A. From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose of implementating the Community Youth Development Act, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth shall:

1. Issue requests for proposals and contract with eligible entities for community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs; and

2. Provide information and technical assistance to school districts, neighborhood and community organizations, and agencies within the children and youth service system, as that term is defined by Section 600 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for the purpose of assisting them to make application for federal and private grants for community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs.

B. The Commission, with the assistance of and information provided by the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Commerce, shall establish eligibility criteria for identifying neighborhoods, school districts, communities and specific areas within school districts and communities having crime rate, economic or other demographic characteristics recognized as indicators of distressed areas. The Department of Human Services, the statutorily created juvenile bureaus, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Commerce shall provide the Commission with information and assistance, as requested by the Commission, for the purpose of establishing the criteria required by this subsection.

Added by Laws 1994, c. 358, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.