1. (a) Agency Requirements

   1. (1) The commission, in cooperation with the Department of Information Resources, shall establish an electronically searchable central database accessible through the commission's on-line access system that allows a person to:

      1. (A) use keyword searches to discover all available state agency grant opportunities;
      2. (B) obtain basic information regarding each available state agency grant opportunity, including basic information about the program that the grant recipient will implement, the geographic area in which the grant recipient will implement the program, the eligibility requirements for obtaining the grant, and the grant application process; and
      3. (C) electronically link to the portion of the granting agency's website at which the person may obtain more detailed information about each available state agency grant opportunity.
   2. (2) Each state agency that will award a grant shall, concurrently with any other action the agency takes to inform the public or any person about the grant opportunity, report to the commission the information prescribed in paragraph (3) of this subsection, so that the commission may include information about the grant in the electronically searchable central database.
   3. (3) Each state agency shall report all agency-administered grant opportunities through the use of meta tags on Web pages that describe or link to a description of that grant opportunity. Those meta tags shall meet the requirements in §3.4(3) of this title and shall include a Type or DC.Type meta tag of "Grants or Funding Opportunities."

2. (b) Agency Advisory Committee

   1. (1) Upon appointment by the governor, the Agency Advisory Committee shall meet to:

      1. (A) gather input from public and other users of the database; and
      2. (B) advise the commission regarding the development of the database and regarding state agency reporting of grant opportunities.
   2. (2) The Agency Advisory Committee shall meet in Austin.
   3. (3) A state agency that is represented on the Agency Advisory Committee by a person who is not based in the Austin area is responsible for any travel expenses incurred by its representative.
   4. (4) The Agency Advisory Committee shall elect a chair from among members annually.
   5. (5) The Agency Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the chair or of the Director and Librarian, at least once annually.
   6. (6) The Director and Librarian shall appoint a liaison to the Agency Advisory Committee to represent the commission.

3. (c) Public Advisory Committee

   1. (1) The commission shall appoint a Public Advisory Committee composed of five public members to evaluate the operation of the electronically searchable central database annually.
   2. (2) The commission shall appoint members of the Public Advisory Committee from among Texas residents with interest and experience in seeking and applying for grants.
   3. (3) Members shall serve three-year terms beginning September 1. At its first meeting, members shall draw lots to establish an initial one-year term, two initial two-year terms, and two three-year terms. When a vacancy occurs, the commission may make a new appointment to complete the designated term of office. Members may be reappointed for two full terms.
   4. (4) The Public Advisory Committee shall elect a chair from among members annually.
   5. (5) The Public Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the chair or of the Director and Librarian, at least once annually.
   6. (6) The Director and Librarian shall appoint a liaison to the Public Advisory Committee to represent the commission.

Source Note:The provisions of this §3.5 adopted to be effective June 20, 2005, 30 TexReg 3577.