Section 154.14-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered](1) The Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 is hereby established under the cabinet, subject to the approval of the commission established in Section 8 of this Act. The cabinet's administration of the program includes but is not limited to the following:(a) Creating and making available a standardized grant application and a regional grant application for the obligation of state funds under this subchapter to apply for matching federal funds;(b) Developing a standardized scoring system pursuant to this section and Section 5 of this Act;(c) Reviewing and processing the applications submitted by the proposed eligible grant recipients to the cabinet;(d) Verifying and determining whether a match applicant is an eligible grant recipient that is seeking a federal grant for an eligible project;(e) Evaluating the project proposed by the match application in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in this section and Section 5 of this Act;(f) Scoring each match application pursuant to the scoring system described in Section 5 of this Act;(g) Ranking each match application: 1. To prioritize the greatest return on investment and relative positive impact of the eligible project; and2. Based on the project evaluation and the project score described in this section and Section 5 of this Act;(h) Compiling a list of proposed match applicants whose eligible project demonstrates a high level of investment potential if a match is provided, as revealed by the evaluation, scoring, and ranking process described in this section and Section 5 of this Act;(i) Providing detailed feedback to the match applicants after the project evaluation and project score are completed and the match application is approved or denied by the cabinet, unless otherwise prohibited by federal or state law;(j) Obligating matching funds to selected eligible grant recipients;(k) Compiling the monthly report to be submitted under Section 7 of this Act; and(l) Compiling the annual report to be submitted under Section 7 of this Act.(2) The cabinet shall determine the terms, conditions, and requirements of application for match funds awarded from the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 fund. The cabinet may establish procedures and standards for the review and approval of obligation of match funds through the promulgation of administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A. By December 1, 2024, the cabinet shall submit recommended legislative changes to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to and for consideration by the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue and the House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue or the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue.(3) The secretary of the cabinet shall have the authority to hire staff, contract for services, expend funds, and operate the normal business activities of the Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024. Notwithstanding KRS Chapter 45A, the cabinet may contract with a third party for implementation and administration of the program.(4) The Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 as provided in this subchapter shall sunset on December 31, 2026, unless authorized by the General Assembly to continue its work for a specified period of time.(5) The Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts and local area development districts shall assist eligible grant recipients in identifying available federal grant opportunities and preparing federal grant applications and Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 applications. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent any public agency or nonprofit entity from assisting eligible grant recipients in identifying available federal grant opportunities and preparing federal grant applications and Government Resources Accelerating Needed Transformation Program of 2024 applications.(6) Upon request of the local area development districts, a local public institution in the postsecondary education system as defined in KRS 164.001 shall assist the eligible grant recipients in their area by including but not limited to: (a) Identifying opportunities for federal grants;(b) Rendering supplemental support for federal grant applications on behalf of the communities including but not limited to providing data and analysis for the federal grant application; or(c) Acting as the contact person for the local public institution to the Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts and to the area development district in which the local public institution is located and updating the contact person information.Added by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. TBD,§ 3, eff. 4/12/2024.