missouri Senate.

The committee shall issue a report and make such recommendations as deemed appropriate by a majority of the members of the committee no later than January 17, 2003.

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