Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 319ww - Preventative Services to Families
Section 17b-857. - Hispanic, communities of color organizations. Pilot grant program. Report.

(a) For purposes of this section, (1) “eligible community-based organization” means an organization that (A) has tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) has been an incorporated nonprofit organization for not less than three years, (C) is based in the state and is a direct provider of human services, (D) serves a population that is comprised of fifty-one per cent or more Hispanic persons or non-Hispanic communities of color, (E) (i) is led by a chief executive officer who is Hispanic, African-American or Asian Pacific-American, or (ii) is governed by a board with a majority of members who are Hispanic, African-American or Asian Pacific-American, and (F) has an annual operating budget of at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars; (2) “eligible program administrator” means a nonprofit organization that has (A) not less than fifteen years of experience coordinating advocacy, service and outreach efforts for Hispanic charitable organizations that support Hispanic persons, and (B) a proven track record of establishing networks with non-Hispanic organizations that provide services to fellow communities of color; (3) “fellow communities of color” means communities comprised of persons whose racial or ethnic background is nonwhite Hispanic, African-American or Asian Pacific-American; (4) “culturally competent” means the ability to effectively deliver services that meet the social, cultural and linguistic needs of the recipient; and (5) “language accessible” means services delivered in the primary language of the recipient.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, within available appropriations, shall award an eligible program administrator a contract to administer a two-year pilot program to build the capacity of eligible community-based organizations by helping such organizations to (1) improve operational efficiencies through performance-based metrics, and (2) adopt strategies for long-term fiscal sustainability.
(c) In contracting with an eligible program administrator, the commissioner shall require such administrator to: (1) Establish a competitive procurement process through requests for proposals to eligible community-based organizations, (2) establish a results-based grant contract evaluation system, that includes goals that eligible community-based organizations shall meet in order to be considered for grant contract renewal, and (3) meet goals established by the commissioner for successful program administration, including, but not limited to, reporting to the commissioner on program expenditures and complying with limitations set by the commissioner on administrative expenses. Requests for proposals issued by the eligible program administrator shall state that preference shall be given to eligible community-based organizations that (A) satisfy both conditions described in subparagraph (E) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and have annual budgets not exceeding one million dollars, and (B) offer culturally competent, language accessible services.
(d) The program shall provide grants to eligible community-based organizations to support capacity building, training and technical assistance opportunities in the following areas: (1) Financial management, including, but not limited to, financial planning, budget development, fiscal monitoring and cash flow analysis, (2) board development, including, but not limited to, establishing board committees, a fund-raising board and conducting professional board meetings, (3) fund development, including, but not limited to, gift solicitation and event planning, (4) nonprofit management and leadership training, (5) information technology, (6) collaborations and merger planning, and (7) results-oriented outcome training, including development of progress metrics and performance tracking tools.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Social Services shall submit a report in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on (1) the number of eligible community-based organizations awarded grants under the program, (2) whether and how the program has improved the capacity of community-based organizations to meet needs, (3) the performance of the nonprofit organization administering the program, and (4) a recommendation on whether the program should continue or expand and any appropriations that may be necessary.
(P.A. 19-117, S. 310.)
History: P.A. 19-117 effective June 26, 2019.

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