1. (a) The state board shall:

   1. (1) establish procedures for the allocation of funds to SWCDs for their use in cost-share assistance;
   2. (2) establish brush control methods eligible for cost-share and their standards, specifications, maintenance, and expected life;
   3. (3) establish maximum cost-share rate for each conservation land treatment measure approved for cost-share, not to exceed maximums established by enabling legislation;
   4. (4) approve average costs developed annually by SWCDs;
   5. (5) establish the maximum cost-share assistance that an eligible person may receive under the program in any one year, and the lifetime maximum cost-share assistance that an eligible person may receive;
   6. (6) perform clerical, administrative, and recordkeeping responsibilities required for carrying out the cost-share program;
   7. (7) receive and maintain monthly reports from SWCDs showing the unobligated balance of allocated funds as shown on each ledger at the close of the last day of each month;
   8. (8) receive requests for reallocated funds and funds reverted from participating SWCDs;
   9. (9) act on appeals filed by applicants;
   10. (10) process vouchers and issue warrants for cost-share to eligible recipients.

2. (b) The SWCDs shall:

   1. (1) designate, from state board approved list, those brush control methods that will be eligible for cost-share in their SWCD;
   2. (2) establish district maximum cost-share rates not to exceed maximums set by the State Board;
   3. (3) develop annually district average cost for each practice on the district's approved practice list;
   4. (4) establish annually the maximum amount of cost-share available to each applicant not to exceed the maximum set by the State Board;
   5. (5) administer the cost-share program within the funds allocated by the state board;
   6. (6) establish, under guidelines of the state board, the priority system to be used for evaluation of applications;
   7. (7) establish the period(s) of time for accepting applications and announce the cost-share program locally;
   8. (8) accept and process cost-share applications;
   9. (9) determine eligibility of lands and persons for cost-share assistance under guidelines established by the state board;
   10. (10) notify applicants of the district's decisions on approval of applications;
   11. (11) file original copy of approved applications in the district's copy of the applicant's resource management plan;
   12. (12) obligate allocated funds for applications receiving final approval;
   13. (13) provide or arrange for technical assistance to applicants, or approve application and provide for an alternate source of technical assistance;
   14. (14) certify to the state board that conservation land treatment measures have been completed according to standards and specifications prior to payment;
   15. (15) submit required reports on the unobligated balance of allocated funds and on accomplishments to the state board.

Source Note:The provisions of this §517.24 adopted to be effective August 12, 1999, 24 TexReg 6092.