1. (a) In addition to this subchapter, except where noted, the rules established in Subchapter A of this chapter (relating to General Provisions) and Chapters 1 and 2 of this Part apply to the CSBG Program. The CSBG Act was amended by the "Community Services Block Grant Amendments of 1994" and the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998. The Secretary is authorized to establish a community services block grant program and make grants available through the program to states to ameliorate the causes of poverty in communities within the states. Although Eligible Entities receive an allocation of CSBG funds, the CSBG program is not an entitlement program for eligible customers.
2. (b) The Texas Legislature designates the Department as the lead agency for the administration of the CSBG program pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code, §2306.092. CSBG funds are made available to Eligible Entities to carry out the purposes of the CSBG program.

3. (c) Definitions

   1. (1) Community Action Plan ("CAP")--An annual plan required by the CSBG Act which describes the local Eligible Entity service delivery system, how coordination will be developed to fill identified gaps in services, how funds will be coordinated with other public and private resources, and how the local entity will use the funds to support innovative community and neighborhood based initiatives related to the grant. A comprehensive CAP developed with extensive input from the local community and an engaged tripartite board is a fundamental underpinning of an Eligible Entity's role in administering its programs to ameliorate poverty and its causes and to transition eligible Households it serves out of poverty.
   2. (2) CSBG Act--The CSBG Act is a law passed by Congress authorizing the Community Services Block Grant. The CSBG Act was amended by the Community Services Block Grant Amendments of 1994 and the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 under 42 U.S.C. §§9901, et seq. The CSBG Act authorized establishing a community services block grant program to make grants available through the program to states to ameliorate the causes of poverty in communities within the states.
   3. (3) Direct Customer Support--includes salaries and fringe benefits of case management staff as well as direct benefits provided to customers.
   4. (4) Discretionary Funds--CSBG funds, excluding the 90% of the state's annual allocation that is designated for statewide allocation to CSBG Eligible Entities under §6.203 of this Subchapter and state administrative funds, maintained by the Department, at its discretion, for CSBG allowable uses as authorized by the CSBG Act.
   5. (5) Eligible Entity--Those local organizations in existence and designated by the federal and state government to administer programs created under the Federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This includes CAAs, limited-purpose agencies, and units of local government. The CSBG Act defines an eligible entity as an organization that was an eligible entity on the day before the enactment of the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 (October 27, 1998), or is designated by the Governor to serve a given area of the state and that has a tripartite board or other mechanism specified by the state for local governance.
   6. (6) National Performance Indicator ("NPI")--A federally defined measure of performance within the Department's Community Affairs Contract System for measuring performance and results of Subrecipients of funds.
   7. (7) Needs Assessment--An assessment of community needs in the areas to be served with CSBG funds.
   8. (8) Quality Improvement Plan ("QIP")--A plan developed by a CSBG Eligible Entity to correct Deficiencies identified by the Department.
   9. (9) Transitioned Out of Poverty ("TOP")--a Household who was CSBG eligible and as a result of the delivery of case management services attains an annual income in excess of 125% of the poverty guidelines for 90 calendar days.
4. (d) Use of certain terminology. In these rules and in the Department's administration of its programs, including the CSBG program, certain terminology is used that may not always align completely with the terminology employed in the CSBG Act. The term "monitoring" is used interchangeably with the CSBG Act term "review" as used in 42 USC §9915 of the CSBG Act. Similarly, the terms "findings," "concerns," and "violations" are used interchangeably with the term "deficiencies as used in 42 USC §9915 of the CSBG Act although, in a given context, they may be assigned more specific, different, or more nuanced meanings, as appropriate.

Source Note:The provisions of this §6.201 adopted to be effective December 4, 2016, 41 TexReg 9270.