BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                                       OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the proposed adoption of New Rule I pertaining to the administration of the 2008-2009 Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ADOPTION

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

          1. On December 12, 2007, at 9:30 a.m, the Department of Commerce will hold a public hearing in Room 228 of the Park Avenue Building, 301 South Park Avenue, at Helena, Montana, to consider the proposed adoption of the above-stated rule.

 

          2. The Department of Commerce will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the department no later than 5:00 p.m., November 28, 2007, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Gus Byrom, Department of Commerce, Community Development Division, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200523, Helena, Montana 59620-0523; telephone (406) 841-2777; TDD (406) 841-2702; fax (406) 841-2771; or e-mail gbyrom@mt.gov. 

 

          3. The proposed new rule provides as follows:

 

          NEW RULE I  INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE 2008-2009 CDBG PROGRAM  (1) The Department of Commerce adopts and incorporates by reference the Montana Community Development Block Grant Program 2009 Application Guidelines for Housing and Public Facilities Projects, the Montana Community Development Block Grant Program 2008 Application Guidelines for Housing and Public Facilities Planning Grants, the 2008 Application Guidelines for the Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program, the Montana Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program 2008 Application Guidelines for Planning Projects, and the Montana Community Development Block Grant Program 2008-2009 Grant Administration Manual published by it as rules for the administration of the CDBG program.

          (2) The rules incorporated by reference in (1) relate to the following:

          (a) policies governing the program;

          (b) requirements for applicants;

          (c) procedures for evaluating applications;

          (d) procedures for local project start up;

          (e) environmental review of project activities;

          (f) procurement of goods and services;

          (g) financial management;

          (h) protection of civil rights;

          (i) fair labor standards;

          (j) acquisition of property and relocation of persons displaced thereby;

          (k) administrative considerations specific to public facilities, housing and neighborhood renewal, and economic development projects;

          (l) project audits;

          (m) public relations;

          (n) project monitoring; and

          (o) planning assistance.

          (3) Copies of the regulations adopted by reference in (1) may be obtained from the Department of Commerce, Community Development Division, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200523, Helena, Montana 59620-0523 or from the Department of Commerce, Business Resources Division, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200505, Helena, Montana 59620-0505.

 

          AUTH:  90-1-103, MCA

          IMP:  90-1-103, MCA

 

REASON:  It is reasonably necessary to adopt this new rule because the federal regulations governing the state's administration of the 2008-2009 CDBG program and 90-1-103, MCA, require the department to adopt rules to implement the program. Local government entities must have these application guidelines before the entities may apply to the department for financial assistance under the CDBG program. The Application Guidelines describe the federal and state requirements with which local governments must comply in order to apply for CDBG funds. The Grant Administration Manual is primarily a restatement and explanation of existing federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as additional departmental requirements, with which local CDBG recipients must comply in administering their CDBG projects. The manual includes sample forms and letters, checklists, and explanatory text to help local government officials comply with the variety of requirements that apply to economic development, planning, housing, and public facility projects.

 

4. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed action either orally or in writing at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to the Department of Commerce, Community Development Division, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200523, Helena, Montana, 59620-0523; fax (406) 841-2771; or e-mail gbyrom@mt.gov; or to the Business Resources Division, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200505, Helena, Montana 59620-0505; fax (406) 841-2731, and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., December 20, 2007.

 

5. Gus Byrom, Department of Commerce, has been designated to preside over and conduct this hearing.

 

6. The department maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices. Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be sent or delivered to the Department of Commerce, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200501, Helena, Montana 59620-0501, by fax to (406) 841-2701, by e-mail to lgregg@mt.gov, or by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

7. An electronic copy of this Notice of Proposed Adoption is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of the Notice conform to the official version of the Notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the Notice and the electronic version of the Notice, only the official printed text will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.

 

8. The bill sponsor notice requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

/s/ G. MARTIN TUTTLE                    /s/ ANTHONY J. PREITE              

G. MARTIN TUTTLE                         ANTHONY J. PREITE

Rule Reviewer                                  Director

                                                       Department of Commerce

 

Certified to the Secretary of State November 13, 2007.