BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

  OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the adoption of New Rule I pertaining to the administration of the 2018 Biennium Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program – Planning Grants

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ADOPTION

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

          1. On April 28, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., the Department of Commerce will hold a public hearing in Room 228 of the Park Avenue Building at 301 South Park Avenue, in 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 of Commerce no later than 5:00 p.m., April 26, 2016, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Bonnie Martello, Department of Commerce, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200501, Helena, Montana 59620-0523; telephone (406) 841-2770; TDD 841-2702; fax (406) 841-2771; or e-mail [email protected].

 

3.  The rule as proposed to be adopted provides as follows:

 

NEW RULE I  INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF RULES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) – PLANNING GRANTS  (1)  The Department of Commerce adopts and incorporates by reference the 2017-2018 Application and Administrative Guidelines for Housing, Public Facilities and Economic Development Planning Grants as rules for the administration of the 2017-2018 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

(2)  The rules incorporated by reference in (1) relate to the scope and procedures for the award, administration, monitoring, and close-out of matching planning grants to cities, towns, counties, consolidated governments, county or multicounty water, wastewater or solid waste districts, and tribal governments.

(3) Copies of the regulations adopted by reference in (1) may be obtained from the Department of Commerce, Planning Bureau, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200523, Helena, Montana 59620-0523, or on the Planning Bureau web site at http://comdev.mt.gov/Programs/CDBG/PlanningActivities/Applying.

 

AUTH:  90-1-103, MCA

IMP:  90-1-103, MCA

 

REASON:  It is reasonably necessary to adopt this rule because the federal regulations governing the state's administration of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and 90-1-103, MCA, require the department to adopt rules to implement the program.

 

          4. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments either orally or in writing at the hearing. Written data, views, or arguments may also be submitted to the Department of Commerce, Planning Bureau, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200523, Helena, Montana 59620-0523; telephone (406) 841-2770; TDD 841-2702; fax (406) 841-2771; or e-mail [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., May 6, 2016.

 

5. Maria Jackson, Planning Specialist, 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 mailed or delivered to the contact listed in 4 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

7. An electronic copy of this proposal notice 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 contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

9. With regard to the requirements of 2-4-111, MCA, the department has determined that the adoption of the above-referenced rule will not significantly and directly impact small businesses.

 

/s/ KELLY A. LYNCH                             /s/ MEG O'LEARY            

KELLY A. LYNCH                                  MEG O'LEARY

Rule Reviewer                                       Director

                                                              Department of Commerce

         

Certified to the Secretary of State March 28, 2016.