(1) The planning group shall exercise its powers and perform its duties and functions as specified by this part 34 independently from the department. The department acts solely as the fiscal agent for the planning group.
(2) The planning group may establish bylaws as appropriate for its effective operation.
(3) The chair of the planning group shall establish a schedule for planning group meetings. The planning group must meet at least twelve times each calendar year.
(4) Members of the planning group, staff, and consultants are not liable for an act or omission in their official capacity performed in good faith in accordance with this part 34.
(5) (a) The planning group is exempt from the "Procurement Code", articles 101 to 112 of this title.
(b)
(I) Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), the planning group is subject to the open meetings law, part 4 of article 6 of this title, and to the "Colorado Open Records Act", part 2 of article 72 of this title.
(II) Members of the planning group may convene in groups of no more than five members for the following purposes without complying with the open meetings law as long as no formal action is taken at the meeting:
(A) To gather and understand data; or
(B) To organize and plan for the business of the planning group.