1. (1) The office shall contract with a research and evaluation partner to conduct a statewide evaluation of the grant program and associated youth outcomes over the three-year grant period. The office shall solicit and receive input from the contracted research and evaluation partner in developing the grant program application materials. The research and evaluation partner must have a demonstrated commitment to working with communities impacted by the justice system.

2. (2) The research and evaluation partner shall:

   1. (a) Develop a common assessment instrument for use by grantees to assess the outcomes and impact of services provided to youth;
   2. (b) Design a central data repository to standardize grantee data collection and reporting; and
   3. (c) Support grantees with using the common assessment instrument and the central data repository.

3. (3) The office shall provide the research and evaluation partner with relevant, existing data for the purposes of measuring outcomes. Measured outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

   1. (a) Reductions in law enforcement responses to youth conduct involving low-level offenses, court caseloads and processing costs, days youth spent in detention, placement of youth in congregate care, and school and placement disruptions;
   2. (b) Reductions in the number of school suspensions and expulsions;
   3. (c) Improvements in youth health and well-being, housing and community stability, educational attainment, prosocial activity, and connections to employment opportunities and mentorship; and
   4. (d) Projected state and local cost savings as a result of the deflection programming.
4. (4) The office shall make available on its website a report of grantees, projects, and outcomes at the state and local levels within one hundred eighty days of completion of the grant program.
5. (5) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before December 31, 2026, and each December 31 thereafter for the duration of the grant program, the office shall submit a report to the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee, or their successor committees, about the grant program. At a minimum, the report must include the number and amount of grants awarded since the last report and a summary of information concerning the impact of the mixed delivery system of deflection programs for youth, including Native American youth.

Source: L. 2025: Entire part added, (HB 25-1146), ch. 358, p. 1943, § 8, effective July 1.