Part III. Procedures
6VAC35-30-35. Prescreening.
A. Any sponsor planning any construction, renovation, enlargement, or expansion of a local facility shall submit an initial writing to the department that shall include a graphic showing any proposed structural changes and a brief description of all operating capacity or programmatic changes to be accommodated by the structure. The department shall review the initial writing and inform the sponsor in writing whether the project is subject to this regulation as soon as practicable but no later than 30 days from the receipt of the initial writing from the sponsor. If the department fails to respond in the required time frame, the sponsor may proceed with the reimbursement request in accordance with this chapter.
B. Any request shall be determined to be in one of the following categories:
1. For any new construction, change, or modification of an existing local facility or piece of stationary equipment, including security related upgrades, that will affect the facility's compliance with a board regulation, result in a change in certification or licensure status, or result in increased square footage, bed space, or capacity shall be subject to this regulation.
2. For any facility enhancements not provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection for which the sponsor seeks reimbursement, the sponsor shall submit a project overview and cost estimates to the board for approval and shall be subject to the requirements of 6VAC35-30-180. The department and board may require additional documentation.
3. Minor changes, such as routine maintenance, shall not be subject to this regulation and shall be managed informally in accordance with department procedures.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-40. Reimbursement request.
A. Requests. For all projects subject to this regulation, the department shall advise the sponsor of the deadline for submissions necessary to obtain approval, for inclusion in the department's budget request to the Governor, and for consideration during the next General Assembly session.
B. Needs assessment. The sponsor shall, prior to the applicable deadline, submit a needs assessment that shall demonstrate the need for the particular service, program, or facility. The board shall consider the needs assessment at its next regularly scheduled meeting and shall approve, reject, or return the needs assessment.
1. If the needs assessment is approved by the board, the department shall advise the sponsor of the board's decision and of the deadline for submitting the planning study for the project.
2. If the needs assessment is returned to the sponsor, the board shall provide the sponsor with additional factors to be considered prior to resubmission.
3. The department shall advise the sponsor of the board's decision, in writing, within seven business days of the board's decision.
C. Planning study. The sponsor shall, upon approval of the needs assessment by the board and prior to the applicable deadline, submit a complete planning study that shall explain how the proposed project is the most appropriate and cost-effective response to the specific need identified in the needs assessment.
1. The planning study shall be accompanied by an estimate of the total amount of reimbursement to be requested and a resolution from the governing body of the sponsor or sponsors requesting reimbursement.
2. The board shall consider the planning study at its next regularly scheduled meeting and shall utilize the criteria outlined in 6VAC35-30-60 when reviewing a sponsor's planning study and accompanying materials. Upon approval of a planning study, the board shall recommend the amount of state reimbursement for the project and shall forward the sponsor's submissions and the board's recommendation to the Governor or the Governor's designee for approval.
3. Requests for regional facilities shall also include a copy of the agreement between the participating localities including the allocation of financial and operational responsibilities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR690-15-001 § 3.1, eff. September 9, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-45. Effect of legislative moratorium.
A. In such times when the Virginia General Assembly has imposed a moratorium on construction and reimbursement of construction costs, the sponsor shall follow the requirements of this chapter.
B. To obtain any reimbursement thereafter, the sponsor shall:
1. Pursue a legislative exception to the moratorium on construction and reimbursement of construction costs; or
2. Request reimbursement at such time as the Virginia General Assembly authorizes funding for such projects.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-50. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from VR690-15-001 § 3.2, eff. September 9, 1992; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-60. Criteria for board funding recommendation.
A. Demonstrated need. The board shall evaluate the need for the project as demonstrated by the information provided in the Needs Assessment and Planning Study.
B. Operational cost efficiency. The board shall take into consideration the operational cost efficiency of the interior design of the facility with special concern for the number of staff required, functional layout, material selection, and energy efficiency, with special emphasis on meeting the needs of youth and the mission of the facility.
C. Construction cost. All sponsors shall calculate construction costs in accordance with the funding formula provided in 6VAC35-30-65. Construction economy shall be reviewed in relation to the adjusted median cost of local facilities.
