(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may adopt guidelines to implement this chapter. Any guideline, rule, policy, or standard of general application employed by the department in implementing this chapter shall not be subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The department shall convene a stakeholder process to inform the development of guidelines for the implementation of the program pursuant to this chapter no later than September 1, 2017. Until guidelines are adopted, the department shall administer the program pursuant to adopted regulations. Upon adoption of guidelines, previously adopted regulations are repealed. The repeal of previously adopted regulations pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(b) On or before June 30, 2018, and notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, as part of the guidelines adoption process, the department shall analyze and report on its award process, contract management processes and policies, and fiscal processes for the federal State Community Development Block Grant Program, identifying efficiencies that can be implemented to improve the processing of applications, contract management and fiscal processes, and communications with local agencies. The department shall identify requirements previously adopted by the state that are in excess of the minimum requirements applicable to eligible activities under the federal Community Development Block Grant Program that, if eliminated, facilitate greater subscription of program funds and reduce state administrative workload. The department shall provide the results of that report to the Department of Finance and budget committees of both houses of the Legislature. Any subsequent amendments to the guidelines shall be reported to the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 96, Sec. 5. (SB 106) Effective July 21, 2017.)