Section 26.5-4-115 - Performance contracts(1)(a) Each county, either acting singly or with a group of counties, shall enter into an annual performance contract with the department that identifies the county's or group of counties' and the department's duties and responsibilities in implementing the child care assistance program, including quality customer service to clients. The performance contract must include, but need not be limited to, requirements and provisions that address each party's duties and responsibilities to work in a collaborative manner to administer, financially support, and implement the child care assistance program using fair and objective criteria.(b) A county or group of counties may be penalized for not meeting any obligation under the performance contract. The penalties must be identified in the performance contract and may include a reduction in a future county block grant allocation.(2) The performance contract must set forth the circumstances under which the department may elect that it or its agent assume the county's or group of counties' administration and implementation of the child care assistance program.(3) If a disagreement concerning the performance contract arises between the county or group of counties and the department, either party may request resolution of the disagreement through an independent dispute resolution process that is agreed upon by the parties. If necessary to assure services are available within the county or group of counties, the department may enter into a temporary agreement with the county or group of counties or with another public or private agent until the disagreement is resolved.Amended by 2024 Ch. 390,§ 8, eff. 6/4/2024.Added by 2022 Ch. 123, §3, eff. 7/1/2022.