(a) The commission shall adopt guidelines governing the funding programs authorized under this chapter, at a publicly noticed meeting offering all interested parties an opportunity to comment. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be adopted without at least 10 days’ written notice to the public. The public notice of meetings required by this subdivision shall not be less than 30 days. Notwithstanding any other law, any guidelines adopted pursuant to this chapter or § 399.25 of the Public Utilities Code, 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. The Legislature declares that the changes made to this subdivision by the act amending this section during the 2002 portion of the 2001-02 Regular Session are declaratory of, and not a change in, existing law.

(b) Funds to further the purposes of this chapter may be committed for multiple years.

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(c) Awards made pursuant to this chapter are grants, 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. Any actions taken by an applicant to apply for, or become or remain eligible and registered to receive, payments or awards, including satisfying conditions specified by the commission, shall not constitute the rendering of goods, services, or a direct benefit to the commission.

(d) An award made pursuant to this chapter, the amount of the award, and the terms and conditions of the grant are public information.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 152. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)