Pub. Resources Code, § 80010

Before disbursing grants pursuant to this division, each state agency that receives funding to administer a competitive grant program under this division shall do the following:

(a) (1) Develop and adopt project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines shall include monitoring and reporting requirements and may include a limitation on the dollar amount of grants to be awarded. If the state agency has previously developed and adopted project solicitation and evaluation guidelines that comply with the requirements of this subdivision, it may use those guidelines.

(2) Guidelines adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall encourage, where feasible, inclusion of the following project components:

(A) Efficient use and conservation of water supplies.

(B) Use of recycled water.

(C) The capture of stormwater to reduce stormwater runoff, reduce water pollution, or recharge groundwater supplies, or a combination thereof.

(D) Provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies to park and open-space visitors.

(b) Conduct three public meetings to consider public comments before finalizing the guidelines. The state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its Internet Web site at least 30 days before the public meetings. One meeting shall be conducted at a location in northern California, one meeting shall be conducted at a location in the central valley of California, and one meeting shall be conducted at a location in southern California.

(c) For statewide competitive grant programs, submit the guidelines to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall verify that the guidelines are consistent with applicable statutes and for all the purposes enumerated in this division. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall post an electronic form of the guidelines submitted by state agencies and the subsequent verifications on the Natural Resources Agency’s Internet Web site.

(d) Upon adoption, transmit copies of the guidelines to the fiscal committees and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

(e) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development and adoption of program guidelines and selection criteria adopted pursuant to this division.