39-11-201. Grant review committee -- appointment -- powers and duties -- rulemaking authority. - Montana Statutes

     39-11-201. Grant review committee -- appointment -- powers and duties -- rulemaking authority. (1) There is a seven-member grant review committee, as follows:
     (a) two representatives from the private sector representing economic development, appointed by the governor;
     (b) two representatives from the commercial banking community, one appointed by the president of the senate and one appointed by the speaker of the house, one of whom serves on a local workforce investment board;
     (c) one representative from a 2-year postsecondary institution, as defined in 20-9-706, appointed by the governor;
     (d) one representative from the department, appointed by the governor; and
     (e) one representative from the department of labor and industry, appointed by the governor.
     (2) Subject to appropriation by the legislature and 39-11-202(4)(d), the committee shall award training grants to a primary sector business qualified under 39-11-202 after a determination that the primary sector business:
     (a) has prospects for achieving commercial success and for creating new jobs in the state;
     (b) has prospects for collaboration between the public and private sectors of the state's economy;
     (c) has potential for commercial success related to the specific product, process, or business development methodology proposed; and
     (d) can provide matching funds.
     (3) A committee member may not personally apply for or receive a primary sector business workforce training grant. If an organization with which a member is affiliated applies for a grant, the member shall disclose the nature of the affiliation and, if the committee member is a board member or officer of the organization, may not participate in the decision of the committee regarding the grant application.
     (4) The committee shall adopt rules to:
     (a) provide for grant application procedures;
     (b) develop procedures for awarding grants pursuant to the criteria provided in 39-11-202; and
     (c) develop independent review and audit procedures to ensure that grants have been used for the purposes identified in the grant contracts.
     (5) All decisions of the committee are final and are not subject to the contested case provisions of Title 2, chapter 4.
     (6) The committee is allocated to the department for administrative purposes only as provided in 2-15-121.

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 567, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 130, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 169, L. 2005.