Sec. 05.13.03.06. Grant Terms and Conditions

A. Existing and proposed circuits applying for a grant shall be represented by a circuit sponsor acceptable to the Department. The circuit sponsor shall:

(1) Be responsible for the administration of grant funds and the collection of the local contribution from each member of a circuit required by §E of this regulation; and

(2) Perform any other duties that may be required by an agreement evidencing the grant.

B. Each applicant shall demonstrate that its circuit or proposed circuit has a need for services sufficient to justify hiring at least one full-time circuit rider. An applicant may request funds to hire more than one full-time circuit rider if the applicant can demonstrate a work load warranting the additional personnel.

C. Each applicant shall demonstrate the inability of each member of the circuit to afford qualified management staff with its own resources.

D. Members of a circuit shall be located within reasonable proximity of each other.

E. Contributions of Circuit Members.

(1) A circuit shall make a cash or in-kind contribution of a type acceptable to the Department. It is the preference of the Department that the local contribution be an amount at least equal to the amount of the grant. Each member of the circuit shall pay a share of the local contribution proportionate to the amount of the circuit rider's time allocated to that member. The local contribution shall be used to pay for costs associated with the managerial services and training of the circuit rider, or for other costs considered appropriate by the Department that are associated with the duties of the circuit rider.

(2) In evaluating the adequacy of a local contribution, the Department may examine the combined financial resources of the members of a circuit. In no event, however, shall the local contribution requirement be completely eliminated.

F. Employment of Circuit Rider.

(1) Before entering into an employment agreement with a circuit rider, a circuit shall:

(a) Utilize the selection process set forth in its grant application that is approved by the Department; and

(b) Obtain the Department's approval of the proposed circuit rider.

(2) In granting approval of the proposed circuit rider, the Department shall consider with respect to:

(a) Proposed circuits, among other things, the qualifications of the circuit rider; or

(b) Existing circuits, among other things, the past performance of the circuit rider.

(3) The employment agreement between the circuit sponsor and the circuit rider shall provide, among other things, the services to be provided to each member of the circuit and that the circuit sponsor shall be responsible for hiring, terminating, and paying the circuit rider.

G. The Department may establish any other reasonable and necessary terms and conditions governing the use of grant funds in an agreement evidencing the grant.