As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Bullying shall have the same meaning as set forth in section 22-32-109.1 (1)(b).
(2) Cash fund means the school bullying prevention and education cash fund created in section 22-93-105.
(3) Department means the department of education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-115, C.R.S.
(4) Facility school means an approved facility school, as defined in section 22-2-402 (1).
(5) Program means the school bullying prevention and education grant program created in section 22-93-102.
(6) Public school means a school of a school district, a district charter school, an institute charter school, or a board of cooperative services, as defined in section 22-5-103.
(7) State board means the state board of education created pursuant to section 1 of article IX of the state constitution.
Source: L. 2011: Entire article added, (HB 11-1254), ch. 173, p. 647, � 1, effective May 13. L. 2012: (1) amended, (HB 12-1345), ch. 188, p. 750, � 44, effective May 19.
22-93-102. School bullying prevention and education grant program - created. (1) There is hereby created in the department the school bullying prevention and education grant program. Under the program, on and after July 1, 2012, or not more than ninety days after the promulgation of rules by the state board pursuant to section 22-93-104, whichever is later, a public school, a facility school, or a collaborative group of public schools or facility schools may apply for a grant to fund efforts to reduce the frequency of bullying incidents. The department shall administer the program in consultation with the school safety resource center created in section 24-33.5-1803, C.R.S.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the department shall not be required to implement the provisions of this article until sufficient moneys have been transferred or appropriated to the cash fund.
(3) The department is hereby authorized to hire any employees necessary to carry out the duties associated with the provisions of this article. The creation of any new positions of employment within the department pursuant to this article shall be subject to the availability of sufficient moneys in the cash fund and shall be eliminated when sufficient moneys are no longer available in the cash fund. The department shall ensure that all position descriptions and notices to hire for positions created pursuant to this article clearly state that such positions are subject to the availability of sufficient moneys in the cash fund.
Source: L. 2011: Entire article added, (HB 11-1254), ch. 173, p. 648, � 1, effective May 13.
22-93-103. School bullying prevention and education grant program - grant process - reports by grant recipients. (1) The department shall solicit and review applications from public schools and facility schools for grants pursuant to this section. The department may award grants to public schools, facility schools, and collaborative groups of public schools and facility schools for periods of one to three years.
(2) Each application, at a minimum, shall describe how the applicant public school, facility school, or collaborative group of public schools or facility schools will use any awarded grant moneys to reduce the frequency of bullying incidents. Each grant recipient shall use its grant moneys to supplement and not supplant any moneys currently being used by the grant recipient to reduce the frequency of bullying incidents.
(3) The department shall select those public schools, facility schools, and collaborative groups of public schools and facility schools that will receive grants pursuant to this section and the duration and amount of each grant. In selecting the grant recipients, the department, at a minimum, shall take into account the criteria established by rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to section 22-93-104 (1)(b).
(4) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before a date specified by rule of the state board pursuant to section 22-93-104 (1)(d), the department shall submit annually to the state board and to the education committees of the senate and house of representatives, or any successor committees, the following information regarding the administration of the program in the preceding year:
(a) The number of grant recipients that received grants under the program;
(b) The amount of each grant awarded to each grant recipient;
(c) The average amount of each grant awarded under the program;
(d) The number of pupils who are either enrolled at each public school of each grant recipient or receiving services through each facility school of each grant recipient; and
(e) The source and amount of each gift, grant, and donation received by the department for the implementation of this article pursuant to section 22-93-105 (3)(b).
(5) In selecting grant recipients, the department, to the extent possible, shall ensure that grants are awarded to public schools, facility schools, and collaborative groups of public schools and facility schools in a variety of geographic areas of the state.
(6) Each grant recipient shall submit a written report to the department not later than six months after the expiration of the term of the grant concerning the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of each use of grant moneys by the grant recipient in reducing the frequency of bullying incidents.
Source: L. 2011: Entire article added, (HB 11-1254), ch. 173, p. 648, � 1, effective May 13. L. 2017: IP(4) amended, (HB 17-1267), ch. 242, p. 998, � 22, effective August 9.