(1) As
used in this section:
(a) School district means any board of cooperative services established
pursuant to article 5 of title 22, C.R.S., any state educational institution that serves
students in kindergarten through twelfth grade including, but not limited to, the
Colorado school for the deaf and the blind, created in article 80 of title 22, C.R.S.,
and any public school district organized under the laws of Colorado, except a local
college district.
(b) Underinsured means a person who has some health insurance, but
whose insurance does not adequately cover the types of health services for which a
school district may receive federal matching funds under this section.
(2) (a) Any school district may contract with the state department under this
section to receive federal matching funds for amounts spent in providing health
services through the public schools to students who are receiving medicaid
benefits pursuant to this article and articles 4 and 6 of this title.
(a.5) Repealed.
(b) Approval of contracts under this section does not constitute a
commitment by the general assembly to continue providing health services to
students through the public schools using state general funds if federal matching
funds are not available in the future. Any moneys provided to a school district
pursuant to a contract entered into under this section shall not supplant state or
local moneys provided to school districts pursuant to the provisions of articles 20 to
28 or article 54 of title 22, C.R.S.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring any school district
to enter into a contract as provided in this section. Participation in a contract by a
school district is voluntary.
(d) The state department may make contracting and reimbursement of
moneys under this section contingent upon either:
(I) The contracting school district certifying to the state department, through
the department of education, that it has expended local and state moneys in an
amount sufficient to meet the nonfederal share of expenditures being claimed for
federal financial participation; or
(II) The contracting school district meeting the requirements of the
intergovernmental transfer provisions of the federal medicaid law, 42 U.S.C. sec.
1396 et seq.
(3) Each year, by a date established by rule of the state board, the
department of education shall notify the state department concerning any school
district that chooses to enter into a contract as provided in this section and the
anticipated level of funding for the school district. Nothing in this section shall be
construed to require a school district to maintain the same level of funding or
services from year to year.
(4) (a) (I) Each school district that chooses to enter into a contract as
provided in this section shall develop a services plan with input from the local
community that identifies the types of health services needed by students within
the school district and the services it anticipates providing. Except for medical
emergencies and services related to allegations of child abuse, a student's
participation in any psychological, behavioral, social, or emotional services,
including counseling or referrals, shall be optional and shall require the prior
written and informed consent of a parent or legal guardian of the student.
(II) (A) Any health questionnaire or form related to services funded in part
through this section shall only relate to the student's personal health, habits, or
conduct and shall not include questions concerning the habits or conduct of any
other member of the student's family.
(B) No medical or health data or information identifying the student or the
student's family shall be disclosed to any person other than a person specifically
authorized to receive the information or data without the prior written and informed
consent of a parent or legal guardian of the student.
(b) Each school district that chooses to enter into a contract as provided in
this section shall perform an assessment of the health-care needs of its uninsured
and underinsured students and may spend an appropriate portion, not to exceed
thirty percent, of the federal moneys received on health care for low-income
students. For purposes of this paragraph (b), low-income students means
students whose families are below one hundred eighty-five percent of the federal
poverty line.
(c) The school district shall submit the services plan to the department of
education with a notice of participation for purposes of technical assistance
evaluation and to the executive director for approval.
(5) Each year not less than ninety days prior to the notification date
established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the state department shall
provide information through the department of education to school districts
regarding the amount of available moneys and the administrative activities required
to enter into a contract for federal matching funds for that year. To the extent
allowed by existing resources, the department of education shall provide technical
assistance to school districts in determining levels of funding, meeting
administrative requirements, and developing services plans.
(6) Following the notification date established pursuant to subsection (3) of
this section, each contracting school district, through the department of education,
shall enter into a contract with the state department specifying the health services
to be provided by the school district, the amount to be expended in providing the
services, and the amount of federal matching funds for which the school district is
eligible under the contract.
(7) The state department is authorized to accept and expend donations,
contributions, grants, including federal matching funds, and other moneys that it
may receive to finance the costs associated with implementing this section.
(8) (a) Under the contract entered into pursuant to this section, a contracting
school district shall receive from the state department all of the federal matching
funds for which it is eligible under the contract, less the amount of state
administrative costs allowed under paragraph (b) of this subsection (8). All moneys
received by a school district pursuant to this section shall be used only to offset
costs incurred for provision of student health services by the school district or to
cash fund student health services in the school district.
(b) Total allowable state administrative costs for contracts entered into
under this section for both the state department and the department of education
shall not exceed ten percent of the total annual amount of federal funds reflected
by the general assembly for such contracts in the annual general appropriations
bill. State administrative costs include costs incurred in evaluating the
implementation of this section.
(9) The state board shall specify by rule the types of health services for
which a school district may receive federal matching funds under a contract
created under this section, including but not limited to:
(a) Basic primary, physical, dental, and mental health services;
(b) Rehabilitation services;
(c) Early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services; and
(d) Service coordination, outreach, enrollment, and administrative support.
(10) (a) A school district that provides health services under contract
pursuant to this section may provide the health services directly or through
contractual relationships or agreements with public or private entities, as allowed
by applicable federal regulations. However, no moneys shall be expended in any
form for abortions, except as provided in section 25.5-4-415 or as required by
federal law.
(b) Where possible, the school district shall coordinate the provision of
health services to a student with the student's primary health-care provider. Except
for those services that are required by an individualized educational program
developed pursuant to section 22-20-108 (4), C.R.S., or by a section 504 plan
developed pursuant to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. sec. 701 et
seq., school districts shall not claim reimbursement under this section for direct
services to students enrolled in health maintenance organizations that would
normally be provided to students by their health maintenance organization.
(11) (a) The executive director shall apply for and secure any federal waivers
and state plan amendments required to implement this section.
(b) This section shall remain in effect only for so long as federal financial
participation is available for reimbursements to school districts. In the event, as
specified in writing by the attorney general to the governor that federal law does
not allow or is amended to disallow reimbursements to school districts or otherwise
prevent the implementation of this section, this section is repealed, effective on the
date of the attorney general's opinion.
(12) The state department and the department of education shall work with
the office of state planning and budgeting and the joint budget committee in
implementing this section.
(13) The state department and the department of education shall enter into
an interagency agreement to provide for the implementation of this section. The
state board and the state board of education are authorized to promulgate rules as
may be necessary in accordance with the agreement.
(14) The state department shall annually, or more often as necessary, hold a
public hearing to receive comments from school districts, state agencies, and
interested persons regarding implementation of this section.
(15) On or before December 15, 2002, the state department shall submit a
formal evaluation of the implementation of this section to the committees on
education and the committees on health and human services of the house of
representatives and the senate, or any successor committees.