(a) Contract with all CASA Volunteer Programs in this state to recruit, train and supervise court appointed special advocates. The department may delegate authority to contract under this paragraph to the statewide coordinating entity contracted with under paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(b) Contract with a nongovernmental entity to serve as the statewide coordinating entity for the provision of court appointed special advocate services throughout this state. The nongovernmental entity must be a member of the National CASA Association and have a board or other membership structure that contains directors from the CASA Volunteer Programs in this state. At a minimum, the contract must include authority for the statewide coordinating entity to:

(A) Contract with CASA Volunteer Programs;

(B) Disburse and expend moneys in the Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund established in ORS 184.498 to CASA Volunteer Programs in this state; and

(C) Execute the standards described in paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(c) Oversee and monitor CASA Volunteer Program standards, with assistance from the statewide coordinating entity contracted with by the department under paragraph (b) of this subsection, to recruit, train and supervise court appointed special advocates.

(d) Disburse and expend moneys in the Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund established under ORS 184.498 for the purposes set forth in this section and ORS 419B.112. The department may disburse and expend moneys from the fund to the statewide coordinating entity contracted with pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection for the purposes set forth in this section and ORS 419B.112.

(e) With the assistance of the statewide coordinating entity contracted with pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection, oversee the provision of court appointed special advocate services throughout this state in a uniform, consistent and cost-efficient manner by ensuring that CASA Volunteer Programs:

(A) Adopt policies, procedures, standards and guidelines regarding the provision of court appointed special advocate services as directed by the department; and

(B) Develop and provide training and education for court appointed special advocates and employees and other volunteers in CASA Volunteer Programs as directed by the department.

(f) Identify statewide outcome or performance measures for CASA Volunteer Programs.

(g) Collect, evaluate and summarize data regarding CASA Volunteer Programs and court appointed special advocate services in this state.

(h) Adopt rules for carrying out the department’s responsibilities, duties and functions under this section and ORS 419B.112.

(2) The department may:

(a) Delegate to a statewide coordinating entity contracted with under subsection (1)(b) of this section the responsibility to:

(A) Create, supervise and operate CASA Volunteer Programs throughout this state; and

(B) Develop and provide training for court appointed special advocates and employees and volunteers of CASA Volunteer Programs.

(b) Consult with public agencies or private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of developing:

(A) An allocation formula for the disbursement of moneys to CASA Volunteer Programs in this state; and

(B) Policies, procedures, standards and guidelines regarding the provision of court appointed special advocate services in this state.

(c) Apply for and receive funds from state, federal and private sources for CASA Volunteer Programs and the provision of court appointed special advocate services in this state.

(3) The statewide coordinating entity with which the department has contracted under subsection (1)(b) of this section, or to which the department has delegated responsibilities under subsection (2)(a) of this section, shall provide biannual reports to the department regarding:

(a) The fulfillment of responsibilities that have been contracted for or delegated; and

(b) When applicable to responsibilities contracted for or delegated, the achievement of the objectives in subsection (1)(d) to (g) of this section.

(4) The department shall report annually to committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the provision of court appointed special advocate services regarding the disbursement of moneys in the Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund established under ORS 184.498. The report must summarize the extent to which the statewide outcome or performance measures identified by the department under this section are being met and include an analysis of the effectiveness of court appointed special advocate services provided in this state. [2017 c.630 §3]