(a) (1) Each state agency disbursing a competitive grant pursuant to this division shall develop project solicitation and evaluation guidelines. The guidelines may include a limitation on the size of a competitive grant to be awarded.

(2) Prior to disbursing a competitive grant, each state agency shall conduct at least one public meeting to consider public comments prior to finalizing the guidelines. Each state agency shall publish the draft solicitation and evaluation guidelines on its Internet Web site at least 30 days before the public meetings. Meetings shall be held at geographically appropriate locations. Upon adoption, each state agency shall transmit copies of the guidelines to the fiscal committees and the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature. To the extent feasible, each state agency shall provide outreach to disadvantaged communities to promote access and participation in those meetings.

(3) The guidelines may include a requirement for the applicant to illustrate an ongoing commitment of financial resources, unless the purposes of awarding a grant financed by this division is to assist a disadvantaged community.

(4) The guidelines shall require a new grant solicitation for each funding cycle. Each funding cycle shall consider only those applications received as a part of the solicitation for that funding cycle.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a state agency, in lieu of adopting guidelines pursuant to subdivision (a), may use guidelines existing on January 1, 2007, and those guidelines as periodically amended thereafter.

(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 729, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2008. Note: Pursuant to Stats. 2008, Ch. 729, Sec. 5, the provisions of Division 43 added on Nov. 7, 2006, by initiative Prop. 84 (Sections 75001 to 75090) prevail over any conflicting provision of Ch. 729.)