§ 11-36. Distribution of Choose Life license plate revenue.

Funds distributed by the state to the county from the sale of the Choose Life license plate shall be disbursed in accordance with the following criteria:

(1)

The county manager or designee may, upon notification from the state that these license plate revenues are available, prepare a request for proposal (RFP) to solicit funding requests from qualified agencies. Proposals shall be accepted only from agencies that are:

a.

Non-governmental;

b.

Not-for-profit; and

c.

That offer services limited to counseling and meeting the physical needs of pregnant women who are committed to placing their children for adoption.

Agencies that do not meet these criteria and/or agencies that are involved or associated with abortion activities, including counseling for or referrals to abortion clinics, providing medical abortion-related procedures, pro-abortion advertising, and/or agencies that charge women for services received shall not be entitled to receive funding under this section.

(2)

At the date and time specified within the RFP, the county manager or designee shall review the proposals for eligibility. A funding recommendation shall then be forwarded to the board of county commissioners for approval. If approved, all agencies to receive funding shall execute a funding agreement with the board of county commissioners.

(3)

Funds distributed to agencies qualifying under subsection (1) and approved by the board of county commissioners shall be used in accordance with the following:

a.

Agencies that receive the funds must use at least seventy (70) percent of the funds to provide for the material needs of pregnant women who are committed to placing their children for adoption, including clothing, housing, medical care, food, utilities, and transportation. Such funds may also be expended on infants awaiting placement with adoptive parents.

b.

The remaining funds may be used for adoption, counseling, training, or advertising, but may not be used for administrative expenses, legal expenses, or capital expenditures.

c.

Each agency that receives such funds must submit an annual attestation, to the county manager or designee. Any unused funds that exceed ten (10) percent of the funds received by an agency during its fiscal year must be returned to the county manager or designee, who shall distribute them to other qualified agencies.

(4)

Agencies meeting the eligibility requirements of paragraph 1, in lieu of submitting a proposal, may seek reimbursement for expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2004 to provide for the material needs of pregnant women who are committed to placing their children for adoption, including clothing, housing, medical care, food, utilities, and transportation. Such expenses may also include expenses paid on behalf of infants awaiting placement with adoptive parents.

a.

The agency seeking reimbursement shall submit documentation of funds expended and attest as to its eligibility for reimbursement under this program.

b.

The county manager or designee shall review the documentation submitted for eligibility. The documentation shall then be forwarded to the appropriate office in accordance with the county's customary and usual payment procedures.

c.

Approval of reimbursement requests is contingent upon available funds. Eligible reimbursement requests will be reviewed and approved on a first-come-first-served basis subject to available funding.

(Ord. No. 2001-76, § 2, 5-1-01; Ord. No. 2005-93, § 2, 11-15-05)