(1) On or before November 1, 2023, the department, in collaboration with the department of human services, department of health care policy and financing, and department of public health and environment, shall develop an interagency resource guide to assist facilities to become licensed or authorized and funded as an approved facility school and that must be adopted across departments to support efficient licensure and approval for the following types of facilities:
(a) A hospital licensed by the department of public health and environment pursuant to section 25-1.5-103;
(b) A residential child care facility, day treatment program, or other facility licensed by the department of human services pursuant to section 26-6-905; and
(c) A specialized day school authorized by the office pursuant to section 22-2-406 (5).
(2) On or before November 1, 2023, the department shall submit a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees, and the joint budget committee, summarizing the following:
(a) A plan for the implementation of the interagency resource guide described in subsection (1) of this section; and
(b) Any recommended changes to statutes, rules, or administrative procedures as determined by each department participating in the development of the interagency resource guide pursuant to subsection (1) of this section to improve administrative efficiency and eliminate duplication or other unnecessary administrative obstacles to the licensing, authorization, approval, and funding of approved facility schools.
(3) On or before October 1, 2024, the department shall submit a report summarizing the implementation of the interagency resource guide described in subsection (1) of this section to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or their successor committees, and the joint budget committee. The report may be submitted as part of the report required pursuant to section 22-2-407.5 (4)(e).
(4) The office shall prominently post the interagency resource guide described in subsection (1) of this section on the office's website.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (SB 23-219), ch. 88, p. 325, � 10, effective April 20.
22-2-411. Shared operational services grant program - creation - report - rules - definitions - repeal. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Agency means an independent agency that oversees approved facility schools.
(b) Eligible applicant means an approved facility school that applies to the grant program on behalf of itself and one or more other approved facility schools, an organization, or an agency.
(c) Grant program means the shared operational services grant program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(d) Organization means a public or private organization that provides or coordinates operational services for grantees.
(e) Shared operational services means services that support approved facility schools, including but not limited to food services, janitorial services, shared office space, billing, technical assistance on medicaid services, technology, security, transportation, or purchasing. Shared operational services may include purchasing and sharing items such as office supplies and technology.
(2) (a) (I) There is created in the department the shared operational services grant program to award an eligible applicant grant money for the span of two budget years to contract with an organization that provides or coordinates shared operational services for grantees.
(II) In the first year of the grant program, an eligible applicant who is awarded a grant shall determine the shared operational services needed by approved facility schools and contract with an organization to provide or coordinate services. In the second year of the grant program, the grantee shall work with the organization to provide the shared operational services for the approved facility schools.
(b) The department shall implement a timeline for the grant program, which must include the following:
(I) The date the department announces the grant program and begins accepting applications from eligible applicants;
(II) The date the eligible applicants must submit applications by; and
(III) The date the department begins distributing grant money to the eligible applicants that are awarded a grant.
(c) An eligible applicant that chooses to apply for a grant must submit an application to the department. The application must include, at a minimum, the following information:
(I) The types of shared operational services needed by approved facility schools;
(II) The name of the organization the eligible applicant plans on contracting with for shared operational services;
(III) Projected budget and cost savings by implementing shared operational services between approved facility schools; and
(IV) The sustainability of the shared operational services after the grant program concludes.
(3) The department shall review the applications submitted pursuant to subsection (2)(c) of this section and make recommendations to the state board. The state board shall take into consideration the recommendations of the department in selecting eligible applicants that receive grants and determining the amount of each grant.
(4) In selecting grantees, the state board shall give priority to eligible applicants who:
(a) Create a detailed plan to meet the various needs of approved facility schools that require shared operational services; and
(b) Anticipate the sustainability of shared operational services after the grant program concludes based on the information submitted pursuant to subsection (2)(c)(IV) of this section.
(5) The state board may promulgate rules as necessary for the implementation of this section.
(6) To ensure accountability, the department shall conduct an audit of an eligible applicant who receives grant money.
(7) (a) On or before September 1, 2024, each eligible applicant that is awarded grant money shall submit an interim report to the department. On or before September 1, 2025, each eligible applicant that is awarded grant money shall submit a final report to the department. The interim and final reports must include the following information:
(I) The types of shared operational services that were provided or coordinated by the organization;
(II) A performance review of the organization that provided or coordinated shared operational services between approved facility schools;
(III) An analysis of cost savings based on the implementation of the shared operational services; and
(IV) The projected sustainability of the shared operational services after the grant program concludes.
(b) As part of the October 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025, reports required pursuant to section 22-2-407.5 (4)(e), the department shall submit information that, at a minimum, summarizes the information received by the department pursuant to subsection (7)(a) of this section.
(8) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2026.
Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (SB 23-219), ch. 88, p. 325, � 10, effective April 20.