(a) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, the Office of Higher Education shall administer a grant program to provide grants to public and independent institutions of higher education, for the delivery of mental health services to students on campus.

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(b) On and after January 1, 2023, applications for grants pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be filed with the executive director of the Office of Higher Education at such time, and in such manner, as the executive director prescribes. As part of the application, the applicant shall submit a plan for the expenditure of grant funds.

(c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the executive director of the Office of Higher Education may award a grant to an applicant and shall determine the amount of the grant award based on the plan submitted by such applicant pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The executive director shall pay a grant to each grant recipient in each of the fiscal years ending June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2025, inclusive, as follows: (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the amount of the grant shall be as determined by the commissioner under this subsection; (2) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the amount of the grant shall be the same amount as the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year; and (3) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the amount of the grant shall be seventy per cent of the amount of the grant awarded for the prior fiscal year.

(d) Grant recipients shall file expenditure reports with the executive director of the Office of Higher Education at such time and in such manner as the executive director prescribes. A grant recipient shall only expend grant funds received under this section in accordance with the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and a grant recipient may not use such grant funds received under this section for the purpose of any operating expenses that existed prior to receipt of such grant. Grant recipients shall refund to the Office of Higher Education (1) any unexpended amounts at the close of the fiscal year in which the grant was awarded, and (2) any amounts not expended in accordance with the plan for which such grant application was approved.

(e) Each grant recipient, in collaboration with the Office of Higher Education, shall develop metrics to annually track and calculate the utilization rate of the grant program for such grant recipient in order to measure the success of the program. Such grant recipient shall annually submit such metrics and utilization rate to the office.

(f) For the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the Office of Higher Education may accept funds from private sources or any other state agency, gifts, grants and donations, including, but not limited to, in-kind contributions.

(g) (1) Not later than January 1, 2024, and each January first thereafter, until and including January 1, 2026, the executive director of the Office of Higher Education shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on the utilization rate for each grant recipient calculated pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.

(2) Not later than January 1, 2026, the executive director shall develop recommendations concerning (A) whether such grant program should be extended and funded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, and (B) the amount of the grant award under the program. The executive director shall submit such recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.