(1) The cost containment review panel shall be appointed by the director of the department of corrections. Members of the cost containment review panel shall serve for a term of two years and may be appointed to serve additional terms. The cost containment review panel shall elect a chairman from its membership to serve for the duration of the member's appointment.

(2) The cost containment review panel shall meet at any time that a majority of the members deems necessary. The cost containment review panel may meet telephonically. The cost containment review panel shall meet within 20 business days of a request by a district for additional funding from the cost containment fund.

(3) The department of corrections shall set $5,000 aside from the cost containment fund for reimbursement of members of the cost containment review panel for any travel expenses incurred should the panel determine to meet in person.

(4) The chairman of the cost containment review panel or his designee shall be responsible for scheduling and providing any and all information concerning meeting times and rooms for the cost containment review panel.

(5) The participating or non-participating district shall provide any and all information the district deems appropriate in filing a request for additional funding with the cost containment review panel and shall provide a complete request packet to each panel member five working days prior to any hearing held by the panel on the request.

(6) Upon the request of the cost containment review panel, the department shall provide a complete summary of a district's previous years expenditures on placements by the youth court to the panel.

(7) The participating or non-participating district which requests additional funding from the panel shall present their requests either telephonically or in person, at the discretion of the chairman of the panel.

(8) The cost containment review panel shall issue a decision on whether to release additional funds from the cost containment fund to a district within 10 working days of a hearing on the request.   The cost containment review panel shall issue a decision stating the reason for granting or denying additional funding from the cost containment fund.   The decision shall also document all requirements that the district must perform in order to receive additional funding, if any.

(9) The cost containment review panel shall meet during the month of April of each year either telephonically or in Helena, to determine the allocation of the juvenile placement fund to all participating and non-participating districts in conjunction with the department.   The cost containment review panel shall further recommend the amount the department shall allocate to the cost containment fund above the statutory minimum of $1 million each fiscal year.

(10) The cost containment review panel may request assistance from the department in the development and implementation of internal operating procedures of the panel.