(a) For the purposes of ensuring compliance with Section 79509, the California Bay-Delta Authority shall review regulations, guidelines, or criteria that are proposed by an implementing agency to carry out a grant program for projects and activities that meet the following criteria:

(1) The project is located within the CALFED solution area as defined in the CALFED final programmatic environmental impact statement/environmental impact report, dated July 2000.

(2) The project wholly or partially assists in the fulfillment of one or more of the goals of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.

(b) Except for projects financed pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 79545) or Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 79570), the California Bay-Delta Authority may review, and comment to the appropriate implementing agency with regard to, a proposal to award a grant pursuant to this division on behalf of a project that meets the criteria set forth in subdivision (a) for the purposes of determining whether or not the project is consistent with the CALFED Programmatic Record of Decision.

(c) To avoid any delays in project awards, the opportunity for review by the California Bay-Delta Authority pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be incorporated into the grant program schedules established by the implementing agencies.

(d) For the purposes of this section, “implementing agency” has the same definition as that set forth in subdivision (h) of Section 79402.

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 230, Sec. 37. Effective August 16, 2004.)