(1) The Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind grant program is hereby established to provide funding for entities to address the needs of Colorado's deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deafblind individuals.
(2) (a) The Colorado commission for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind grant program committee appointed pursuant to section 26-21-107.7 shall administer the grant program as provided in section 26-21-107.7.
The commission shall pay the grants awarded through the grant program from moneyappropriated by the general assembly.
Subject to available money, the general assembly shall appropriate to the commissionno more than fifty thousand dollars annually to administer the grant program.
The state department shall adopt rules addressing timelines and guidelines for thegrant program and establishing criteria for approving or disapproving grant applications.
An entity seeking to provide services to deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deafblind personsor to enhance existing deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deafblind programs may apply for a grant through the grant program.
For purposes of this section, "entity" means a local government, state agency, stateoperated program, or private nonprofit or not-for-profit community-based organization.
Grants must be awarded as provided in section 26-21-107.7 (3) and in compliancewith applicable state rules.
Grantees shall comply with reporting requirements established by the commission.
Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (SB 09-144), ch. 219, p. 990, § 7, effective August 5. L. 2018: (1), (2), (4), and (6) amended, (HB 18-1108), ch. 303, p. 1844, § 18, effective August 8.