California Grant Information Act of 1999

Chapter 5.2 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the California Government Code provides the Grant Information Act of 1999. Government Code Section 8333 names the act and requires all state agencies to implement this act in a manner that is consistent with the statewide strategy for electronic commerce as established by the Department of Information Technology.

Government Code Section 8333.1 requires the California State Library to create a funding opportunities Internet Web portal that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to find state grant opportunities. The funding opportunities Internet Web portal must include an interactive Internet Web site that includes information identifying every grant administered by the state and any incentive opportunities allocated by statute or in the annual budget that will provide local assistance funds.

In addition, the California State Library, in consultation with the Strategic Growth Council and the State Air Resources Board, is required to ensure that the Internet Web site is accessible and provides helpful information to a diverse set of potential applicants, including nonprofit and community-based organizations, and other entities that are working to support and benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Government Code Section 8333.2 requires the California State Library to provide an annual report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the Internet Web portal, the utilization rate by state agencies, the number of grants registered, the amount of funding per grant, the number of visits to the Internet Web portal, including what parts of the Internet Web portal are visited, and whether there has been an increase in grant applications.

Government Code Section 8334 requires each state agency to register every grant the state agency administers with the California State Library prior to commencing a solicitation or award process for distribution of the grant. Each agency must provide information regarding the grant, that assists the California State Library with cataloging the distribution of grants and provides potential applicants with understandable and consistent information about available funding opportunities. In addition, each state agency is required to provide a link to the California State Library’s funding opportunities internet web portal on the state agency’s internet website.

Moreover, each state agency is required to provide for the acceptance of electronic proposals for any grant administered by the state agency, as appropriate The Government Operations Agency must assist the California State Library with state agency compliance and creating streamlined processes.

Government Code Section 8334.1 requires each state agency to provide to the California State Library post-award data for every grant administered by the state agency.