Part 6. OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 257. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Subchapter H. RURAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER GRANT PROGRAM
The Office of Rural Community Affairs (Office) proposes new Chapter 257, Subchapter H, §§257.501 - 257.508, concerning the Rural Technology Center Grant Program.
The new sections are being proposed to implement the Rural Technology Center Grant Program to award grants to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities located in rural counties.
Charles S. (Charlie) Stone, Executive Director of the Office, has determined that, for the first five-year period the sections are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the sections.
Mr. Stone has determined that, for the first five-year period the proposed new section is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of administering or enforcing the proposed new section.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Charles S. (Charlie) Stone, Executive Director of the Office, Office of Rural Community Affairs, P.O. Box 12877, Austin, Texas 78711, telephone: (512) 936-6701. Comments will be accepted for 30 days following the date of publication of this proposal in the Texas Register.
The new sections are proposed under §487.052 of the Texas Government Code, which provides the executive committee with the authority to adopt rules concerning the implementation of the Office's responsibilities.
No other code, article, or statute is affected by the proposed new sections.
§257.501.Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Board--On or after September 1, 2007, the governing body of the Office.
(2) Center--A multi-institutional rural technology center.
(3) Executive Committee--The governing body of the Office. On or after September 1, 2007, on the date on which a majority of the Board membership positions created under §487.021, Government Code, are filled any reference in this subchapter to Executive Committee is a reference to the Board.
(4) Executive Director--Executive Director of the Office.
(5) Governmental Entity--A city or county.
(6) Institution of Higher Education--Institution of higher education, as that term is defined by §61.003, Education Code, including each public junior college to the extent possible.
(7) Office--The Office of Rural Community Affairs.
(8) Program--The Rural Technology Center Grant Program.
(9) Rural County--A county in Texas that has a population of not more than 125,000.
§257.502.Purpose and Goal.
(a) The purpose of the Program, subject to available funds, is to award grants to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities located in a rural county for the development and operation of Centers that provide:
(1) community access to technology;
(2) computer literacy programs;
(3) educational programs designed to provide concurrent enrollment credit for high school students taking postsecondary courses in information and emerging technologies;
(4) training for careers in technology-related fields and other highly skilled industries; and
(5) technology related continuing and adult education programs.
(b) The goal of the Program is to increase community access to technology and promote computer literacy. Centers will provide resources to prepare residents, including high school students, for careers in applied technology and other skilled industries.
§257.503.Administration of the Program.
(a) The Office administers the Program.
(b) The Executive Committee delegates to the Executive Director the necessary powers, duties, and functions to administer the Program.
(c) The office may seek, receive, and spend money received through an appropriation, grant, donation, or reimbursement from any public or private source to implement this subchapter.
§257.504.Eligibility Criteria for Grant Applicants.
(a) Public institutions of higher education, public high schools, or governmental entities in a rural county are eligible to apply to the Program for a grant.
(b) In accordance with the General Appropriations Act, funding of applications for the 2008-2009 biennium is limited to public institutions of higher education, public high schools, and governmental entities in Starr and Zapata counties.
(c) If the Office receives additional funding through a grant, donation, or reimbursement from any public or private source other than the General Appropriations Act, the Office may make awards to eligible entities in other rural counties.
(d) The Office may weight scoring for factors including cost per beneficiary, distress, per capita income, unemployment, innovativeness, and matching or leveraged funds.
§257.505.Grant Application Procedures.
(a) Before applications are requested, the Office shall publish one or more notices of grant availability in the Texas Register . The notices will include details about the grants, instructions for obtaining a request for proposals, and the names of persons to contact in the Office for further information.
(b) The Office shall maintain a list of persons to be notified of requests for proposals. Any person wanting to be placed on the list should contact: Executive Director, Office of Rural Community Affairs, P.O. Box 12877, Austin, Texas 78711.
(c) The Office shall develop and publish a request for proposals, which shall contain details concerning, but not limited to, the following:
(1) the nature and purpose(s) of the grant;
(2) the total amount of funds available for the grant;
(3) the maximum and minimum dollar amounts that will be awarded for individual grantees;
(4) the information and format required for grant applications;
(5) information about the criteria used to judge grant; and
(6) the closing date or dates.
(d) The Office may specify any reasonable requirements for grant applications, including, but not limited to, length, format, authentication, and supporting documentation.
(e) Applications that are incomplete or substantially inconsistent with the requirements of this subchapter may be rejected without further consideration at the discretion of the Office.
(f) Applications received after the closing date will not be considered, unless the closing date is extended by the Office.
(g) Applicants will be given a minimum of 30 calendar days to file applications after a request for proposals is published. Applications must be received by the Office on or before the closing date specified in the request for proposals.
(h) Each application shall be reviewed by the Office for completeness, relevance to the published request for proposals, adherence to Office policies, general quality, technical merit, and budget appropriateness.
(i) The Office review process shall be completed within 30 days after the closing date.
§257.506.Guidelines Relating to Grant Amounts.
(a) The minimum award amount for the Program is $25,000.
(b) The maximum award amount for the Program is $3.5 million.
§257.507.Contract.
(a) A grant recipient shall execute a contract with the Office. The contract shall contain items including, but not limited to: term, budget, reporting requirements, general provisions for Office contracts, and any other specific information that might apply to the award or be needed by the Office.
(b) The Office shall specify reasonable requirements for grants.
(c) Use of grants shall be restricted to the construction, equipment, utilities, and other items as specified by the Office that are necessary for the ongoing maintenance and operation of the Centers.
(d) Except as specifically modified by law or the provisions of the contract, the grant recipient shall comply with 24 C.F.R. Part 85, "Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State, Local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments" (referred to as the "Common Rule") as modified by the rules promulgated by the Office of the Governor under the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Act (TEX. GOV'T. CODE ANN. Chapter 783; referred to as "UGCMS."), in performing this contract.
(e) A contract shall limit to two percent costs for contract administration.
(f) A contract shall contain provisions detailing requirements related to competitive bidding.
(g) The Office shall specify the depreciation period for inventory.
§257.508.Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance.
(a) Grant recipients shall cooperate with the Office in compliance with the conditions of the grant and monitoring the use of the grants awarded.
(b) Grant recipients shall submit periodic reports to the Office, with content, form and time determined by the Office.
(c) Grant recipients shall maintain all records required by the Office and applicable state laws.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 2, 2007.
TRD-200703376
Charles S. (Charlie) Stone
Executive Director
Office of Rural Community Affairs
Earliest possible date of adoption: September 16, 2007
For further information, please call: (512) 936-6734