10.101.206    APPEALS PROCESS FOR DENIAL OF A GRANT

(1)  Any person or group submitting a proposal for grant funds to the Montana state library commission shall have the right to appeal if the proposal is not funded. The request for the appeal shall be made to the Montana State Librarian at 1515 E. Sixth Ave., Helena, MT 59620 (406) 444-3115 within 12 working days of receipt of the letter denying the grant.

(2)  Upon receiving a notice of appeal, the state librarian, acting on behalf of the commission, shall convene an independent review committee. The committee shall be composed as follows:

(a)  a representative named by the appellant who is not from the appellant's library or governing authority;

(b)  a representative chosen by the chair of the commission, who is not a commission member; and

(c)  a representative from the library community who is not connected to the appellant, named by the president-elect of the Montana library association.

(3)  The independent review committee shall hear the appeal based on procedures which it shall determine. Both the appellant and the state librarian shall have equal opportunity to present testimony either in writing or orally and to respond to points raised by the other party. The independent review committee shall make its findings and recommendations to the Montana state library commission which shall take final action on the appeal. The commission can affirm, deny, or modify the recommendations of the independent review committee.

(4)  The state librarian, upon final determination of the appeal by the commission, shall notify the appellant in writing. This notice shall conclude the appeals process.

History: Sec. 22-1-103, MCA; IMP, 22-1-103, MCA; NEW, 1987 MAR p. 1622, Eff. 9/25/87; AMD, 2003 MAR p. 8, Eff. 1/17/03.