D. Board review of construction costs. The economy of construction cost is necessary and shall be reviewed as follows:
1. Review for efficiency.
a. Projects or portions of projects involving renovation of existing facilities shall be reviewed in relation to the efficiency of the renovated spaces, the appropriateness of the proposed changes, and the relationship of the changes to the project of a whole.
b. Projects of new construction shall be reviewed for the building's appropriate efficiency ratio. The board may request further information from the sponsor on projects with a building's efficiency ratio of less than 65%.
2. The board may adjust the amount being requested for reimbursement funding as follows:
a. A reduction in funding when functional areas of the facility, such as the kitchen, recreation area, educational facilities, visiting area, and laundry facilities are not included or are included at a size not in conformance with applicable regulations or normal practice;
b. An increase in funding when support services areas are proposed at sizes larger than necessary in anticipation of future enlargements or expansions of the facility;
c. A decrease in funding when the building's efficiency ratio is less than 65%; and
d. An increase in funding when the facility includes areas for extraordinary program activities.
3. Any adjustments made by the board in funding shall be based upon the gross square footage of the various conditions multiplied by a cost equal to the adjusted median cost or the proposed gross square foot cost of the facility, whichever is less.
E. Phased reimbursement of projects. A sponsor may request, when submitting the planning study for review, to receive portions of the total project reimbursement based upon the completion of the project in phases. In response to such requests, the board may approve reimbursement based on the total estimated cost of the project as if it were to be completed as a single endeavor; however, reimbursement will be in amounts proportional to the phases of construction and payment will be made only as each approved phase is completed and that portion of the building is ready to be placed in service.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR690-15-001 § 3.3, eff. September 9, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-65. Funding formula.
A. The following funding formula shall be used to calculate estimated construction costs at the Schematic Design (15%) Documents level in the planning study phase:
1. A cost per square foot base figure shall be the national median square-foot cost for jails published in the 24th annual edition of R. S. Means Facilities Construction Cost Data 2009 (Means) with consideration taken of the "location factor," which is the materials and labor cost differential specific to the project's geographical location.
2. The cost per square foot, adjusted using the location factor, must be in accordance with all applicable codes and standards and in accordance with the following formula:
National cost per square foot (from Means)
X Location Factor (from Means)
X Area allowance per bed (as provided for in subsection B of this section)
= Adjusted median construction cost of local facility.
3. The total project cost shall include:
a. Construction cost;
b. Site and utilities (from Means);
c. Architectural and Engineering services (services as defined in the Construction and Professional Services Manual (CPSM));
d. Furnishing and equipment (as itemized by the sponsor);
e. Project inspection (services as defined in the CPSM);
f. Contingency (10.0%);
g. Inflation factor (yearly market inflation rate applied from January 1 of the year of the submitted design through the midpoint of construction, compounded);
h. Property purchased specifically for this facility; and
i. Other.
B. The following area allowances per bed shall be used to calculate the adjusted median construction cost of a local facility:
1. A maximum of 700 square feet per bed for facilities up to 35 residents;
2. A maximum of 650 square feet per bed for facilities of 36 to 79 residents; and
3. A maximum of 550 square feet per bed for facilities with 80 or more residents.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-70. Funding priorities.
The board shall prioritize reimbursement requests in a manner to ensure an equitable distribution of state funds across the Commonwealth; and, absent a health, safety, or welfare risk requiring priority, the board shall ordinarily give preference to requests for reimbursement for regionalized local facilities. Regionalized local facilities shall normally serve three or more localities as determined by the needs assessment.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR690-15-001 § 3.4, eff. September 9, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.
6VAC35-30-80. Board recommendations to the Governor.
A. The department shall notify the sponsor in writing within seven business days of the board's decision to recommend or not to recommend a project for reimbursement. If the recommendation is not to recommend reimbursement, the department shall briefly explain the rationale for the decision.
B. The board shall submit to the Governor, or his designee (i) its recommendations with respect to reimbursement requests and the rationale therefor; and (ii) such information as the Governor may require with respect to a request for approval of reimbursements.
C. Final appropriations are subject to the Governor's approval and legislative enactment.
Statutory Authority
§§ 16.1-309.5, 16.1-309.9, 16.1-322.7 and 66-10 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR690-15-001 § 3.5, eff. September 9, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 11, eff. July 1, 2011.