BILL ANALYSIS
By: Madla
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Many small communities, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based organizations do not have the resources or expertise immediately available to properly research and develop a grant proposal. Increasing the access to grants for these entities will improve their ability to assist their communities.
SB 1002 creates the TexasOnline project for grant assistance provided by state agencies. It requires the Department of Information Resources, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor, to create a single site with all agency grant information. It will allow the electronic submission of state grant assistance applications in a streamlined and simplified process.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2055.001(1), Government Code, to include the definition of "executive director."
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 2055, Government Code, by adding Subchapter E, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. GRANTS ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Sec. 2055.201. DEFINITION. Defines "state grant assistance."
Sec. 2055.202. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROJECT. Requires the Department of Information Resources (department) to establish an electronic government project to develop an Internet website that performs certain functions relating to posting, searching for, and applying for grant assistance programs.
Sec. 2055.203. ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING PROJECT; COORDINATION.
(a) Requires the department, in establishing and operating the electronic government project under this chapter, in coordination with the office of the governor, to direct, coordinate, and assist state agencies in establishing and using a common electronic application and reporting system with certain features and an interagency process for improving interagency and intergovernmental coordination of information collection and sharing of date relating to a state grant assistance program and for improving the timeliness, completeness, and quality of information received by a state agency from a recipient of state grant assistance.
(b) Requires a state agency to provide the department and the office of the governor certain information regarding any existing or potential systems which provide the functions described in Section 2055.202.
Sec. 2055.204. USE OF ELECTRONIC GRANT SYSTEM. (a) Prohibits a state agency from expending appropriated money to implement or design a new system that provides the functions described in Section 2055.202 without obtaining prior approval from the executive director of the department (executive director).
(b) Requires the executive director to determine whether to approve a state agency's continued operation of an existing system or to integrate the system into the project created under this subchapter. Authorizes the executive director to provide conditional approval of ongoing expenditures while developing appropriate project plans and funding models for the project.
(c) Requires a state agency to incorporate common grant application forms into the agency's grant application and review processes.
(d) Requires the department, if it determines that money should be consolidated in the development of this project, to provide a funding model to the Legislative Budget Board and the governor. Sets forth which agencies are exempt from this subsection.
Sec. 2055.205. EXEMPT AGENCIES. (a) Authorizes the executive director to exempt a state agency or state grant assistance program from the requirements of this subchapter under certain circumstances.
(b) Requires the governor, with the assistance of the department, to make a list of the exempted agencies and information about exempted programs available to the public through the officer of the governor's Internet website.
SECTION 3. Provides that Section 2055.204(b), as added by this Act, does not apply to a state agency that operates an existing system until the project created under Subchapter E, Chapter 2055, Government Code, as added by this Act, is operational.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.