2009 California Public Resources Code - Section 25460-25463 :: Chapter 5.6. Federal Funding Of Energy-related Projects And State Energy Programs

25460.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the 111th
Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5) that appropriates funds for various energy
programs administered by the commission.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission should
have the authority to award contracts, grants, and loans from funds
received pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 and to make the awards as expeditiously as possible.

25461.  (a) Except as provided in Chapter 5.5 (commencing with
Section 25450), the commission shall administer federal funds
allocated to, and received by, the state for energy-related projects
pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5) or federal acts related to the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   (b) Unless otherwise prohibited by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) or subsequent federal
acts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
the commission may use the federal funds to award contracts, grants,
and loans for energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable
energy, and other energy-related projects and activities authorized
by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or subsequent
federal acts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009.

25462.  (a) The commission may adopt guidelines governing the award,
eligibility, and administration of funding pursuant to this chapter
at a publicly noticed meeting offering all interested parties an
opportunity to comment. The commission shall provide written public
notice of not less than 30 days for the initial adoption of
guidelines. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be
adopted without 15-day written notice to the public. Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, any guidelines adopted pursuant to this
chapter shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
   (b) Grants and loans made pursuant to this chapter are subject to
appeal to the commission upon a showing that factors other than those
described in the guidelines adopted by the commission were applied
in making the awards and payments.

25463.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division,
federal funds available to the commission pursuant to this chapter
may be used by the commission to augment funding for any programs or
measures authorized by this division unless otherwise prohibited by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law
111-5). The commission may administer any funds used to augment other
programs using the procedures of the augmented program consistent
with applicable federal law.
   (b) This section shall be liberally construed to maximize the
commission's ability to utilize and award federal funds expeditiously
and in accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 or federal acts related to the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009.