94- 457 C.M.R. ch. 315, § 4

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024
Section 457-315-4 - Application Procedure and Content
A. Within two months of the adoption of this Rule, the Authority shall solicit applications from community development organizations seeking authorization to administer family development accounts. The Authority shall specify a time within which applicants seeking consideration must have submitted a complete application. The Authority shall solicit a second series of applications from community development organizations within six months after the completion of the initial solicitation. Thereafter, the Authority may accept applications without undertaking a solicitation.
B. Each applicant shall submit an application to the Chief Executive Officer on such forms and with such attachments as the Chief Executive Officer may require consistent with the purposes of the program and this rule.
C. The Chief Executive Officer will review each application for completeness and eligibility. Applications which are not substantially complete may be deemed not received until completed. The Chief Executive Officer shall determine when an application is received, which determination shall be final.
D. The application shall contain the following:
(1) a description of the applicant, including its funding sources, the region and population it intends to serve and a summary of all of its programs benefiting individuals eligible to become account holders;
(2) an estimate of the costs projected for the administration of the program;
(3) methods by which the applicant will obtain funds from other sources for matching investments;
(4) a plan to provide cash management training, including debt management and budgeting to account holders;
(5) a plan to publicize the availability of family development accounts;
(6) a description of the applicant's staff by organizational chart and résumé of key staff administering the program;
(7) the applicant's organizational audits and program audits for the most recent fiscal year;
(8) a description of the ability of the applicant to provide auxiliary services such as counseling on the effect of being an account holder on the receipt of State and federal financial and medical benefits, including a description of the nature and scope of such services available to account holders;
(9) a plan to screen potential account holders for eligibility;
(10) a description of the specific populations the applicant plans to identify for participation in the program;
(11) a description of the process the applicant will use to include account holders in the investment of funds in the accounts;
(12) assurances satisfactory to the Authority that deposits into accounts will be accepted from account holders with or without matching contributions from community development organizations;
(13) if the applicant proposes to undertake any aspect of its proposal with the assistance of or in conjunction with a partner, the application must also include relevant information regarding any such partner;
(14) a description of the CDO's approach to allowing a withdrawal from an account, including a description of any
(a) counseling prior to withdrawal;
(b) policies and procedures they intend to implement with respect to withdrawals, including specific standards for principal residences purchased with funds withdrawn from an account; and
(c) standards for determining the eligibility of the withdrawal.
(15) the applicant's proposed policy for determining the distribution of matching funds, including when the amount of the match will be determined; how long or by what date funds must be in the account to be eligible for a matching contribution; if the applicant will accept matching contributions with restrictions attached;
(16) the CDO's proposed confidentiality policy; and
(17) such other information as the Authority may require.

94- 457 C.M.R. ch. 315, § 4